A Google Map of Derby under a Canva.com creation.
DERBY – Members of Mayor Joseph DiMartino’s administration want to hire a real estate broker to help evaluate and sell city-owned properties.
Derby owns 48 properties, according to information relayed by Linda Fusco, the mayor’s chief of staff, at a May 23 meeting of the Derby Finance and Public Safety Committee, an Aldermanic subcommittee.
The city isn’t thinking of putting all 48 properties on the market. Fusco said some have deed restrictions, such as the Onopiak Property on Sodom Lane in east Derby, which can only be used for passive recreation. The former Hotchkiss Hose building on Caroline Street downtown, which has sat vacant for years, can’t be sold but could be leased, Fusco said.
In terms of sales, the administration wants to concentrate on properties that have been taken through blight liens – that is, properties that posed a health or safety risk and accumulated daily fines for being in bad condition.
“There are other things that we’ve taken via blight, and we own them. It’s a liability to us, and we shouldn’t be holding onto properties that we can’t use,” Fusco said.
A real estate broker could review the list and advise Derby on the value of the properties.
“We might not want to sell everything. We might want to use something for a pocket park. We might want to use something for parking. We might want something to diminish high-density areas,” Fusco said.
Derby Finance Director Brian Hall said a broker could market the properties to a larger group of potential buyers than the city is capable.
Mayor DiMartino was elected in November 2023. He brought back the legislative process that sees topics discussed at the subcommittee level, where members vote on recommendations to the full board.
If the full board signs off, Derby Corporation Counsel Richard J. Buturla said city staff could write a request for qualifications and post it to the city’s website to alert real estate brokers of the opportunity. He said the city could reach out to busy local brokers to let them know of the request.
The mayor’s administrative staff could conduct interviews and come back with recommendations for the full Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen (BOA/A) to consider, the lawyer said.
The Alders on the subcommittee are Sarah Widomski, George Kurtyka and Robin Falcioni-Smith. All three voted to recommend the full BOA/A procure the services of a real estate broker.
Members of the full board could take the issue up at a future meeting.
The Google Map below shows the location of the city-owned properties. It is not complete.
