Norwich - Mayor Deberey Hinchey summed up accomplishments during the past year, her first in office, and said Monday she will focus on several major economic development projects in the coming three years, including the stalled Ponemah Mills renovation, the Shipping Street former industrial area and making better use of the Norwich Transportation Center.

Hinchey also announced that she will be attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20 - an event past mayors have skipped.

"Norwich must be part of the larger picture nationwide," Hinchey said.

Hinchey stressed that she has brought Norwich issues repeatedly to Hartford, even delivering Small Business Express Loan applications to state officials personally. She said those efforts have made state officials and agencies better known in Hartford.

"I have brought a whole team of city officials to describe our projects to the governor's chief of staff and other commissioners," Hinchey said.

The Ponemah Mills project calls for renovating the largest of the historic Taftville mill complex into 300 apartments with a small amount of related commercial development. With the environmental cleanup partly done, the project has stalled over financing issues.

The defunct Hampton Inn project at Exit 80 off Interstate 395 also has stalled. City officials have been reluctant to support a requested substantial city tax subsidy, and the issue has not been raised for a vote.

"These projects are complicated and require professional attention and creative thinking," Hinchey said. "Both require public/private partnership for funding."

Another developer's plan to create a housing development at the site of the fire-ravaged former Capehart Mill in Greeneville also has stalled for financial reasons. Hinchey said she would continue to work on that project.

Hinchey also worked with U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and credited Courtney for working "tirelessly and successfully" to save the Norwich Post Office on Main Street. The announcement that the U.S. Postal Service was reversing its decision to close the post office and sell the building was among the first accomplishments of Hinchey's first year in office. She also thanked the state's congressional delegation for securing an $8.2 million grant to upgrade the Central New England freight rail line that runs through Norwich.

"Improvement in our rail system will generate much economic development in the coming years," Hinchey said. "We are talking with businesses now about the viability of connecting to the rail system."

One of the biggest issues to hit the city that didn't involve taxes or economic development was the housing of convicted sex offenders in state-subsidized housing on Broad Street. Hinchey hosted a meeting with more than a dozen state and city officials to address the issue and said she and city agencies, as well as local legislators would continue to work with the state Department of Correction on the issue.

c.bessette@theday.com

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