Who is AM Group?
A prominent construction company within the state of CT, they are on the cusp of unveiling two new Oakland Fresh Market gas stations, set to revolutionize the local convenience market landscape. Embodying innovation and community focus, these establishments are strategically positioned to serve the bustling Connecticut corridors with premium services and products..

Wethersfield’s Pioneer Station (above) – 708 Silas Deane Highway The first of the duo, located at 708 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, is poised to open its doors, offering a unique blend of convenience and quality. This location promises to be more than a gas station; it’s a fresh take on the concept, integrating a market that offers fresh, high-quality food options for the on-the-go consumer.

Stratford’s Modern Convenience Hub (above) – 7050 Main Street Following closely is the Stratford station at 7050 Main Street. This site takes the Fresh Market concept a step further, incorporating state-of-the-art facilities and eco-friendly technologies that align with AM Group’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.

What to Expect
Both Oakland Fresh Market gas stations are designed to cater to the needs of the modern commuter. From gourmet coffee to fresh deli selections, the focus is on quality and freshness. Additionally, these stations will provide the community with a convenient stop for not only refueling their vehicles but also for grabbing healthy, delicious food options.

 Community and Economy
The completion of these projects is not just an advancement in convenience retail but also a boon for the local economy. The AM Group has worked closely with local suppliers and contractors, ensuring that the benefits of this project enhance the community it serves.

Looking Forward
As the AM Group’s Oakland Fresh Market gas stations near completion, they are set to become landmarks of convenience and modernity in their respective locations. Keep an eye on the grand opening announcements for these exciting new additions to the Connecticut community.

Godfrey-Hoffman engineer Jim Rotondo, P.E., has been involved with the project as the site engineer. Our survey team has also mapped the site and has been working extensively on the project since it first broke ground. Upon completion, the new buildings will offer 235 residential units in total.

In total, there are some 1300 Geopiers required to be set, all of which must be located and flagged by our survey crew before they are drilled. This has involved numerous weeks at the site setting between 100 and 200 flags per day depending on the obstrutions of the day, such as the constant heavy construction traffic in and out of the site.

Since September 2017, GHA has been involved in a project to bring 30 bike share stations in New Haven. You can read more about Bike New Haven on the project website, in the New Haven Independent. and most recently on the front page of The New Haven Register. The project, headed by P3 Global Management (P3GM), is inspired by successful bike share programs in Portland, Oregon and Hoboken, New Jersey. Bike New Haven is intended to be an innovative addition to the existing public transportation system in New Haven, and will be accessible for those who live and work in New Haven.

A unique project such as Bike New Haven requires flexibility, familiarity with local permitting, and constant communication. Godfrey-Hoffman was able to respond to the client’s needs quickly and effectively. Each bike share station consists of bike racks and ad panels, as shown below. All 30 proposed stations are located in public rights-of-way. Before GHA could move forward with our portion of the project, there had to be many internal discussions on city regulations, and how to navigate the requirements of several city departments, including Engineering, Traffic and Transportation, and City Planning. On October 6, 2017, GHA Project Manager Marcus Puttock, attended a meeting with P3GM and the relevant city departments to come up with a plan that would satisfy city regulations, and meet the client’s needs in a timely fashion. Following this meeting, GHA was able to finalize a scope of services from site mapping to permitting, and create a workflow plan that would bring the project from the mapping stage to site plan creation.

In late October 2017, field work began. The GHA survey department took on the task of establishing control, mapping each site, collecting pictures, and drafting. After the field work was completed, the next stage began. Marcus created site plans in collaboration with P3GM, which were then submitted to the city for comment and public hearing. P3GM was able to get the project approved for construction by City Planning in November 2017. Construction commenced in January 2018, and is proceeding, as seen below. While no two survey jobs are the same, there is usually a certain formula for how a job moves from the proposal stage, through mapping, drafting and so on. Bike New Haven was a completely new formula. The project required constant communication and research prior to the proposal stage. It also presented the unique challenge of researching and navigating public right of way laws and city regulations. Despite these challenges, Bike New Haven is an exciting opportunity for GHA to move forward a project that will bring inexpensive, accessible public transportation to residents of New Haven.

Banton Construction Company was founded in 1979 and has steadily grown to emerge as a leading general contracting and construction management firm in the Connecticut market.

Godfrey-Hoffman Associates worked with Banton Construction in the surveying, design, and permitting of many projects, including:

• Banton Construction headquarters in North Haven, CT.
• The Bridgeport Intermodal Center
• The Hartford MDC Heat Recovery Facility
• Sherman School
• New Canaan, Southport, and Darian Train Stations
• High-End residential home

Belray Capital, LLC, founded in 1999 by Brandon Lacoff and Ron Young, Jr., is a private equity investment company located in Greenwich, Connecticut that specializes in both residential and commercial real estate.

Belray Capital received three Home Building Industry (HOBI) awards from the Home Builders Association of Connecticut for its Beacon Hill of Greenwich work. Among the awards they were recognized for were Best Smart Growth Community in Fairfield County, Best Attached Community, and Best Attached Home Over 4,000 square feet.

GHA also performed the following for the project:

• Site planning
• Site engineering
• Permitting
• Site stake-out & final as-builts for Condominium documents

After leaving the army in 1969, Steve Darley moved to New Haven, Connecticut to work as an attorney for the New Haven Redevelopment agency. He operated a real estate development company between 1972 and 2009, which specialized in developing affordable housing and completed over 1100 units. Steve also formed his own construction company in 1985 which specialized in residential construction. Darley retired from his development and construction business in 2009 after spending almost forty years as a real estate developer and contractor. Steve has been a client of Godfrey Hoffman & Associates for over 30 years.

Godfrey-Hoffman Associates completed work for the 104 Unit, HUD Financed, elderly living facility, which is located on Sackett Point Road in North Haven, CT.

GHA’s work included

• Complete boundary and topographic mapping
• Coordination of the wetlands soil scientist
• Construction stake-out
• Site planning
• Site engineering
• Extensive local, state, and federal permitting

Project owner Steve Darley chose Godfrey-Hoffman specifically due to the professionalism they have experienced over the years. This project took over 4 years for approval. It went through intense scrutiny from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Army Corp of Engineers, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Town of North Haven’s Inland Wetlands, Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning & Zoning Commission.