Home Care In Cheshire, CT

Applications for tax credits for qualifying residents will be taken at the assessor's office beginning Feb. 1. Read details here.

CHESHIRE, CT — (From Town of Cheshire): Applications for tax credits for Town of Cheshire homeowners over 65 years of age and those totally disabled will be taken at the Assessor’s office in the Cheshire Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Feb. 1 to May 15.

These programs consist of the following:

STATE OF CONNECTICUT ELDERLY HOMEOWNERS PROGRAM - This is a real estate tax credit program for homeowners who are at least 65 years of age as of December 31, 2023 and meet certain income guidelines.

Find out what's happening in Cheshirewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

TOWN OF CHESHIRE LOCAL ELDERLY TAX RELIEF PROGRAM

In addition to the State of Connecticut property tax relief program, the Town of Cheshire offers a local tax relief program.

This program currently provides three types of property tax relief for qualifying applicants.

The first element of the program provides a tax credit for married couples whose income does not exceed $82,480 and single people whose income does not exceed $77,015. The second part of the program provides a tax deferral of up to 75 percent of taxes for married couples whose income does not exceed $53,400 and single people whose income does not exceed $43,800.

The third part of the program is the local elderly tax freeze. The income limits for this program are the same as they are for the deferral program. Applicants must be 70 years old as of December 31, 2023. Further details can be obtained from the Assessor’s office.

To qualify for the local tax relief programs, these income guidelines must be met as well as the age or disability criteria outlined in the above-mentioned state programs. Applicants must bring all proof of their 2023 income, including a copy of their 2023 federal income tax return, if one is filed, and proof of Social Security income (Form 1099) for the 2023 calendar year. The application period for those interested in the Town program is February 1, 2024 through May 15, 2024.

If you need more information, call the Assessor’s Office at 203-271-6620.

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The developer of the 300-unit apartment complex currently under construction in Cheshire's Stone Bridge Crossing mixed use development is telling prospective tenants that the retail anchor of the project is a Whole Foods Market grocery store.

Fairfield-based Eastpointe LLC is building an apartment complex that will be know as Riverpointe and has created a web page to market the 10-building complex. The page refers to the Stone Bridge Crossing retail component describing it as "adjacent to a Whole Foods-anchored retail center."

The grocery store anchor has been the subject of wide speculation for more than a year. Officials with Texas-based Whole Foods were unavailable for comment.

Dan Zelson, a founding principal of Faifield-Couinty-based Charter Realty, which is overseeing the procurement of retail tenants for the complex, said the company is not identifying the anchor grocery store.

"Hopefully, we'll have some good news to announce early next year," Zelson said.

Despite the website announcement, an Eastpointe executive said identity of the new grocery store was not yet official and declined to say whether it was indeed Whole Foods moving in.

Stone Bridge Crossing is being developed near the intersection of Interstates 84 and 691 in Cheshire. The main entrance to the development is off Route 10, near the town's border with Southington.

In addition to a grocery store, restaurants and other retail tenants, Stone Bridge Crossing will also include an extended stay hotel and a Mobil gas station with a convenience store. And in addition to the apartment complex, a Southbury developer - EG Home - is developing high-end townhouses and carriage homes in the northwest corner of the project on Dickerman Road near the intersection of Route 322 and Clark Street in Southington

Construction of EG Home's townhouses was started in 2022.

The flurry of construction activity since then came after decades of stops and starts in development efforts for the sprawling vacant property. Whole Foods has a distribution center on East Johnson Avenue in Cheshire, near the town's border with Meriden.

Whole Foods continues to develop new Connecticut stores at a brisk pace. A new store will open in mid-January in South Windsor at The Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk lifestyle center, making it the chain's 11th store in Connecticut.

And Whole Foods, which is owned by ecommerce giant Amazon, is also looking to open a store on the Boston Post Road in Old Saybrook.

South Korean manufacturer Hanwha Aerospace has had a Connecticut presence since 2019 and on Thursday, company officials moved to build on its operations here, announcing that it was establishing its International Engines division headquarters at the company's Cheshire factory.

The company, which employs more than 600 people across four Connecticut locations, will add about 40 workers by creating the new office in Cheshire. Hanwha officials said readying the Cheshire facility to become a divisional headquarters will involve an expenditure of about $2 million retrofitting part of the 294,000 square feet facility that sits on 50 acres at 5 McKee Place, near the intersection of Interstates 84 and 691.

"Our decision to establish the International Engines Business headquarters in Connecticut underscores Hanwha's unwavering commitment to the U.S. market," said Jae-il Son, chief executive officer of Hanwha Aerospace. "Through this strategic move, we will be able to better serve our key customers, expand our customer base and solidify our position in the aerospace and defense industries."

One of those customers is jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney. Dave Emmerling, vice president of the company's Geared Turbofan Engines division said Hanwha "has been a great partner for Pratt & Whitney."

"Hanwha is our only partner across our entire business — commercial engines, military engines, Pratt & Whitney Canada and operations via our manufacturing ... in Singapore," Emmerling said. "Having Hanwha close to us in Connecticut will only serve to allow us to expand our relationship further."

Gov. Ned Lamont used his appearance at the ceremony announcing the company's new plans to tout the state's leadership in the aerospace sector. Lamont described Connecticut's dominance in the sector as "aerospace alley."

"You can't fly anywhere without parts Connecticut produces," Lamont said. "Pratt & Whitney is part of that and so is Hanwha. We're going to do everything we can to help you grow in Connecticut."

The Cheshire facility, which employs 159 people, was once a jet engine factory for Pratt & Whitney. After Pratt & Whitney closed the facility at the beginning of the last decade, it was purchased by EDAC Technologies in June 2012. Hanwha purchased EDAC in October 2019.

The company's other Connecticut facilities are in East Windsor, Glastonbury, and Newington, said Franklin Dempsey, chief operating officer for Hanwha Aerospace USA.

Tim Slocum, Cheshire's Town Council chairman, said Hanwha's announcement "is a big deal for the town."

"It's great to have this level of economic activity going on," Slocum said.

CHESHIRE – After dominating its schedule for six weeks, Cheshire now can rest a bit.

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The third-ranked Rams (6-0) pitched their third shutout in the last four games with a convincing 41-0 victory over neighboring Hamden, in a Southern Connecticut Conference Tier I contest Friday night.

“We take it week by week and want to go 1-0 every week,” said Cheshire running back Jeffery Gonzalez, who scored three touchdowns. “6-0 is where we want to be. Tonight was a statement game for us.”

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Defensively, it sure was.

https://twitter.com/davephillips41/status/1713000287584047385

Cheshire kept Hamden’s offense in check all night. The Green Dragons only collected 17 yards of offense in the game and were minus-27 yards on the ground, including six sacks of junior quarterback Justin Chapman.

“I think Cheshire wanted the game a lot more,” Hamden coach Tom Dyer said. “They executed a game plan, controlled both lines of scrimmage and they made more plays tonight.”

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Over the last four Fridays, Cheshire has outscored its opponents, 123-0. The Rams have only allowed 24 points in six outings.

“We did the things we’re capable of doing,” Cheshire coach Don Drust said. “We didn’t make too many mistakes.”

From the opening drive of the first quarter, Cheshire was able to move the ball.

Gonzalez finished off a 66-yard drive with a 12-yard scamper to make it 7-0 after just three minutes.

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After the teams exchanged possessions, Cheshire took advantage of a Chapman pass that ended up in the hands of Logan Kranyak, who went 15 yards untouched into the end zone to make it 14-0.

The Rams followed it up with four touchdowns in the second quarter.

Gonzalez caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Aniston Marsh (9-for-16 passing for 142 yards) early in the second quarter. Gonzalez followed it up with an eight-yard dash to break it open at 28-0.

“He (Gonzalez) is tremendous. He’s so tough and physical, but he prepares better than anyone,” Drust said. “He’s a mature person when it comes to preparation and the product you see on the field is because of that.”

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Adam Vernon added a 10-yard fumble return for a touchdown and Marsh hit Liam Suomala for a 37-yard touchdown pass as Cheshire scored all 41 of its points before halftime.

Cheshire star Matt Jeffery saw limited action, catching one pass in the first half.

It was the third loss in the last four weeks for Hamden, now 3-3.

“We have to look at our fundamentals of blocking and tackling that will help us,” Dyer said. “We’ve had some bumps and bruises. We have to get back to basics and getting good at what we’re good at.”

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Cheshire 41, Hamden 0

The sprawling Stonebridge Crossing mixed use development at the intersection of Route 10 and Interstate 691 in Cheshire continues to expand on multiple fronts with plans for an extended stay hotel submitted to the town's Planning and Zoning Commission.

Homewood Suites by Hilton is seeking to build a four-story, 125-room hotel near the entrance to the 107 acre property. If the hotel plans for Stonebridge Crossing are approved by Cheshire officials, it will join eight other locations that Hilton's Homewood Suites brand already has in Connecticut.

The hotel is being proposed near the main entrance to the property off Exit 1 of I-691. Plans for the hotel show an indoor swimming pool as well as an outdoor putting green, a basketball court and outdoor kitchen with fire pits and seating areas.

Planning and Zoning Commission members will get their first chance to ask questions about the proposed development at a public hearing on Oct. 23.

Commission members on Monday heard from a Jacksonville, Fla.-based developer that is under contract to purchase the retail and restaurant components from Stonebridge Crossing. Regency Centers, which has Connecticut offices in Westport and Greenwich, is under to purchase the retail and restaurant component from property owner TriStar Land Development, whose principles include former Town Councilman Paul Bowman, and a Cheshire limited liability company, Miller Nepolitano and Wolff.

Regency Centers is seeking to add 15,000 square feet of retail space to 136,000 square feet that had previously approved. Rebecca Wing, Regency's vice president of investment, said Regency "develops properties for the long term."

"We're excited about the possibility of developing a retail center that the town can be proud on Cheshire main street," Wing said referring to Route 10. She declined to identify any potential tenants, but told commission members that the company has good working relationships with both Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, which retail experts have long speculated were the two most likely candidates for the grocery store space that will anchor the 21.5 acre retail component.

In Connecticut, Regency's retail center portfolio includes Corbins Corner in West Hartford, High Ridge Center in Stamford and the Danbury Green retail center, all of which have Trader Joe's stores. Monday's zoning commission hearing was continued until Oct. 11.

Regency Centers acquired Connecticut-based retail center landlord Urstadt Biddle Properties in a $1.4 billion deal that closed in August.

The latest news about Stonebridge Crossing come two weeks after a joint venture involving Chicago-based investment management firm and a Fairfield residential development company purchased a 300-unit apartment complex that is currently under construction in Cheshire for $9 million, according to municipal land records.

Officials with Blue Vista Capital Management and Eastpointe LLC announced Sept. 13 that the deal had closed to purchase the complex. The property was also owned by TriStar Land Development and Miller Nepolitano and Wolff.

The apartment complex will include eight three-story buildings, and one four-story garden style apartment building. The complex will offer a range of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments to prospective tenants. It will also include a 7,500 square foot clubhouse with a fitness center, seasonal swimming pool, co-working spaces and an outdoor dog park.

Construction of some of the components of Stone Bridge Crossing started last year. When fully developed, Stone Bridge Crossing will include also town homes and senior housing.

Brandon Goetzman, managing principal and co-head of the equity group at Blue Vista said the acquisition reflects Blue Vista’s "strategy of developing high-quality multifamily in under-supplied markets backed by strong demand drivers."

The joint venture acquisition is the third involving Blue Vista and Eastpointe in Connecticut multifamily complexes. The two companies also developed The Pointe at Dorset Crossing in Simsbury and The Preserve at Great Pond in Windsor.