New London projects move into implementation after $11.41 million state support for housing and school upgrades

Connecticut’s State Bond Commission approved $11.41 million in support for New London on May 29, 2026, advancing housing-conversion projects and renovations at the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication.

The package includes $7 million for new housing units and $3.41 million for improvements at the interdistrict school. The projects are expected to move into implementation, but construction start and completion dates have not been announced.

Two housing conversions

A $5 million loan will support the conversion of the former Day newspaper headquarters at 47 Eugene O’Neill Drive. The planned redevelopment will include apartments, a museum and retail spaces.

A separate $2 million loan will support the conversion of 78-88 State Street into a mixed-use building. The plan calls for 25 apartments above or alongside ground-floor commercial space.

The state announcement does not identify affordability requirements, tenant eligibility, construction schedules or plans for managing disruption during the work. The apartments should not be considered completed or occupied based on the approval alone.

School improvements and next steps

The $3.41 million school allocation is intended for renovations and improvements at the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication. The listed work includes upgrades to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, windows, roofs and elevators.

New London Public Schools has scheduled a School Facilities and Program Design Committee meeting for Aug. 10, 2026. The meeting is a scheduled discussion point, not a completed decision on the projects.

The city’s community development planning is also moving into the next program year. New London’s Community Development Block Grant program covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The city lists an expected prior-year allocation of $791,387.

The state’s May 29 bond agenda also records a separate $250,000 planning allocation connected to the New London Public Market Corporation. That item is listed in the official agenda alongside other New London-related capital support.

Together, the approved housing and school funding puts state-backed redevelopment and facility work on a defined implementation path. For residents, the next practical questions are when construction will begin, how the housing will be marketed, and how school operations will be affected while building systems and structures are upgraded.