CITY OF ANSONIA PHOTO
Mayor David Cassetti is Shaw Growth Ventures Project Manager Paul Rodriguez.
ANSONIA — The resurgence of Ansonia’s Main Street is scheduled to take a big step forward as demolition begins on two downtown buildings to pave the way for a $14 million mixed-use development of residential, retail and restaurants.
A brick bridge that connected the former Ansonia Technology Park (ATP) and Palmer buildings at 497 E. Main St. and 153 Main St., respectively, came crumbling to the ground Friday, signaling the start of exterior demolition which city officials said will begin in earnest in the coming days.
Interior demolition has been ongoing since last year, according to Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley, and studding of the interior walls is happening to make way for nearly 100 market-rate apartments there. The project, dubbed Bella Vista, is being developed by Shaw Growth Ventures, based out of Berne, NY.
“We are extremely excited to see this activity because although a lot has already been done, residents need to visualize actual change and realize something tangible,” said O’Malley. “These residential units will change the fabric of downtown, but demolition makes it all very real.”
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the Bella Vista project last year, which calls for construction of 92 market-rate apartments and more than 14,000-square feet of retail/commercial space slated for the long-vacant Palmer and ATP buildings, as well as the former Wells Fargo Bank drive-up at 165 Main St.
According to plans, the Palmer Building is slated to feature 44 units, comprising of seven, two-bedroom units; 36 one-bedroom units and one studio apartment with laundry rooms on each floor. There would also be some 9,500-square feet of retail/commercial space in the Palmer Building.
Slated for the ATP Building, which will be combined with the former Wells Fargo drive-up property, are 48 one- and two bedroom, market-rate apartments and some studios, with some 5,000-square feet of first floor retail/commercial space. There is also some green space planned for tenants to enjoy the outdoors.
There will also be about 10 handicapped parking spaces included, along with the city providing tenant parking in the East Main Street parking lot.
“We are seeing first hand, significant, and lasting changes to our downtown with this demolition,” said Corporation Counsel John Marini. “Those buildings and that bridge have been fallow for a very long time. This will significantly and positively change the landscape of downtown for the good.”
Click here for a 2014 Valley Indy story looking at previous attempts to redevelop the properties.
O’Malley hinted that along with the apartments slated for the first phase of construction, “a very popular breakfast place,” (possibly rhyming with ‘fanbake mouse’) is expected to occupy a portion of the new space.
Under an agreement the city previously reached with Shaw, the developer has until January 2022 to complete the first phase of the project.
Mayor David Cassetti had said the city hasn’t collected taxes on the ATP and Palmer buildings in more than 40 years, yet Ansonia was on the hook for some $60,000 in annual utility and maintenance costs.
“With residential apartments planned on every corner of downtown, a new police station, senior center and community center, along with our popular restaurant and retail sector, we are recharging and renewing Ansonia,” Cassetti said.
The ATP and Palmer buildings have been mired in delays and failed partnerships with two other developers dating back to 2013.
To assist Shaw with cleaning up and redeveloping the former factories, the city is exempting the buildings from taxes for six years followed by five years of stable property taxes based on the current assessments.
Marini had said the project “is an example of the city working with a developer and offering incentives to keep them on track.”
