Dedicated to Joanne Wells, who asked simply; “What’s the plan?”

The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority unveiled plans in 2017 to revamp the former Norwich Hospital property in Preston into over a dozen amenities including a water park, senior living center and sports complex.

The development is estimated to cost $200 million to $600 million and is set to include outdoor and indoor entertainment, a large concert venue, timeshare units, restaurant space, stores, an RV park, marina, convenience store, and gas station.

Since the state sold the 393-acre property to Preston for $1 in 2009, $20 million has been spent cleaning up the property and demolishing dozens of buildings to make way for new development.

In May 2017 the Mohegan tribe said progress on cleaning up the “environmental contamination” had finally reached the point where the tribe could start attracting development partners.

Preston First Selectman Bob Congdon said the plans were an impressive step forward. “This is a monumental step in turning a blighted brownfield into a major economic engine for Preston, southeastern Connecticut and the entire state of Connecticut, creating jobs and tax revenue,” Congdon said.

The tribe emphasized that the development would have options for Mohegan Sun visitors who aren’t as interested in gambling, and that the amenities would be considered more family-friendly. It has also been stressed that the project would create at least 750 construction jobs and hundreds of permanent full-time positions.

Gov. Dannel Malloy praised the plans for redeveloping the site, calling it “great news for the region and for the state.”

“It has been a priority of mine, not only for the direct benefit that remediating this brownfield will have on the local community, but also for the future economic development potential that this valuable property can bring to the entire region,” he said in a statement. “Southeast Connecticut is a premier tourism destination, and these new offerings will even further strengthen our appeal to visitors … the state remains a committed partner to seeing this project through.”

For general information of the Norwich State Hospital site and its history, visit https://colonelnews.com/2018/05/23/the-condemnation-of-the-norwich-hospital/

For more information on the plans for the property, visit www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Plans-to-Redevelop-Old-Norwich-Hospital-Site-Include-Hotels-Senior-Living-Water-Park-410838555.html%3famp=y
Jolie Suarez, Staff Writer

Junior Jolie Suarez is a staff writer for the 2017-2018 Colonel. While binge-watching The Vampire Diaries, she eats salt and vinegar chips, Twizzlers, Wendy’s, Sour Patch Kids, and drinks Olive Garden limontas. You may deliver these foods at any reasonable hour to the main office for her.