The man overseeing the revitalization of Shelton’s downtown riverfront said Wednesday he’ll present plans “within the coming weeks” to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission that would see new commercial development on two former industrial properties on Canal Street.
The news comes as Gov. Dannel Malloy on Wednesday announced a $79,000 grant to Shelton for environmental testing on one of the sites — a 1.67-acre parcel known as the Rolfite property.
Background
Located immediately south of the L‑shaped Spongex building next to the Derby-Shelton bridge, the former industrial property has sat vacant for years as the city has worked to clean up environmental contamination there.
Last year developer John Guedes of Primrose Companies — the firm that has overseen the redevelopment of the Birmingham Condos and the Avalon apartment complex on Canal Street — said he plans to develop the Spongex building into apartments.
As part of that project, he asked the city to consider trading him the Rolfite parcel if his company builds a new road between the two properties.
The Rolfite property would be used for parking and mixed-use building with retail and office space.
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New Plans
Last month city Aldermen unanimously authorized Mayor Mark Lauretti to sign a contract with Guedes to sell the property.
Shelton Economic Development President James Ryan called Wednesday’s grant announcement “terrific,” saying it would allow the city to do final testing on the property before turning it over to Guedes.
“This would allow for final sampling to be done to see what areas may need additional ground cover, paving, et cetera,” Ryan said. “This is very important and very timely.”
Guedes said he was happy to hear about the $79,000 grant. “Like everything else, these things take time,” he said.
Environmental remediation to clean some silt from underneath the Spongex building is almost done, he said.
The city will use the $79,000 to make sure the Rolfite property has been cleaned to standards acceptable for new commercial construction, he said.
Guedes said he’s altered his initial plans for the new building to address concerns raised by members of a PZC subcommittee by reorienting the structure away from the Housatonic River.
A picture of Guedes’ site plan is posted above.
“Right now we’re in a position whereby within the coming weeks we should be ready to go” to the full Planning and Zoning Commission with site plans, Guedes said.
Guedes said his proposal would also improve traffic flow downtown with the creation of a safer intersection for the new road he plans to build and the Derby-Shelton bridge.
When traffic on Howe Avenue approaching the bridge gets busy, motorists often use parallel Canal Street to bypass the traffic before hopping back onto the bridge by driving up a narrow road between the bridge and the Spongex building.
But Guedes says that intersection isn’t designed to service the amount of traffic it does, and features a “funky blind turn” for drivers to negotiate.
“If you want to head back towards Shelton you literally have to do a U‑turn,” Guedes said. “This would allow you visibility in both directions.”
