NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Next month marks the third anniversary of the controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed the city of New London to use the power of eminent domain. But, not much progress has been made in Fort Trumbull, leaving some wondering whether the homeowners were forced out for nothing.

Eyewitness News took a tour of the development site to get a progress report

Contractors have been busy remodeling the former Naval Undersea Warfare Center. The $17 million project will be the new home for the U.S. Coast Guard's research and development center.

The center is currently housed across the Thames at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point Campus in Groton.

The center is just about the only visible work to date at Fort Trumbull.

The 79-acre Fort Trumbull project is spearheaded by the New London Development Corporation, a quasi-public development arm of the city.

NLDC selected developer Corcoran Jennison to find new tenants for the property and build 80 townhouses.

Marty Jones, the president of Corcoran Jennison, said the lawsuits and delays haven't helped the project.

"Unfortunately it created a lot of negative impressions in the financial and larger markets because of the notoriety of the lawsuits," Jones said.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Kevin Hogan reported that where homes once stood, the land is now barren.

He reported that Corcoran and Jennison is having problems securing the $18 million that's needed to build the townhouses.

The city said the clock on its extension to find the funding is running out.

"When things change in your projects, when things change in the economy, you sit down with your public partners and you share what's going on, look at the numbers, look at the situation, and talk about what the long-term goal is," Jones said.