There are two choices with downtown redevelopment. Give up or push forward.
“I would say you have no choice. This agency has to keep pushing forward.”
Those were the words of John Guedes at Tuesday’s meeting of the Derby Redevelopment Agency, where Guedes unveiled renderings for the redevelopment of 22 acres on the south side of Main Street, stretching from the Derby-Shelton bridge to the former Lifetouch business.
Guedes is president and CEO of Primrose Companies, the Bridgeport-based firm that developed the Birmingham, a condo high rise in a converted factory on Canal Street in Shelton.
Now Guedes wants to bring some of that downtown Shelton mojo across the Housatonic.
Guedes introduced a redevelopment concept Tuesday that would allow a number of companies develop the property in phases.
A former Mexican restaurant and the former Lifetouch building on Main Street would be reborn as a grocery store or movie theater, serving as the site’s anchor.
A mix of retail and residential apartments would stretch north along Main Street, in buildings with architecture that would reflect what “downtown was before it was demolished,” Guedes said.
The concept also included a parking garage and several other, stand-alone retail or commercial buildings, that would hold a bank and two restaurants, according to drawings presented to the Redevelopment Agency.
A list of what could be built on the site.
In all, the redevelopment could support about 330 residential units, some 250,000 square feet of retail or commercial space — and parking for some 2,000 vehicles.
While nothing is official, a movie theater chain and a grocery store are apparently seriously considering the site, Guedes said, including a New York developer.
Reaction to the latest redevelopment concept was positive from Mayor Anthony Staffieri and members of the Redevelopment Agency.
At the least, they said, it makes more sense than allowing one developer to take over the property for a single project.
“I ran for office hoping to jump start the downtown project,” said Republican Ken Hughes, president of the Board of Aldermen and a member of the Redevelopment Agency.
“In three short years we were able to remove all the buildings, extricate the city from a bad development agreement, go out to (request for proposals) for a new developer and now we have a new master plan, and not one, but several developers willing to work with us,” Hughes said.
Lifelong Derby resident Dan Waleski applauded Guedes for his approach.
“The city, finally, after so many years has solved the problem of the proper approach,” Waleski said. “The possibilities are there.”
Anita Dugatto, a Democrat who owns a business and property downtown, liked the concept, but questioned whether existing business owners in the redevelopment zone — such as Calvert Safe and Lock on Caroline Street — were made aware of the new concept.
Guedes said he did not contact them.
Staffieri said Guedes’ plan includes space to keep those businesses on Main Street.
Duggatto indicated officials should contact the existing business owners.
Only a few members of the public attended Tuesday’s redevelopment meeting.
However, the next meeting of the Redevelopment Agency is scheduled for Sept. 8 — and Chairman Joseph Bomba said the agency may host an informational meeting on the new concept in October.
