Developer praises Norwich after building purchase
electrical, plumbing and drywall, but he does not yet know what needs to be done and redone with that work.
“We’re still in that process right now,” he said, and there is no project cost estimate yet. He is seeking bids and contacting service companies for estimates.
Maran praised Norwich Community Development Corp. President Robert Mills and other city officials who have helped showcase the property, explain the Opportunity Zone and other proposed development in the downtown area.
Mills said the project is “very exciting.” He has been meeting with the developers for the past four months and “talking with them and courting them and showing what we can do as a community.”
“They come across as having good knowledge of what they’re doing, what they’re looking for,” Mills said. “We’re all in on helping them from a city perspective.”
Norwich was approved for three federal Opportunity Zones — areas of low and moderate incomes targeted for development — including one for the downtown area where the former Elks Club building is located. The zones allow investors in development projects to receive federal tax breaks.
The building has been vacant for several years. The Elks Club owned it for a century before selling it to a Waterford development group, which renovated it into the Majestic Rose Dinner Theater. But that group ran into building code violations, and the city shut down the operation. The group sold it to Lam’s Boswell Properties LLC in April 2006. Lam opened the karaoke club.
City Planner Deanna Rhodes said Wednesday she has not met with the developers, but if a hotel is proposed there, it would need a special permit from the Commission on the City Plan.
Maran said he is aware of the permits needed and looks forward to working with city officials to bring the project to fruition.
“The town has been really helpful in getting this project going,” Maran said.