DERBY — Members of the Derby Board of Aldermen and Alderwomen said they want more information about a potential real estate deal involving the former Hotchkiss Hose Co. building on Caroline Street.
During the board’s May 12 meeting, there was an agenda item listed to possibly take action on a presentation by brothers Frederik and Daniel Knize, who are interested in purchasing the city-owned building at 119 Caroline St.
The board, however, ended up taking no action on the matter as several Alders said they were caught off guard.
“The agenda isn’t clear as to any discussion or action the board is going to take tonight,” Alderwoman Barbara DeGennaro said. “If the city, by charter, is interested in selling or is approached by someone to sell city property, an appraisal has to be done first. Then we take the process from there.”
DeGennaro also pointed out that if the board agrees to sell a property, the city must go out to bid.
Alderwoman Sarah Widomski asked Mayor Richard Dziekan to bring information to the board’s meeting next month.
“There was no information in this agenda that was asking us to make any motion whatsoever regarding this,” Widomski said.
After the meeting, Mayor Dziekan told The Valley Indy that Frederick and Daniel Knize are entrepreneurs interested in buying the property. The State of Connecticut has the Knizes listed as owning a business called CFF Real Estate Investments, LLC, based out of New Canaan. The Knizes were not in attendance at the board’s meeting.
A letter of intent included with their proposal for the building said they have always been fascinated by historic architecture and have restored buildings dating back to the 1700s.
Dziekan said the Knizes approached him about six weeks ago about the 119 Caroline St. property. He said they pitched a proposal (which was included in the board’s May 11 agenda packet) to convert the former firehouse into five apartments while retaining the 1800s-era firehouse-look. The proposal included an offer of $75,000 to purchase the building.
Alderwoman Widomski said the city has to follow proper procedure when it comes to potential real estate deals.
“This is putting the cart before the horse,” she said.
Dziekan told The Valley Indy he made a mistake to list the issue on the meeting agenda as he did, since it read like a done deal. Dziekan said he wanted to let the board know there’s interest in that property.
“At least it’s in your minds that there’s people interested in the building, and that’s the best part,” Dziekan told the board. “It’s really for information purposes.”
Economic Development Director Roger Salway said he received the proposal from the Knizes last week, after they came to Derby City Hall.
Reached by phone on May 17, Frederick Knize said he hopes the city will entertain an offer to buy the property.
“Me and my brother are really excited about this, especially being an old firehouse,” Knize said. “We’re looking to clean up the outside and return it to the old glory of the same look the firehouse originally had and turn it into housing. I’m always in the area, and have a couple other small apartments. I kept driving by this old firehouse, and it piqued my interest. The building is getting worse, and I don’t want to see it turn into rubble.“
Knize and his brother Daniel and father Frederick Knize, Sr, have restored other older properties, including a boarding house built in 1910 on Brooklawn Avenue in Bridgeport, located in the historic Stratfield District.
Derby Corporation Counsel John Marini said if the Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen want to sell the building, they would next seek a referral, or 8 – 24, from the city’s planning and zoning commission. The city would then seek an appraisal and put the property out to bid. A public hearing would also need to take place before any sale takes place, Marini said.
The board also learned there is a deed restriction on the property, which Marini said is likely over 100 years old, and would require the city to seek court action to get it removed. Marini sent the Valley Indy a copy of the handwritten deed, which in part, states the building “shall never be used for any other than municipal purposes.”
Alderman Charles Sampson agreed with Widomski that taking no action on the item until the board’s next monthly meeting was the best way to proceed.
“Let’s postpone this a month, let’s put it on the agenda the appropriate way, as the ‘possible sale of 119 Caroline St.,’ to move this forward,” Sampson said.
