DELAURO, LIEBERMAN, BLUMENTHAL, HARKINS ANNOUNCE NEW PROCESS FOR STRATFORD ARMY ENGINE PLANT SITE

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) and Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) were joined by Stratford Mayor John Harkins today in announcing a new way forward for the Stratford Army Engine Plant site.

Following a meeting last week, the Congresswoman DeLauro and the Connecticut Senators sent a letter to the Army and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) establishing the new process, which will include a 30 day period during which developers can submit proposals and a 30-60 day period for the Army and GSA to determine if they have received a feasible plan, at which point they would be empowered to negotiate a deal with an indentified suitable developer.

This new process seeks to bring about a solution that satisfies the concerns of all parties involved and brings to an end 17 years of disagreements and failed attempts to redevelop the Stratford Army Engine Plant site.

"We believe that we are in agreement in recognizing that the bidding process pursued in recent years has not achieved the desired result: sale of the property to a developer that takes over ownership of the property from the Federal government and, most importantly, develops the property in a manner that benefits the people and Town of Stratford," the letter states. "In addition, we are in agreement on the best way forward to meet that goal in a timely fashion."

"After years of fits and starts, this office stands ready to work in partnership with our federal delegation, the Army, GSA, and the Governor's office to bring a successful redevelopment project to the Stratford Army Engine Plant site," said Stratford Mayor John A. Harkins. "I'd like to especially thank Rep. Rosa DeLauro for facilitating a productive meeting last week in her Washington office with all of the various stakeholders on this project. I look forward to working with the group on a successful redevelopment that will result in much-needed jobs for Stratford, and our state."

The text of the letter is below.

January 25, 2012

Mr. Bob Uhrich

Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army

Installations, Energy and Environment

110 Army Pentagon Room 3E464

Washington, D.C. 20310-0110

Mr. Ralph Conner

Director, Office of Real Property Utilization

U.S. General Services Administration

1275 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20417

Dear Messrs Uhrich and Conner,

We write to thank you and your colleagues for recently meeting to discuss the future of the Stratford Army Engine Plant (SAEP). Nearly seventeen years since the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round that closed SAEP, we are hopeful that we now have a process in place that will finally lead to development of the site.

Based on our conversation, we believe that we are in agreement in recognizing that the bidding process pursued in recent years has not achieved the desired result: sale of the property to a developer that takes over ownership of the property from the Federal government and, most importantly, develops the property in a manner that benefits the people and Town of Stratford. In addition, we are in agreement on the best way forward to meet that goal in a timely fashion.

As discussed, over the course of the next 30 days, the Army, GSA and Town of Stratford will continue to consider proposals from developers. During the subsequent 30-60 days, the Army and the GSA will determine whether a negotiated sale is possible with any of the interested developers. At that point, the Army and the GSA will be empowered to negotiate a final deal with a suitable developer in a timely fashion.

Ultimately, all involved parties must work together with a viable developer to ensure the resources are available to remediate and develop the site. We look forward to continuing our work with you to ensure this process is successful and that our shared goals are met.

Sincerely,

_________________ _________________ _________________

JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN RICHARD BLUMENTHAL ROSA L. DeLAURO

United States Senator United States Senator Member of Congress

Cc: Mayor John A. Harkins

Governor Dannel P. Malloy