Riverside Demolition Stalled In Ansonia

Ansonia alderman John Marini has a plea for his state legislators, U.S. congressmen and even President Barack Obama:

Let Ansonia demolish crumbling apartment buildings on Olson Drive. 

The deteriorating federal housing project, the Riverside Apartments, are slated to be torn down. 

Ansonia residents approved about $5 million in funding several years ago for the project, according to city counsel Kevin Blake. 

Two of the structures have already been taken down.

But approvals to continue the demolition have stalled at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees federal housing units like Riverside, Blake said. 

Marini Tuesday said the city’s Board of Aldermen needs to start putting more pressure on their higher elected officials to get the ball rolling again.

“It’s the elephant in the room,” Marini said. ​“Residents want to know the timeline and the process.”

The Board of Aldermen Tuesday voted to send a letter saying as much to state representatives, state senators, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, President Obama and HUD.

However, some city officials took issues with Marini’s characterization of the city’s alleged lack of pressure. 

“There has been movement,” Board of Aldermen President Stephen Blume said. 

Mayor James Della Volpe said while the Aldermen might not have taken a position on the demolition, the mayor’s office has sent numerous letters urging the federal government to approve demolition plans and let the city move forward.

“We want this done as soon as possible,” Della Volpe said. 

It’s not clear exactly what the hold up is, Blake said. The plans for the demolition of the first two buildings were approved within two years of the plans being submitted, Blake said.

“We don’t own that property,” Blake said. ​“The city doesn’t have the authority to go in and demolish those buildings.”

Marini said as a result, the Board of Aldermen needs to take a more active role. 

“We can’t be silent,” Marini said. ​“We have to exert pressure anywhere and everywhere we can.”

Background

The Ansonia Housing Authority oversees the apartments. 

It has approved plans to tear down seven of the 11 buildings in the near future, and all the buildings eventually. 

In September 2009, the first two buildings came down. 

“The transition to a safe, more secure and better quality of life for all of the people in Ansonia is now officially underway,” Della Volpe said before the first building came down. ​“We have remained steadfast in our goal of bringing reform to this neighborhood despite the opposition of some and the political gamesmanship of others.”

There have been problems at the complex, ranging from crumbling staircases to two murders in the summer of 2009. 

The Housing Authority and police department say the layout of the complex — horseshoe formations with the backs of the buildings facing the street — makes it hard to patrol the neighborhood. 

Despite the issues, over the past 10 years, serious crime in the neighborhood has dropped significantly.

But residents inside and outside the complex still await the demolition. 

Alderman Robert Duffus Tuesday said any plans moving forward need to take into account the families that live in the apartments. So far, the buildings have been emptied through attrition, Duffus said. 

“It has to be done with a procedure where the residents have somewhere to live,” Duffus said.