NORTH OF THE BRIDGE

IF YOU GO UP THE THAMES RIVER, AND GO UNDER THE MOHEGAN PEQUOT BRIDGE, YOU SEE TWO HUGE COMPLEXES. ONE TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER, QUITE NEW AND VIBRANT, WITH VEHICLES AND LARGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE SCURRYING AROUND. ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER IS A COMPLEX OF LONELY BRICK BUILDINGS THAT WERE AT ONE TIME VIBRANT NOW BARREN LIKE A GHOST TOWN. THE BUILDINGS ARE SLOWLY DISINTEGRATING.

THE WEST SIDE IS THE MOHEGAN SUN CASINO COMPLEX AND ON THE EAST SIDE IS THE NORWICH STATE HOSPITAL PROPERTY, ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER A TESTAMENT OF SOUTH EAST CONNECTICUT OF THE 1960'S AND OF SOUTH EAST CONNECTICUT TODAY.

BOTH COMPLEXES IN THE NEWS, WITH DIFFERENT PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE SOLVED.

THE NORWICH STATE HOSPITAL PROPERTY (WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE SITE IN PRESTON) IS IN CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE TOWN OF PRESTON AND THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT GAVE PRESTON THREE (3) YEARS TO FIND A BUYER AND TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND FROM THE STATE. THE STATE IS GIVING PRESTON UNTIL FEBRUARY 23, 2009.

I DO NOT THINK PRESTON CAN FIND A BUYER AND FINISH THE DEAL IN TIME. IF THEY BUY IT THEMSELVES, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GET THE ESTIMATED $40 MILLION TO PAY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN UP?

I THINK AT THIS POINT PRESTON SHOULD GIVE UP AND COME AWAY WITH THE REALIZATION THAT THEY BLEW IT. THEY HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT IN MY OPINION, WENT FOR A PIPE DREAM WITH THE UTOPIA STUDIOS DEAL. THE BIG QUESTION IS, IF IT GOES BACK TO THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH THE PROPERTY? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ACROSS THE RIVER ON THE WEST BANK IS THE MOHEGAN SUN. IT IS STILL A VIBRANT PLACE WITH PLENTY OF HUMAN ACTIVITY. BUSINESS IS OFF. EVERY MONTH THE FIGURES ARE DOWN.

TO THE CASINO MANAGEMENT'S CREDIT, THEY HAVE MADE ALL KINDS OF CUTS. THEY HAVE CUT SALARIES, BENEFITS, ETC. THEY HAVE TAKEN AWAY ACTIVITIES AND OTHER THINGS TO SAVE THE WORKERS, THEIR JOBS. WILL IT BE ENOUGH? WILL THE ECONOMY COME BACK FAST ENOUGH TO SAVE FUTURE CUTS? THE CASINO DID A VERY SMART THING, BY DOING THE CUTS THEY ARE SAVING THEIR EXPERIENCED WORKERS FROM BEING LOST.

IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING, YOU HAVE A VIBRANT NEW FACILITY ON ONE SIDE ACTING AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE IN SOUTH EAST CONNECTICUT. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER WAS ONE OF THE BIG EMPLOYERS OF THE PAST.

A SHINNY NEW BUILDING ON ONE SIDE AND DEVASTATION ON THE OTHER. WHAT DO YOU THINK?