Tom Kessel’s former home at 20 Allen-O’Neill Drive during its recent demolition. The apartment building was the only structure leftover from the former Fitch Home for Soldiers that occupied the site previously. (Tom Kessel photo)
The contractors working on the Allen O’Neill redevelopment project in Noroton Heights reached a compromise with the Darien Police Department on construction and noise start times Friday morning, according to Sgt. Jeremiah Marron, public information officer for the department.
Marron said Viking Construction, which previously was beginning construction at 6 a.m. on the Noroton Heights project, told the police Friday morning it is “sympathetic to the concerns of the community.
Going forward, Monday through Friday, no machinery will be turned on before 7 a.m. On Saturdays, only non-machinery work will begin at 7 a.m., with machinery not starting before 8 a.m.
Previously, neighbors of the project, which will double the currently 53 single-family homes to 106 units, complained of loud construction noise beginning too early and waking up their children.
The project, which received approval for the $2.47 million of 9% low income tax credits from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority last year, kicked off in March. On Monday, state and local officials, including Gov. Dan Malloy, spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony on the site.
Previously, Marron told The Darien Times while the town has a noise ordinance, construction is not included in it, likely because the definition is too broad and would be hard to regulate.
Marron told The Darien Times Friday morning that the shift commander for the department’s overnight shift ending at 7 a.m. spoke with the two senior project superintendents about the change Friday morning.
“They explained the reason they had started work earlier this week was due to heat,” he said.
