Every two years when a local election cycle rolls around, Derby’s Downtown Redevelopment inevitably becomes a contentious issue.
For the better part of the past decade, the taxpayers of Derby have been led to believe redevelopment is on track.
With grandiose pictures flooding our mailboxes to seemingly endless promises of downtown greatness, Main Street in Derby has yet to have a single shovel put in the ground to begin construction.
To compound the issue of the near-lifelessness of Main Street, the Derby Redevelopment Agency has only met two times in the past 12 months, while they are scheduled to convene on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers in Derby City Hall.
From research of various media outlets, Eclipse Development Group entered the picture in Derby early in 2010, and the timeline looks like this:
March 18, 2010
Sheila O’Malley, Derby’s Economic Development Director, formally introduced representatives from the Eclipse Development Group to the Derby Redevelopment Agency.
Eclipse was charged with spending the next 120 days talking with existing property owners in the Redevelopment Zone as well as potential tenants for Downtown Derby. Eclipse was also going to research what needed to be completed on the property to make construction a reality.
Eclipse was given 18 months to put together a conceptual and final plan to “put a shovel in the ground,” according to the March 18 minutes of the Derby Redevelopment Agency meeting.
Also according to minutes from that March 18 meeting, “a movie theater and restaurants are natural fits for the redevelopment zone … ‘Big box’ stores, such as Home Depot and Sam’s Club, will not be happening in the zone.”
That evening, members of the Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously to direct City Hall staff to draft a contract with Eclipse.
June 8, 2010
Paul Bernard, Executive Vice President of Eclipse Development Group, said, “We had a number of meetings with tenants and the reception was good. The reception was better from some than others, but it was all positive … We met tenants ranging from restaurants to entertainment, soft goods, hard goods, a little bit of everyone across the board to get a feel for who would be interested.”
September 21, 2010
Douglas Gray, the president and CEO of Eclipse Development, made a public presentation, unveiling various drawings calling for nine buildings to be erected in Derby’s Redevelopment Zone.
Eclipse was given one year to line up tenants and start construction. Gray added, “If everything goes as planned – and that’s always a large if – stores could open in 2013.”
June 14, 2011
After a Redevelopment Agency meeting, the Valley Indy asked questions of Doug Gray and Mayor Staffieri.
Valley Indy: You’ve been talking to people who own property in the redevelopment zone, presumably about purchasing properties? How is that coming along?
Doug Gray: “We are finalizing a contract with one of them and we should close out by the end of July. With a number of properties, [we’ll] have to see, with the (DOT) road widening (of Route 34) – we don’t want to get in the way with what the DOT is doing.”
Valley Indy: And that deal should be closed in June or July?
Gray: “Yes.”
Mayor Staffieri: “You want to know who that anchor store is? You’ll be happy.”
Gray: “Even after the lease is signed, we have confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, because they like to announce their openings and handle their own PR.”
Valley Indy: Last year, September was set as your deadline as to when you would come back to the Redevelopment Agency with plans and tenants. Would you say you’re ahead of that schedule?
Gray: “Knocking on wood, yes.”
Mayor Staffieri: “That’s [what] is great. He is ahead of schedule, signing leases with potential tenants. Based on what Doug has been telling us, this is going to be an awesome project. The people of Derby will love it. It will be a great place to walk around, enjoy and to shop.”
September 14, 2011
In an editorial to the Valley Independent Sentinel, Mayor Staffieri offered the following statements:
“We set up specific timetables [with Eclipse], with consequences if these timetables are not met.”
“We are currently toward the end of the one-year due-diligence period for the developer to bring in tenants to the site.”
“We are cautiously optimistic that we finally have the right developer in place that is willing to form a true partnership with the city.”
“Contrary to popular political rumors, we do not base our redevelopment decisions on political timing.”
September 16, 2011
“The Valley Independent Sentinel has learned an anchor store has been secured – and about eight stores total have signed onto the project.”
“The development will include two restaurants.”
September 20, 2011
At a Redevelopment Agency meeting, Doug Gray announced that Eclipse is in contract with the owner of the Lifetouch property on Main Street to purchase the property, indicating a significant obstacle in bringing a new retail center to Downtown Derby will be overcome.
Gray said, “The advantage for the Derby project is that the opening date is still far away, giving plenty of time for the potential tenants to jump off the fence.” While Gray did not name the interested retailers by name out of fear of undermining the negotiations with these companies, plans on display in Derby City Hall indicate the project will include two restaurants and a pharmacy.
October 24, 2011
The Valley Independent Sentinel published an article, “So Why Haven’t Tenants Signed Up For The Derby Redevelopment Project?” Doug Gray of Eclipse indicated the interest from as many as 11 businesses is high to move into the Redevelopment Zone on south side of Derby’s Main Street, but said:
1. It’s too early.
2. Investors aren’t asking the right questions.
According to the article, “Gray said some negotiations with tenants are over – and have been for some time. Eclipse is simply waiting for them to sign.”
November 3, 2011
The Valley Independent Sentinel uncovered information that “An option for Eclipse Development to buy the former Lifetouch property at 90 Main St. has expired, and the 1.19-acre property is back on the market.”
According to Frederick P. Petrella, President and Managing Director of Connecticut Realty Group in New Haven, “Eclipse no longer has a contract on the property. Lifetouch decided not to move forward with Eclipse.”
While Eclipse claims they remain committed to the redevelopment of Downtown Derby, they have done little to support that claim.
February 14, 2012
According to the Valley Independent Sentinel, “The former Lifetouch property on Main Street has two interested buyers – but neither of the suitors is Eclipse Development, the company trying to breathe life into Derby’s redevelopment zone.”
Fred Petrell said, “I would love to have Eclipse step up and buy the property, but we just haven’t heard from Eclipse.”
May 29, 2012
Dominick Thomas, a prominent Valley attorney representing three owners of property in the Redevelopment Zone says, “If you don’t own the property, redevelopment is still a dream.”
Thomas reflected that some of the businesses that previously existed in the Redevelopment Zone have gone out of business because redevelopment has dragged on for so long.
Ken Hughes, a former alderman and member of the Redevelopment Agency said, “Eclipse is working on a development plan. The Redevelopment Agency has not been meeting regularly because they are waiting for news from the developer.”
September 18, 2012
Representatives from Eclipse were scheduled to appear before the Redevelopment Agency to give an update on their redevelopment plan for Derby, but the meeting was cancelled due to illness and will be rescheduled, according to Doug Gray. No date for the rescheduled meeting was set.
October 9, 2012
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Derby Redevelopment Agency has been cancelled. The meeting with Eclipse scheduled for September 18 mentioned previously has still not been rescheduled.
November 13, 2012
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Derby Redevelopment Agency has been cancelled.
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The Redevelopment Agency has met twice in 2012 and has not met with a quorum since February 7. The meeting with Eclipse scheduled for September 18 mentioned previously has still not been rescheduled.
Mayor Staffieri claims that he and the Redevelopment Agency do not base their decisions on political timing, but history proves otherwise.
There has been no action taken downtown, and the taxpayers of Derby should not expect any new information to come to light until it becomes time to seek re-election once again.
The writer is the chairwoman of the Derby Town Democratic Committee.
