On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Mayor Laura R. Hoydick, Economic Development Director Mary Dean, Michael Reheuser, Director of Installation Services Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 for the US Army along with several other Army officials, Greg Hencir from USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers), Ray Frigon from CT DEEP, and Jim Cabrera and Ted Lane from Point Stratford Renewal (PSR), held a ceremony to commemorate the recent conveyance of the Stratford Army Engine Plant from the Army and USACE to Point Stratford Renewal, the developers.
The property was initially developed in 1927 for Sikorsky Aircraft where aircraft and engines were manufactured from 1929 to 1948. The plant was expanded during World War II to accommodate mass production of the F4U Corsair fighter plane. From 1952 until it closed, the plant was used to produce reciprocating aircraft engines, and turbine engines were all designed, developed and manufactured in this facility for both commercial and military applications. By 1968, 10,000 people were employed in the plant.
In October 1995, SAEP was placed on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list. The site closed in 1998 as part of the BRAC.
Point Stratford Renewal (PSR) was chosen as the preferred developer by the Army in 2013. PSR will be entering into an Environmental Service Cooperative Agreement (ESCA) which will allow them to manage the remediation of the mudflats simultaneously with the upland property, in order to speed up the timeframe of the project. To help expedite the undertaking, Town departments are working to guarantee timely and efficient processes while coordinating with PSR.
“Thank you to all stakeholders involved who helped move the conveyance forward. After over 25 years in the making, we are excited to see what the future holds for this 77-acre property, one that is rich in and of great significance to Stratford’s history.”
- Mayor Laura R. Hoydick