New England 11, May 24, 2023

Conn.’s Zlotnick Construction Tackles Projects Large, Small, In-Between

George Zlotnick started his company, Zlotnick Construction Inc., in 1948 after returning from World War II. He was a member of the Elite 17th Airborne Division that jumped behind enemy lines on March 24, 1945, in Wesel, Germany, as part of Operation Varsity. The largest airborne assault in history.

Zlotnick started his construction company in Mansfield Center, Conn., constructing small outbuildings such as chicken coops for local farmers, and, in a measure of diversity, he also had his own chicken farm, which was managed by his wife Zenia who was named “Poultry Woman of the Year” in 1955.

In 1957, much of the farm

DOT to Demolish Bridges in Fall River as Part of Route 79/Davol Street Project

One Massachusetts Route 79 overpass along Fall River’s waterfront has been brought down by demolition experts, while two more bridges are meeting the business end of construction equipment, including one whose absence will drastically change the view for many drivers in the southeast Bay State town.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) began work to tear down the Cory Street U-turn overpass May 8, and planned to do the same to Fall River’s President Avenue overpass starting May 15.

Construction work on the Mass. Route 79/Davol Street

Corridor project is set to take place Mondays to Fridays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Detours are in place 24 hours a day during the bridge demolition work period.

MassDOT is flattening the area between the two halves of Davol Street at the waterfront and removing bridges that once held Mass. Route 79 expressway lanes. The project started in February, part of a years-long effort to remove the expressway and transform Davol Street into a ground-level urban boulevard.

The Herald News reported May 5 that since demolition of

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Sales Auction Company Holds 14th Annual Spring Auction

SalesAuction Company held its 14th annual two-day spring auction Friday, May 5 and Saturday, 6, 2023, in Windsor Locks, Conn.

Friday’s auction featured a timed sale and Saturday’s auction featured an onsite/live sale.

“Everything about this year’s event surpassed expectations by far; more consignments and more bidders than any of our previous sales,” said Sam Sales, president of Sales Auction Company.

For contractors, the sale featured excavators, attachments, aerial equipment, wheel loaders, skid steers, backhoes and more. Other unique items included motorcycles, antiques and collectible cars. Just about every equipment niche was represented, including forestry equipment, aerial lifts, trucks, cars and rolloff containers.  CEG

(All photographs in this article are Copyright 2023 Construction Equipment Guide. All Rights Reserved.)

see AUCTION page 16

The demand for mini-excavators continues to grow every year as new categories of businesses find new ways to put these machines to work.

This year’s sale had the biggest variety of dump trucks and other vocational trucks to fit every contractor and trucker’s needs.

As the sale begins, a large crowd gathers to bid on small items, including lawn mowers, work tools and miscellaneous items.

A huge lineup of wheel loaders manufactured by Caterpillar, Volvo, Komatsu and John Deere was available in every size and condition imaginable. With a sale this large, it takes experienced ring men to be able to complete the sale in a single day.

There were so many skid steers that they were double stacked from one end of the yard to the other.

This Kobelco SK135 excavator gets a thorough inspection moments before it finds a new home.

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Proposed Project in Providence Includes Brown Property

A proposed project on former Interstate 195 land in Providence, R.I., includes an adjacent property owned by Brown University to create a long-term plan that would feature an economically beneficial mix of commercial and residential use.

Additionally, it could provide important city tax revenue and support the goals of Rhode Island leaders for the former I-195 footprint.

In April, Boston’s CV Properties shared its plans for a 149-unit residential building as the first mainstay for the redevelopment of 195 Parcels 14/15. The proposal also outlines plans for an adjacent parcel of land owned by Brown, creating the opportunity for up to 500,000 sq. ft. of mixed-use development.

With a design that incorporates first floor retail, cultural and restaurant uses, the 11-story residential building will anchor the street level experience of a new plaza that would connect spaces created in later phases of the primary plan, according to Brown University.

The complete, phased project will enhance the pedestrian experience of the park and riverfront, the school said, while connecting to the surrounding Providence neighborhood. The plaza next to the residential building is also envisioned to offer an important pathway between the park and Dyer Street, as well as an opportunity for community programming.

“This phased project offers immediate housing benefits and long-term potential to significantly advance the economic development, land use, and job creation goals of both the 195 Commission and the City of Providence,” explained Richard Galvin, founder, and president of CV Properties. “Together with Brown University, we are able to create a more holistic parcel that has flexibility to support this mix of uses. I am grateful to Brown for [its] partnership and [its] vision for an improved public experience in the 195 District and nearby neighborhoods.”

Project’s Outline Presented to Local Commission

Representatives from CV Properties presented their plans for the project to the 195 Redevelopment District Commission during the body’s April 19 meeting. Part of the company’s proposal was a letter of support Brown sent to the commission noting the university’s endorsement of the project.

“As a close neighbor to these 195 parcels, we recognize the opportunity they offer to create better connections between this grow-

ing area of Providence and public assets like the park and waterfront, enhance the value of the neighborhood for all who work, live, learn, play, and relax in the area, and expand access to housing and jobs for Rhode Islanders,” the letter read.

The project presented was a combination of Parcels 14 and 15 of the I-195 Redevelopment District and the adjacent Brown University property at 198-200 Dyer St.

The two parcels are subject to I-195 Development Plan zoning, which includes a building height limit of 130 ft. and no parking minimum, according to Caroline Skuncik, executive director of the District.

The adjacent land included in CV Properties’ proposal will need to meet Providence city zoning requirements, and structures will have a height limit of 100 ft. Additionally, Skuncik explained, the property will have a potential 30-ft. bonus if “public benefits” such as active ground uses, publicly accessible open space and structured parking are provided. The downtown city zoning area also has no parking minimum.

Providence’s Underutilized I-195 Site to Be Reborn

Among the project’s major features would be rich gardens and landscaping, designed to maximize climate resiliency at the elevated

site areas, Brown University noted. The top of the building includes a green roof and rooftop amenity deck. The proposed residential project would have immediate economic benefits, including the creation of 375 construction jobs and nearly 30 permanent jobs.

The broader long-term plan would incorporate the 198-200 Dyer St. site owned by Brown, currently home to a two-story building used for administrative offices and parking. Bundling the Brown site with Parcels 14/15 offers the potential to create over a half-million sq. ft. of total development in phases, including more than 400,000 sq. ft. of planned commercial office and laboratory uses.

Together with the initial residential project and retail/restaurant uses, the redevelopment effort would improve a currently underutilized site and create the potential for more than 1,500 additional construction jobs and 1,600 high-skill permanent jobs. In addition, the multi-phase commercial project would likely provide important tax revenue to Providence, support city and state development goals for the former I-195 land and play a powerful role in advancing the economic well-being of the region and its residents.

Another Major Investment for Brown University

For Brown, providing its land for CV

Properties’ long-term plan would add to $341 million in investments to date that the prestigious university has made in the Providence’s Jewelry District, now home to significant academic, research, administrative and residential space.

Brown’s investments have brought new life to the neighborhood, sparked public-private partnerships that led to the development of its most prominent projects — including South Street Landing, developed by CV Properties in collaboration with Wexford Science + Technology — and helped to attract Ancora L&G, the Cambridge Innovation Center and many other private partners to the state.

“As a close neighbor to these I-195 parcels, we recognize the opportunity they offer to create better connections between this growing area of Providence and public assets like the park and waterfront, enhance the value of the neighborhood for all who work, live, learn, play and relax in the area, and expand access to housing and jobs for Rhode Islanders,” said Russell Carey, executive vice president of planning and policy at Brown.

“The 195 Commission has been an outstanding advocate for maximizing these spaces to improve the lives of local residents, and we look forward to the opportunity to play an additional role in achieving this important objective.”

Brown University rendering

A new proposed project in Providence includes an adjacent property owned by Brown to create a long-term master planning opportunity that would feature an economically beneficial mix of uses and provide important city tax revenue.

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Zlotnick Continually Works On Prides Corner Farm Project

was destroyed by the first recorded tornado in Connecticut and had to be rebuilt with the help of family and friends. By 1958, the construction side had grown enough that Zlotnick Construction was incorporated. In 1972, his eldest son, Gregory, graduated from the University of Connecticut with an engineering degree and began his new role as CEO and president of the company.

The late ’70s into the ’90s was a period of great growth for the company. Zlotnick Construction became the general contractor of a number of fast-growing firms, including Dunkin Donuts, Burger Chef and Staples, and completed major commercial projects for companies such as First National Supermarkets, Pfizer, Foxwoods, Cigna and Pratt & Whitney.

Under Gregory’s leadership, the company largely built its reputation on excellent work and strong business and personal relationships.

Today, the company continues to handle projects for massive corporations such as Walmart, Costco, BJ’s Wholesale and Price Chopper. One of the projects that it has spent the largest amount of its time on with a constant presence over the past several years is a wholesale nursery called Prides Corner Farms located in Lebanon, Conn.

The nursery, which has been in business for approximately 30 years, incorporates 750 acres and contains approximately 70 mi. of greenhouses. The past decade has represented an astounding growth period for the company, which now distributes strictly wholesale plants, including annuals, edibles, trees — just about anything green that you can imagine — across the entire northeast, south to Virginia and west through Ohio.

On the day CEG visited, Zlotnick Construction was working on a 40-ft. by 280-ft. slab of concrete with a 280-ft. trench drain with seven down spouts for future plumbing where a cover would be installed over the slab. Projects like this can be small in scope compared with others, but there is always a project under way.

Projects Large, Small … and in Between

“Zlotnick Construction varies widely in the size and scope of projects that they address,” said Gregory Zlotnick Jr., the founder’s grandson, and current vice president of Zlotnick Construction. “The size and scope of each project dictates how the company approaches each one. Depending on the size and schedule of a given project, we may opt out to tackle it ourselves and put it out to bid.

“Over the years, our company has gained a good working knowledge of most all aspects within the construction industry. It puts us in a good position to oversee a project yet hire

experts in the individual fields to execute the work.”

“Here at Prides Corner Farms, the work that we have done has been spread out over 600 acres, and multiple locations.,” Zlotnick said. “There are miles of hoophouses and roadways that we have been involved with helping maintain and construct.”

see ZLOTNICK page 18

The loading dock area also was constructed by Zlotnick Construction.

Zlotnick Construction uses a Kenco Multilift from Able Tool & Equipment to install sections of precast concrete.

An inside view of one of Prides Corner Farms staging areas where plants are assembled ready for shipping. Zlotnick Construction is responsible for all of the concrete slab work, excavation and roadway construction.

Zlotnick Construction currently is working on an expansion of Prides Corner Farms’ shipping slab with a 48 by 280-ft. addition installing 280 ft. of trench drain.

ZLOTNICK from page 1

BOMAG Signs Central Equipment Company As New Dealer in Maine

BOMAG Americas has signed Central Equipment Company as a new dealer, covering the entire state of Maine.

Under the agreement, Central Equipment Company will be providing its customers with sales, service and parts support for BOMAG light and heavy tandem rollers, single drum rollers, and landfill compactors.

One of the premier companies in the state, Central Equipment Co is headquartered in Stillwater, Maine, and has been partnering with Maine contractors since its founding in 1959. The family-owned business has prided itself in delivering reliable service, excellent product support, and offering the most innovative and reliable construction equipment on the market. It specializes in both the sale and rental of new and late model

equipment.

Commenting on the agreement, Cole Renken, vice president of sales and marketing of BOMAG Americas, said, “Central Equipment Company has been a successful and well-run organization for many years, and we are proud to welcome them into the

BOMAG network. Since their founding, they have developed a positive reputation in the industry, and we are excited to work alongside such a well-regarded company.”

Kent Leonard, president of Central Equipment Co further stated, “We are very pleased to promote and support BOMAG light and heavy rollers and landfill compactors throughout the state of Maine. BOMAG manufactures reliable, cutting-edge, and extremely well-engineered equipment, and they are committed to supporting a strong customer-focused network. Their high quality and keen focus on our mutual customers make them an ideal partner for Central Equipment Company.”

For more information, visit www.bomag.com/us-en and www.centralequipmentco.com/. 

MassDOT Eyes Transforming Corridor Into Urban Boulevard

capacity, according to the state transportation agency.

President Avenue provides the only access between neighborhoods east of Mass. Route 79 and the waterfront, and the corridor currently lacks any accommodations for bicyclists. When the project is complete, though, MassDOT said it will make the roadways more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists while improving their access to the waterfront.

BRIDGES from page 1

the expressway began, the landscape has seen dramatic changes, with the waterfront visible from the northbound lanes of Davol Street for the first time since the mid-1970s, when the Mass. Route 79 expressway was built in the town.

The removal of the overpass across President Avenue may be one of the more dramatic visible changes to Fall River’s landscape. The intersection of President and Davol Street is a major route for drivers going to and coming from Somerset on the west side of the Taunton River. On President Avenue facing west, the bridge currently obstructs the view of Veterans Memorial Bicentennial Park.

The plan, which is expected to be complete in mid-2026, will create more street

access points to Fall River’s waterfront and will open 19 acres of developable land.

Streets to Be Transformed Into Urban Boulevard

MassDOT wants to transform the Mass. Route 79/Davol Street corridor into a multimodal urban boulevard, connecting the neighborhood to the Taunton River while creating the new parcels of land for Fall River’s economic development.

Massachusetts Route 79 between the Veterans Memorial Bridge and Central Street in Fall River is a divided limited access highway, carrying two lanes in each direction, where the speed limit ranges between 40 mph and 45 mph. In addition, Mass. Route 79 handles between 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles per day and has excess

The new urban boulevard construction also will:

• Reduce the number of travel lanes from four to two lanes in each direction.

• Establish four cross street connections between Fall River’s neighborhoods and waterfront.

• Build 2 mi. of sidewalks and more than 2 mi. of shared use paths.

• Add coordinated traffic signals along Mass. Route 79.

• Introduce landscaping elements throughout the corridor.

• Replace the bridge carrying northbound Mass. Route 79 at the southern end of the project.

• Improve the corridor’s stormwater and sewage systems.

The Mass. Route 79/Davol Street corridor

is an important highway for local and regional traffic traveling north and south. The two roads also provide local access in and out of Fall River. Drivers wishing to travel north to I-495, and east and west to I95, routinely use Mass. Route 79 to do so. As a result, MassDOT is committed to shortening the duration of construction-period impacts to better help motorists get on their way. 

The plan, which is expected to be complete in mid-2026, will create more street access points to Fall River’s waterfront and will open 19 acres of developable land.

The removal of the overpass across President Avenue may be one of the more dramatic visible changes to Fall River’s landscape.

Under the agreement, Central Equipment Company will be providing its customers with sales, service and parts support for BOMAG light and heavy tandem rollers, single drum rollers and landfill compactors.

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Sales Auction Company Holds Two-Day Sale in Windsor Locks

AUCTION from page 4

Looking to bring home a skid steer? Perhaps this Bobcat S250 was it. John Sowyrda looks to bring one back home with him to Boston.

If you were looking to make some extra money selling quality topsoil, this Fintec 540 screen could help you do it.

This Ford F550, equipped with a dump body and V-plow, was in excellent condition.

For excavating contractors, the auction offered the biggest lineup of machines Connecticut has seen all year.

With a Caterpillar 323F is Jimmy Jeffers of Nash Equipment in Colebrook, N.H.

This Hamm double-drum asphalt roller was an example of a great late-model machine for serious paving contractors who were looking for equipment they could put on the job the next day.

Staking claim to a Hamm double-drum asphalt roller is Bradford Kosich of Abele Tractor in Albany, N.Y.

Hands down, the auction’s biggest item was this Komatsu WA500.

Zlotnick Works Closely With Able Tool for Equipment Needs

that we need we can get from a single source.

“Besides ponds and roadways, we’ve installed thousands of feet of drainage to properly drain the areas around the greenhouses and reclaim as much water as possible for their irrigation systems” he added. “Additionally, utility lines have been laid throughout the complex and in the winter, we help keep the facility plowed out. The growing season is year-round, so the greenhouses need to stay accessible throughout the winter months. In a snowy winter, we are very busy helping with snow removal.”

Zlotnick Construction’s relationship with Prides Corner Farms started approximately nine years ago.

“Prides owner was innovating the methods that they used to load and unload their trucks,” Zlotnick said. “Their plan involved a large concrete pad and new loading docks. We did a large part of the project for them. The existing slabs were removed and hauled off site and structural fill was brought in. The relationship continued to grow and shortly after completion, they had us back with our dozer grading roads followed by pond work and before we knew it, we were here pretty much full time helping with anything they needed. Since then, the relationship has been more of a partnership with each others employees working together each day.

Working With Able Tool and Equipment

Zlotnick Construction also has another division that specializes in doing makeovers and rehabs for major box stores such as Walmart. Periodically, major retailers will completely reconfigure and modernize a retail store.

“When this type of work is done, it is labor-intensive work, but it also calls for construction machines,” Zlotnick said. “The challenge is you are working indoors and with environmental and OSHA requirements everything you operate needs to be zero emissions. Finding the right type and size of equipment that meets the no emissions [electric] standards can be quite a challenge.

“Over the years we have worked with Able Tool and Equipment in South Windsor, Conn., to meet those challenges. Yes, there has been a curve toward manufacturing electric machines like excavators, plate compactors and buggies, but it has been a slow curve.

“Able Tool and Equipment leads the industry in inventorying for sale and rent electric excavators, plate compactors, concrete buggies, compaction equipment, walkbehind saws and hammers. Really anything

“We work closely with Bob Nason, our representative with Able Tool and Equipment. He sizes up the right equipment for each job and is an essential part of our bidding process. Our relationship with Able Tool & Equipment goes back before working with Bob Nason. We’ve done business with them for at least 15 years. I believe it started with some simple items like demo saws and over time it has grown. For the work at Prides Corner Farms and other projects, we just recently purchased a Wacker Neuson 6555 diesel plate compactor.”

Zlotnick Construction ran into an issue a year or so ago with the construction of a new Chipotle when an engineering issue resulted in an excessive amount of water and soil being trapped on the inside of the shell of the building during the construction process.

“There were very limited options on how to resolve it and any of them were going to be expensive,” Zlotnick said. “We worked closely with Able Tool and Equipment to rent a mini-excavator, a tracked buggy and a mini-tracked skid steer that you stand behind to operate to work — a solution that saved us thousands of dollars from a remediation plan that had been proposed. The remediation plan would have taken a significant amount of time to complete with an already pressing schedule. With equipment from Able Tool and Equipment we were able to complete the project in four days.

“A lot of what makes working with Able Tool and Equipment a good experience is their excellent communication. They return phone calls, they pay attention to our needs, they get us the equipment when we need it, they get back to us on pricing very promptly, it just works. When we had the issue with Chipotle, they had the equipment that we needed in our hands within 24 hours. We’ve had issues here at the farm where we needed water pumps now and they showed up almost immediately. I go back to the variety of items that they have at Able Tool and Equipment. They don’t just have water pumps; they have every water pump you can imagine. They don’t just have hammers; they have every hammer you could possibly need. They don’t just have mini-excavators; they have every size mini-excavator you can imagine.”

For more information, visit www.zlotnickconstruction.com and abletool.net. CEG

(All photographs in this article are Copyright 2023 Construction Equipment Guide. All Rights Reserved.)

ZLOTNICK from page 12