Obama bill includes Storrs Center funds

Concept plan for Storrs Center - updated February 2009. Image courtesy of Mansfield Downtown Partnership.

The Storrs Center development planned for downtown Mansfield received a major commitment today with the approval of a $712,500 appropriation to be designated for critical components of the project’s infrastructure.

The appropriation is included in the FY2009 Omnibus Budget bill that passed the House and Senate and expected to be signed by President Obama today, March 11.

Speaking for the Mansfield Downtown Partnership, the organization guiding the Storrs Center development, Executive Director Cynthia van Zelm said, “This is a major boost for Storrs Center and will aid significantly in laying the groundwork for Phase 1 of the project. Once again, the Federal government has generously come forward with critical financial support.”

The funds will be used for construction of the pedestrian and bicycle-friendly network of streets, as well as sidewalks, parks and other open spaces, infrastructure and landscaping that will serve the mixed-use development.

Storrs Center, once developed, will include a “town square” and a “market square” and will progress in stages, in order to keep moving ahead during difficult economic times.

The new funding will likely be designated for Phase 1 of the project, which will include two buildings on the North side of Dog Lane and the realignment of Dog Lane with a new intersection at Storrs Road/Route 195.

The appropriation was sponsored by Senator Joseph Lieberman and Congressman Joseph Courtney. The application for the funding was submitted by the Town of Mansfield in February, 2008.

Vice President of Planning and Development for the project’s master developer LeylandAlliance, Macon Toledano, said in a prepared statement today, “We extend our thanks to both Senator Lieberman and Congressman Courtney for their strong leadership and ongoing support for Storrs Center . The funding, appropriately, will help create the pedestrian-friendly network of streets, sidewalks and infrastructure that will begin to define the new civic heart of Mansfield .”

Posted March 11, 2009