Construction on new Dollar General Store underway

Michelle Warren, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Aug. 9—WILLIMANTIC — Construction on the new Dollar General Store on West Main Street is now underway. Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers said construction started at the VFW on Aug. 2.

" They didn't waste any time," he said during the Aug. 2 town council meeting.

The 10,910 square- foot store is being built on a 1.1 acre parcel at 1415 West Main St.

Windham Economic and Community Development Director James Bellano said the VFW sold the 1.1- acre parcel to Garrett Homes LLC. for $578.000 and the sale was recorded on July 28.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site plan for the business by a 5-0 vote during its May 26 meeting. VFW members plan to use proceeds from the property sale to fix up their building, including renovations to the kitchen, hall and bathrooms, as well as repairing the parking lot.

Rivers said the workers who are building the store are working " quickly" and predicted the project would be finished by the end of the year.

This development is one of several significant development projects underway in Windham.

" The values are going up," Rivers said, referring to commercial property in town.

Another big project in town is the construction of a 136-unit apartment complex in North Windham. The developer involved in that project is waiting for the state to finish its review of the traffic plan. Rivers said there are no "problems" with the plan, but there is a staff shortage at the state.

" We understand," he said. Rivers said town officials are trying to increase the quality of life, lower taxes and improve the commercial base.

" Everything's going in the right direction," he said.

Bellano said while Windham is not off a major interstate and doesn't have a commuter rail, it is attractive to developers because the town is a "hub" of Eastern Connecticut.

He said another factor that makes the town attractive to developers is its proximity to two major universities — Eastern Connecticut State University, which is in Willimantic, and the University of Connecticut, which is in neighboring Mansfield.

Bellano said this property sale brought a piece of land that wasn't taxable onto the tax rolls.

" I know some people are not happy about another dollar store, but these companies review the market," he said.

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