Remember a few months back when Derby officials said they would have a brainstorming session over the downtown redevelopment project, and invite builders, the public, business people and Shelton officials?
It’s probably not happening.
Fresh off a Republican win in a mostly Democratic city Nov. 3, Alderman Ken Hughes said such a meeting would likely slow down the recent progress being made in the long-planned redevelopment project.
“I don’t foresee it happening,” said Hughes, also a member of the city’s Redevelopment Agency, where the idea was first hatched in September.
“To be honest with you, this past election was sort of a mini-referendum on our decisions with downtown redevelopment,” he said.
Derby has been trying for years to breath new life into its downtown — specifically the area between Main Street and the Housatonic River, stretching toward Route 8.
The plan hit a snag last year, when the Board of Aldermen threw the developer, Ceruzzi Derby Redevelopment, LLC, off the project, saying the company was not making progress.
Ceruzzi sued, citing breach of contract, and blamed elected officials for the lack of progress.
Last month the Aldermen voted unanimously to pay $1.75 million to settle the case.
(See video on left)
The money will come from the city’s fund balance.
With the lawsuit over (although Derby officials said it has not formally been approved by a judge), Hughes said the public will start seeing progress downtown — fast.
“We are ready to go, full-steam ahead,” he said. “We have developers interested in buying properties and building in Derby. You are going to see us move quickly now.”
He presented officials with a conceptual drawings showing a mix of uses in the redevelopment zone — including retail and apartments.
Guedes’ drawings are expected to be discussed Tuesday, when the Redevelopment Agency meets again. Click here for an agenda.
In July, Tom Hill, a commercial real estate broker representing John Joseph of New York-based Southern Realty and Development, said he was in negotiations to buy the former Lifetouch and Housatonic Lumber properties.
(See video)
However, Housatonic Lumber was foreclosed upon and taken over by Farmington Savings Bank. In August, the bank was considering selling the property to someone other than Hill and his client for $900,000.
Derby officials have said they like the new direction the downtown redevelopment project is taking because now the property will be divided into chunks, with different companies developing different parts of the site.
Previously, the plan called for one company to develop the entire site, something which proved to be financially impossible, officials said.
A movie theater, pharmacy and grocery store have been mentioned as serious considerations for the site — but no formal plans have been submitted.
It does not surprise me that a one-company plan to develop the entire site was not practical. That would involve an enormous amount of credit, and this is a time in American business history when banks and other lenders have tightened up. Smaller chunks indeed are more practical. And, like they say, “too many cooks spoil the soup.” A committee trying to rule over a number of different projects could be confusing and slow things down.
I agree that multiple developers need to develop downtown, however, why is Ken Hughes altering the plan from September (pre-election) to have a roundtable discussion? After all, it was his idea in the first place(NOTE: SEE NEXT COMMENT). In September, it sounded like a great idea to have thought provoking discussions with the taxpayers of Derby. Then why all of a sudden, one week after the election, “it will likely slow down progress.” Come on? Are you kidding me? Here we go again! In 2007, Ken Hughes and the Board of Aldermen fired Ceruzzi one month after the election. Now this in 2009. If your so confident the voters agree with you and your costly antics, why don’t you pull this kind of stuff before the election? This is the second election in a row the Republicans pulled the rug out from under the taxpayers of Derby right after the election. Again, Ken Hughes is pulling Tony Staffieri’s puppet strings and lying to the voters to get re-elected. Joe Coppola is advising the Republicans right into Derby’s eventual bankruptcy. Fortunately for Derby, this new group of Democrats won’t let you get away with it any longer. Enjoy the next two years Tony, Ken and Joe. It’s likely your last term.
FYI: (Unofficial) Minutes from the Sept. 8 Redevelopment Agency meeting state the idea for the forum was NOT Hughes’ idea.
An idea for a workshop came from Greg Russo. Michael Kelleher expanded upon Russo’s idea.
Joseph Bomba liked the idea.
Glenn Stevens put it in the form of a motion, which the Redevelopment Agency unanimously passed.
Read the minutes here: http://electronicvalley.org/derby/GOVERN/Redevelopment/2009/2009-09-08.pdf
The Agency is meeting tonight. Agenda here:
http://electronicvalley.org/derby/GOVERN/Redevelopment/redevelopment.htm
“DERBY GUY” IS AGREEABLE WITH THE PLAN OF “PIECE-MEAL DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEN GOES ON WITH A “POLITICAL BITTER OATS TIRADE” WITH THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, WHICH APPEARS TO BE DOING THE RIGHT THING, WITH THE CAPABLE ASSISTANCE OF DERBY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SHEILA O’MALLEY.