ARTICLE
Norwich harbor celebrates progress with groundbreaking for fuel tanks: What's next? Matt Grahn, Norwich Bulletin “There’s some hard work that’s about to happen, and its going to create that next level of what’s happening at the Marina,” NCDC President Kevin Brown said Friday. The fuel tanks are funded by part of a $2 million state grant Norwich got for harbor improvement last year, and the instillation has begun and will take up to three months. The Marina Towers demolition will be funded by part of a $12 million in revitalization funds for across the city from last year. The demolition is expected to start this month, once Norwich Public Utilities disconnect service to the building. In the meantime, the building will be used for Norwich Fire Department training. “We’re thankful for every one of those forms of capital to get us here,” Brown said. Norwich is continuing to receive state funds, as State Senator Cathy Osten and State Reps. Kevin Ryan and Derell Wilson announced that the State Bond Commission is expected to give the city another $672,000 next Friday. $480,000 will go toward the Heritage Riverfront Park, and $192,000 will go toward continuing accessibility improvements for the Howard T. Brown Memorial Park. Marina Towers While Norwich officials are eager to knock down the Maina Towers, work is also starting on the site’s future plans. Among those in attendance was SLR International Landscaping Architecture Manager Michael Doherty. He was showing off idea boards for possible improvements to the Marina Towers and Howard Brown Park. “(We’re) trying to spark some interest and get community feedback,” he said. Howard Brown Park will feature active forms of recreation, like ice skating, where the Marina Towers site would include passive recreation, including fishing and kayak access, Doherty said. “We’re trying to tie that together and create more of a community atmosphere,” he said. As SLR is also helping Norwich with the school building project and had helped with the Uncas Leap Heritage Park, they want to capitalize on the momentum of other big projects in the city, and help bring people into the downtown, Doherty said. The Howard Brown Park improvements should be completed by the end of 2026. There isn’t a timeframe yet for the Marina Towers improvements, Doherty said. Looking back Norwich’s waterfront projects started back in the 1980’s when businessman Ron Aliano first built what’s now The Marina at American Wharf. Despite a long period of time “where nothing really happened,” Norwich still had a Harbor Management Commission in place to guide the vision and a City Council that understood the importance of the waterfront, Brown said. Now, harbor development can move forward due to state funding opportunities, including $800,000 from the Connecticut Port Authority for improving dock accessibility, along with private investment, including Patrick and Brittany Dwyer, who bought the Marina at American Warf in 2023, and These Guys Brewing Co., who moved the bar and restaurant side of the business to the Marina, Brown said. What’s next at the harbor? While the past year included salsa dancing nights and a hot air balloon event, more events are coming this year to the harbor, including a Striped Bass Fishing Tournament on Sept. 13. The entry is $75 a person, and the top prize is $7,500, Harbor Management Commission Chair Tucker Braddock said. “It’s time to enjoy what we have here in Norwich,” he said. Another potential project for Norwich is the American Globe Center. The theater company is considering Norwich from at least six cities to be home to their live theater complex, which would include a recreation of William Shakespeare’s 1614 Globe Theater. If it would come to Norwich, the Globe Center would be next to the Shetucket River side of Howard Brown Park. Globe Center Founding Artistic Director Jim Warren said Norwich is in the lead because it’s a small community. Since the Globe’s location would be on the other side of the waterfront, SLR has beet talking with the Globe Center and will coordinate with them if they choose Norwich, Doherty said.
Norwich harbor celebrates progress with groundbreaking for fuel tanks: What's next?
Matt Grahn, Norwich Bulletin
“There’s some hard work that’s about to happen, and its going to create that next level of what’s happening at the Marina,” NCDC President Kevin Brown said Friday.
The fuel tanks are funded by part of a $2 million state grant Norwich got for harbor improvement last year, and the instillation has begun and will take up to three months.
The Marina Towers demolition will be funded by part of a $12 million in revitalization funds for across the city from last year. The demolition is expected to start this month, once Norwich Public Utilities disconnect service to the building. In the meantime, the building will be used for Norwich Fire Department training.
“We’re thankful for every one of those forms of capital to get us here,” Brown said.
Norwich is continuing to receive state funds, as State Senator Cathy Osten and State Reps. Kevin Ryan and Derell Wilson announced that the State Bond Commission is expected to give the city another $672,000 next Friday. $480,000 will go toward the Heritage Riverfront Park, and $192,000 will go toward continuing accessibility improvements for the Howard T. Brown Memorial Park.
Marina Towers
While Norwich officials are eager to knock down the Maina Towers, work is also starting on the site’s future plans. Among those in attendance was SLR International Landscaping Architecture Manager Michael Doherty. He was showing off idea boards for possible improvements to the Marina Towers and Howard Brown Park.
“(We’re) trying to spark some interest and get community feedback,” he said.
Howard Brown Park will feature active forms of recreation, like ice skating, where the Marina Towers site would include passive recreation, including fishing and kayak access, Doherty said.
“We’re trying to tie that together and create more of a community atmosphere,” he said.
As SLR is also helping Norwich with the school building project and had helped with the Uncas Leap Heritage Park, they want to capitalize on the momentum of other big projects in the city, and help bring people into the downtown, Doherty said.
The Howard Brown Park improvements should be completed by the end of 2026. There isn’t a timeframe yet for the Marina Towers improvements, Doherty said.
Looking back
Norwich’s waterfront projects started back in the 1980’s when businessman Ron Aliano first built what’s now The Marina at American Wharf. Despite a long period of time “where nothing really happened,” Norwich still had a Harbor Management Commission in place to guide the vision and a City Council that understood the importance of the waterfront, Brown said.
Now, harbor development can move forward due to state funding opportunities, including $800,000 from the Connecticut Port Authority for improving dock accessibility, along with private investment, including Patrick and Brittany Dwyer, who bought the Marina at American Warf in 2023, and These Guys Brewing Co., who moved the bar and restaurant side of the business to the Marina, Brown said.
What’s next at the harbor?
While the past year included salsa dancing nights and a hot air balloon event, more events are coming this year to the harbor, including a Striped Bass Fishing Tournament on Sept. 13. The entry is $75 a person, and the top prize is $7,500, Harbor Management Commission Chair Tucker Braddock said.
“It’s time to enjoy what we have here in Norwich,” he said.
Another potential project for Norwich is the American Globe Center. The theater company is considering Norwich from at least six cities to be home to their live theater complex, which would include a recreation of William Shakespeare’s 1614 Globe Theater. If it would come to Norwich, the Globe Center would be next to the Shetucket River side of Howard Brown Park.
Globe Center Founding Artistic Director Jim Warren said Norwich is in the lead because it’s a small community.
Since the Globe’s location would be on the other side of the waterfront, SLR has beet talking with the Globe Center and will coordinate with them if they choose Norwich, Doherty said.