ANSONIA – An Ansonia developer got an icy reception from elected officials after asking to convert the former police station at 2 Elm St. into 15 apartments.
Developer Fredi Lalaj purchased the property in 2023 from the city for $320,000.
He won approval to convert the station into a data center, a business that would rent servers out to companies and individuals.
Lalaj submitted a ‘change of use’ application to the Ansonia Planning and Zoning Commission in February.
The new application proposes turning the first and second floors of the building into apartments, while hosting an internet provider company in the basement.
The company Lalaj hoped to rent the space out for data center usage went bankrupt, economic development director Sheila O’Malley said.
The planning and zoning commission referred Lalaj’s application to the Board of Aldermen, saying they wanted the board’s input before taking any action.
Alderman Joe Jeanette, Jr., whose ward includes the station, said that the location was awkward for apartments.
“I don’t know if that’s a good place for apartments. First of all, I don’t think there’s a lot of parking there, and it’s not fair to a lot of residents that are living there that are going to have to deal with this,” Jeanette said.
The station is in Ansonia’s historic district at the three-way intersection of Platt, Jewett, and Elm streets. The intersection forms a confusing triangular maze near the Derby Historical Society building.
Alderwoman Bobbi Tar pointed out the city sold the property after being told it would be a data center.
“They bought it with the understanding that we agreed to sell it for this specific use?” Tar asked, with multiple other Aldermen confirming.
Alderman Joseph Cassetti – who, with Jeanette, represents the station’s ward – said he’d be willing to consider apartments if the board could restrict what kinds of apartments went in.
“I would entertain a shared use, if it is commercial in the basement and no more than one-bedroom apartments,” Cassetti said.
Alderman Dan King said he’d consider allowing age-restricted apartments on the property, saying that there’s a shortage of senior living apartments throughout the city.
King and other Aldermen said the property would need to be re-appraised if it were to be converted into apartments, since it would likely be worth more money. Corporation Counsel John Marini said the city could also buy the property back, instead of allowing a change of use.
King said the idea was worth considering.
“If it’s going to be apartments, we’d be better off if we made it a city project for our housing, take it back. That would be the most benefit, because we basically gave that property away, and if it’s going to become all-residential, it actually would be worth a lot more,” King said.
Paul Rodriguez, the contractor who submitted the change of use request on behalf of Lalaj, asked to speak at one point during the meeting, but was turned down. The Aldermen agreed to take no action and return to the matter in March.
The building has a long history in Ansonia. It was originally the site of the Larkin School, named after Annie Larkin, who was principal for 35 years before retiring in 1933.
In 1980, the police department moved in, staying there for the next forty years. They moved to their current location on Main Street in 2021, after years of deteriorating and cramped conditions.
The Ansonia Housing Authority then expressed interest in purchasing the site for office space, but ultimately moved to a location on Beaver Street instead. The building has been empty in the meantime.
Lalaj did not return a call for comment.
Note: This story was updated to correct an inaccurate description of the intersection near the station.