News
Governor Rell thanks army, corps of engineers for restarting Middletown site selection process
By Governor Rell's Office
Aug 19, 2008 - 6:18:42 PM

Corps of Engineers agrees to transparent, collaborative process, Governor Says

Governor M. Jodi Rell today expressed her gratitude to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is restarting the process of selecting a site in Middletown for a new Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC).

“I am very pleased the Army will begin anew the process of selecting a site for this center, which we need for the citizen-soldiers of our Reserve and National Guard,” Governor Rell said. “The Army has given me their assurances that the process will be open and collaborative, and will involve both officials from Middletown and the area’s legislative delegation. That is everything we could have asked for and I am truly appreciative of the Corps of Engineers’ willingness to work with us on this issue.

Members of Governor Rell’s staff and the state’s Adjutant General, Air Force Major General Thad Martin, met today with the Corps of Engineers at the Governor’s behest. Middletown residents and a number of state officials had expressed concerns about the 88-acre site on Boardman Lane that the Corps of Engineers was considering for the center. Opposition to the site stemmed from the historical, environmental and rural nature of the parcel.

The Governor intervened August 1, directing General Martin to have one of the Connecticut National Guard units slated to make use of the new facility remain at its current location. By doing so, the “footprint” of the new facility could be reduced, allowing other locations to be considered.

“Connecticut has a long history of supporting the men and women in uniform who serve our nation, and I know that resistance to the initial site had nothing to do with objections to hosting this important facility,” the Governor said.

A new facility is needed because several existing facilities scattered around the state are to be closed under the 2005 recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Governor Rell directed the General Martin to advise the Army that that state would keep the 250TH Engineering Co. in its current location. With the change, the needs of the new AFRC would change appreciably:

- Space for 132 military vehicles, instead of 442
- Accommodations for 861 people, instead of 1,046
- Building space of 219,000 square feet, rather than 273,000 square feet
- Total acreage significantly less than the site then under consideration

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