NHPS in New Haven, Conn., plans school upgrades, including roof replacements and central office construction. Amazon Fulfillment Center to be built on Waterbury-Naugatuck line, creating jobs in the area.
NHPS photo
As part of ongoing repair and improvement efforts, New Haven Public School (NHPS) officials in Connecticut are proposing six renovation projects, including roof and swimming pool replacements across the district.
As part of ongoing repair and improvement efforts, New Haven Public School (NHPS) officials in Connecticut are proposing six renovation projects, including roof and swimming pool replacements across the district.
"We know that there are a lot of renovations and repairs that are desperately needed across the district as it relates to facilities," New Haven Superintendent Madeline Negrón said. "Those are going to be things that eventually we have to get done."
The proposed projects include swimming pool replacements at Conte-West Hills School and Wilbur Cross High School; roof replacements at Truman School, Wilbur Cross High and James Hillhouse High School; and the construction of a new central office at 424 Chapel St. in New Haven.
The plan is to eventually move the central office from 54 Meadow St. to the second floor of the Chapel Street building, the New Haven Register reported April 22, 2025.
"They certainly all needed work, especially the roofs and the pools," according to Board of Education Vice President Matthew Wilcox.
The total cost of the six projects is estimated at $25.1 million, the Register noted.
In January 2025, the district conducted a walk-through of the Wilbur Cross and James Hillhouse high schools in response to a complaint filed with the Connecticut Department of Labor's Division of Occupational Safety and Health by the New Haven Federation of Teachers.
In addition, on Feb. 13, 2025, there was a leak reported inside an English classroom at Wilbur Cross, which is an issue that has been difficult to address because the building's roof has solar panels.
The complaint cited concerns about mold, leaks, air quality and HVAC issues at the two schools.
While the report found no "evident deficiencies," Justin Harmon, director of marketing and communications at NHPS, said the district has plans for projects and upgrades across the entire school district.
Negrón said NHPS plans to apply for a Connecticut Department of Administrative Services Office of School Construction non-priority grant, which, if approved, would mean the district is only responsible for 34.1 percent of that amount — or approximately $8 million.
Resolutions formally documented by New Haven's Board of Education and the Board of Alders are needed so NHPS can apply for the grant.
The projects align with the district's long-term facilities plan and are essential to maintaining safe, functional and equitable learning environments for students and staff, according to a statement from Christine Bourne, business director of the NHPS Central Office.
"Timely submittal and approval of these resolutions allows the district to pursue reimbursement opportunities through the state's construction grant program," she said.
The projects were presented to New Haven's Board of Alders at its April 7, 2025, meeting, with a final vote scheduled for May 5, 2025.
Amazon Warehouse to Be Built On Waterbury-Naugatuck Line
A new 3.2 million-sq.-ft. Amazon fulfillment center stradle the border of Waterbury and Naugatuck is about to begin after Waterbury officials announced April 21, 2025, that they had completed the sale of 157 acres of land for the project.
Site work for the five-story Amazon warehouse will begin in the coming days, according to a news release from the office of Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr., which noted that the final cost of the land was $2.5 million.
The project is expected to generate more than 300 construction jobs and, eventually, as many as 1,000 full-time jobs, according to the mayor's office.
"Waterbury and Naugatuck are great places to live and work and we're pleased to be establishing local operations here," Glendowlyn Thames, Amazon's senior manager of economic development, said in the news release.
More details about the fulfillment center's launch schedule will soon be announced, Thames added.
Naugatuck Mayor N. Warren "Pete" Hess said local officials have considered other development proposals for the area in the past.
"For decades, many different proposals, ranging from a mall to a dog track, were considered for this land, but none came to fruition due to the steep and difficult terrain, particularly in accessing the site from Waterbury's South Main Street," Hess said in a statement. "That all changed when I partnered with then-Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary. Together, we devised a collaborative solution that allowed access to the property through the Naugatuck Industrial Park, making development finally feasible."
The sale comes after Bluewater Property Group entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the city of Waterbury and the borough of Naugatuck in 2022, according to Pernerewski's office.
"The collaboration between Waterbury and Naugatuck, paired with the commitment from Amazon and Bluewater, has turned a long-overlooked property into a site of immense potential." Pernerewski said. "This facility will provide meaningful employment opportunities and generate economic momentum for years to come."
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