Groton City to demolish house as part of plan for waterfront park

Groton ― The city is slated to demolish a house on the upper part of the Costa property on Thames Street this summer, as it seeks to fulfill a long-term vision to create a park there with views of the Thames River.

City of Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick said the parcel at 352 Thames St. represents the last part of the city’s overall plan to develop a waterfront park at the site.

“I think it’s instrumental in being able to develop a plan for the use of the upper property,” he said.

About 15 years ago, the city purchased most of the Costa property on Thames Street, which includes lower land along the Thames River, near the wastewater treatment plant, and upper land across the street and below Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park.

About two years, the city purchased 352 Thames St., the last parcel for the upper section.

The 0.3-acre property, adjacent to the city’s 1.25 acres of upper parkland, led to 1.5 acres of space for the upper park, in addition to the approximately half-acre lower park, according to city records.

The city evaluated the house to see if it had a need for it and what the cost would be to convert it from a residential structure, Hedrick said but determined the structure was not needed and the conversion would be cost prohibitive.

The City Council last week approved awarding the house demolition project to New England Yankee Construction LLC of West Haven, which had the low bid of $58,620, plus contingency.

The company is slated to remove the house by the end of August and then will do an engineering study for the proposed design of the park, said Hedrick. After determining which features the park should have, the city will develop the upper property into the Upper Thames View Park.

The city has been awarded a grant by the Connecticut Port Authority to add an eight-slip boat dock in the future at the Lower Thames View Park. The city plans to improve the lower park and make it accessible to get to the dock under the American with Disabilities Act, said Hedrick.

“In the end, I’m hoping it will be a premier waterfront park,” Hedrick said.

Cierra Patrick, economic development manager for the city, said that with the grant for the dock and the investments the city is making in the waterfront park, the city believes it will be an economic driver and have activities that will bring people to the area.

She said there are essentially three tiers: the lower park with the dock, the upper park where the house will be demolished, and then Fort Griswold above the city’s land. She added the city property will provide an important connection and amenity for the community.

k.drelich@theday.com