A Google map image showing the scrap yard on Factory Street.
DERBY — The city’s Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen met in executive session for 28 minutes Thursday to talk about possibly purchasing 2 Factory St.
The property is currently home to a 1.6‑acre scrap yard, which sits next to the city’s redevelopment zone on the south side of Main Street.
The city has been in negotiations to possibly purchase the property and help the business find a new home. At this point, no potential price has been mentioned.
The city is motivated to make a deal because officials want residences and business in the redevelopment zone, like Shelton has just across the Housatonic River. A scrap yard as a neighbor isn’t a great fit for new residential development.
Last Friday Mayor Rich Dziekan and staff met with the Lepore brothers. They are part of a group that received approvals from the Derby Planning and Zoning Commission in February to build 203 market-rate apartments on Factory Street with 8,000 square feet of retail space where Barretta Gardens & Landscaping is located (the owners of that company are business partners with the Lepore brothers).
The Lepore brothers and their partners are also interested in developing on the opposite side of Factory street, Andrew Baklik, the mayor’s chief of staff, told The Valley Indy earlier this week — but the scrap yard is an issue.
Other developers have also approached the city looking to invest — but the scrap yard has been an issue with those developers, too, Baklik said.
“From a business perspective or from a development perspective, having a scrap metal yard as a neighbor to a luxury apartment complex doesn’t paper,” Baklik said. “I think they are waiting for some assurances that the scrap yard will not be operating.”
The Aldermen’s meeting to discuss the matter was held privately, which is allowed under the state’s Freedom of Information Act since they were discussing a real estate deal.
Baklik said before the meeting he expected the Aldermen/Alderwomen to simply get an update from the city’s lawyers on how negotiations were going.
After the executive session Mayor Dziekan said the board is requesting more information. The item will likely return to the Aldermen/Alderwomen at a later date.
The scrap yard is being represented by attorney Dominick Thomas.
