Norwich takes ownership of Marina Towers building, begins grounds cleanup

Norwich ― The view of Norwich Harbor and the Marina at American Wharf improved this week, as the city completed its acquisition of the long-vacant and blighted Marina Towers building and began to clean up the property.

The city completed the purchase of Marina Towers at 74-78 W. Main St. Tuesday for $350,000 from former owner JCM CT Acquisitions LLC, sister firm to former marina owner Joyal Capital Management. The city used federal American Rescue Plan Act grant money to cover the purchase.

Norwich Community Development Corp. President Kevin Brown praised the city crews for the work to clean up the property parking lot, which included removal of a long-dead, browned Christmas tree with lights still attached, some old toys, dead trees and trash.

City Manager John Salomone said motorists heading toward downtown along West Main Street now can see boats in the water and a portion of the marina property.

The marina is undergoing extensive renovations by Somers couple Patrick and Brittany Dwyer and will host a ticketed barbecue event Friday night coinciding with the city’s annual fireworks festival.

Future plans for the four-story Marina Towers and accompanying parking lot will take longer than the initial cleanup. In its June 14 grant submittal to the state Community Investment Fund, the city included about $200,000 to assess the condition and potential contamination in the building and $700,000 for “selective demolition,” Brown said.

Even if structural assessments say the building is salvageable, sagging floors and rotting walls and interior structures will need to be demolished, Brown said.

Brown said the city expects to hear in mid-September whether the grant will be awarded.

Meanwhile, the city is seeking public input on what residents would like to see happen with the Marina Towers property, whether total demolition for better views, demolition for new construction or renovation of the current structure, if structurally sound. Residents can post comments on the city’s public engagement platform at envisionnorwich360.com.

Salomone said the city will not be the developer of the property, either to renovate or build something new there.

To better control potential future uses, the city will put out a request for proposals and will review them based on the proposed plans and time schedules, rather than on purchase prices.

“We’re not interested in someone taking it and not doing anything with it,” Salomone said.

c.bessette@theday.com