An open space initiative proposed by two Ansonia Aldermen Tuesday hit a snag by Wednesday, after they learned the land in question was already under contract by a developer who wants to build 36 new homes there.
Aldermen President Stephen Blume and Alderman David Knapp issued a press release Tuesday saying they wanted the city to relaunch an effort to purchase the 25-acre parcel at 64 Pulaski Highway.
It’s one of the last undeveloped plots in Ansonia. The city tried to buy it about a year ago, but couldn’t get together the $2 million asking price.
“We got them to agree to spread this out over two years, but we still couldn’t raise the money,” Blume said. “It left a bad taste in my mouth to lose it.”
The Climate
Fast forward to September 2011. An election looms and a lack of open space in Ansonia has become an issue, as the city is faced with several new housing proposals in a slumping housing market.
The proposals include:
Residents questioned the logic of building new homes during a public hearing Monday on the proposed 23-home subdivision off Castle Lane.
“I just think there are enough houses in Ansonia that are for sale now,” Ansonia resident Susan Garafalo said during the public hearing. “If they are going to build 23 houses, let them buy 23 houses and fix them up.”
At the same time, Ansonia expects to start saving some money on energy bills because of several “green” initiatives, such as new solar panels on the high school, switching energy providers and a proposed sewage-to-energy plant.
Blume, who was at the public hearing Monday, said the two factors led him to again push for the land purchase on Pulaski Highway. He drafted a resolution and put out a press release to the media.
Article continues after proposed resolution.
“I just don’t want to lose that land,” Blume said.
Pulaski Highway
After the press release was distributed, the Valley Indy pointed out the land in question is under contract and asked Blume about it.
Blume said he wasn’t aware of the proposal from Branford developer Michael Massimino to subdivide and develop the 25 acres on Pulaski Highway.
Massimino floated preliminary plans before the Planning and Zoning Commission in June. He wants to build about 36 homes on the site, and said he has the option to purchase the land if he gets approvals. Click here to read a Valley Indy story about the proposal.
Massimino did not return calls for comment this week.
Blume said he received official word Wednesday from Ansonia Corporation Counsel Kevin Blake that the property was under contract.
Fred Ehrsam, the attorney for the family that owns the land, told the Valley Indy the same thing in a voicemail Wednesday morning.
“We negotiated (with the city), but they could never come up with any offer,” Ehrsam said. “When (the family) didn’t hear back, they put it back on the market. Now we’re under a contract with a third party.”
Blume’s reaction to the news:
“I’m sick over this.”
Blume said he wants to keep investigating the prospect of buying the property, in case Massimino decides not to develop the land.
“I think it’s something good for the city,” Blume said. “We’ll follow it. If it’s at all possible to buy it, we will.”
Alderman John Marini, who is running for Seventh Ward Alderman against Blume and Knapp, wrote a letter to Blume Wednesday questioning the money source for buying the parcel.
In July, Marini wrote a guest column urging the Board of Aldermen to develop a long-term plan to prevent over-development of the open space.
Marini’s letter Wednesday said that while he appreciated the movement against over-development, he thought cost savings from green initiatives should be committed to schools in Ansonia, and that the Board of Aldermen shouldn’t spend money it has yet to save.
Marini’s letter is posted below.
