The bad economy has brought the upper Canal Street redevelopment plans “to a screeching halt,” according to John Guedes, one of the partners developing the property.
But Guedes, president of Primrose Companies, said he hopes to get the first phase — a 200 unit apartment complex — back on track soon.
“Unfortunately, because of the financial crisis that grabbed us at the end of 2007, it sort of brought everything to a screeching halt,” Guedes said. “We’re hoping within the next six to eight months the market will change so we can begin the Radcliff Park by early spring.”
The Radcliff Park is the site where AvalonBay Communities Inc. wants to build 200 to 250 upscale apartments. It’s on the site of an old asphalt plant, on land next to The Birmingham — an old factory building converted into loft-apartments.
“Plans are still in place,” Guedes said. “The only reason there has been no activity for that one is the market. It just collapsed.”
If the market changes, Guedes said the first phase could be completed 18 months after site work begins.
City Work
Canal Street runs parallel to Howe Avenue downtown and used to be a major industrial center.
The city has slowly reclaimed the former industrial land of the lower part of Canal Street, which now boasts a large Riverview park and the start of Shelton’s riverwalk. The Shelton Economic Development Corporation continues to receive grants to clean up brownfield sites along the stretch.
Although the upper Canal Street development plans are being pursued by private developers, the city is helping by getting state grants to fix up roads and update utilities there.
James Ryan, the executive director of the Shelton Economic Development Corporation, said the city’s groundwork for the project is still moving forward.
In November, the city approved bonding that would ensure roadwork and railroad renovations would be completed.
“We’re looking at beginning utility work later this year,” Ryan said.
He said permits have been filed with the Army Corps of Engineers to do road and canal work along the stretch — which is zoned industrial and still has several small factories along the Housatonic River.
“It’s slowed down,” Ryan said. “However, it’s alive.”
‘We’re Happy Here’
One manufacturer on the strip — Charter Firearms Co. — is OK with the delay.
It means the gun manufacturer can stay in its location at 281 Canal St. for now.
Nickerson Ecker, president of Charter Firearms, said the company has been doing well, despite the economic downturn.
The firm employs 26 people and uses about 6,000 square-feet of the 35,000 square-foot building, Ecker said.
“We produce 25,000 to 30,000 guns a year. We internationally sell all over the world,” Ecker said.
The firm was founded in Bridgeport in 1964 and moved to Stratford and Ansonia before Ecker bought it in 1998 and moved it into 273 Canal St. in Shelton.
In 2007, the building was condemned and he moved the plant into its current location at 281 Canal St.
If the Canal development plans come to fruition — and the developers purchase all the properties along Canal Street — Ecker said his company has another building on Brewster Lane it could use for operations.
But he’d prefer to stay.
“We’re happy right here,” Ecker said.
