NORWICH -- By Oct. 1, the state Department of
Public Works wants the city to submit a comprehensive feasibility
study outlining the city's plan to consolidate Three Rivers
Community College downtown.
In a letter to City Council President Richard Abele this week,
DPW Commissioner T.R. Anson requested the study in a format
consistent with the recently completed DuBose Associates report on
the three other proposed sites for the school -- Brewster's Point in
Preston and the two existing campuses in Norwich.
The DPW request outlines not only the format for the study, but
lists specific information related to the project it wants answered,
such as an overall budget estimate with specific land acquisition
costs, parking and traffic studies, design standards, space plans,
utilities and construction timetable.
"I just got the letter (Thursday) and forwarded it to (preferred
developer) Ron Aliano and his group," Abele said. "Ron will put the
study together and we'll have it to them on time."
Aliano said DPW's request is "no problem" and most of the work is
already done.
"The only thing we're going to do is ask the city to arrange a
meeting with the DPW," Aliano said, "because if they want it in a
format like the DuBose study, then we need some clarification on
some things. The DuBose study, we think, is inconsistent in some
areas and we want that clarified."
On July 16, the Community College's Board of Trustees' voted to
ask the DPW to obtain a copy of the downtown Norwich plan so that it
can be reviewed along with the three other potential college sites.
"Both the Board and DPW believe it is imperative that all
potential sites be evaluated on an equal basis," Anson said.
Abele said any cost associated with developing the feasibility
study would come from the $100,000 recently approved by the City
Council to finance any studies the state requires for the project.
But Aliano said the preparation of the study for DPW would not cost
the city anything.
Aliano and his group, the Chelsea Community Development Group,
have spent about $370,000 developing the plans -- expenses that will
be part of the project's overall budget if the plan is approved.
And if the decision is made to put the college at another site,
Aliano said the group would absorb the cost, not the city.
