In two short years, the Dziekan administration’s economic development efforts have increased the city’s grand list by $4,000,000. Additionally, Big Y, Starbucks, Soccer & Rugby Imports, Road B (behind BJ’s) and the Fuel Cell Facility on Roosevelt Drive will be added to the grand list very shortly.
More than $800,000 of city owned property was sold. The money went right into the city coffers as savings. These properties will be added to the tax rolls and grand list thus creating a boost to tax revenue. The winning bid for the Varca building was $450,000, Road B was $325,000.
Zone text amendments that will allow for the reinvigoration of our downtown have been filed and accepted by the Planning and Zoning Commission. These critical tools allow for the type of development that is right for Derby’s future.
The application from Derby Downtown, LLC for over 200 market rate residential apartments on the East side of Factory Street will be presented at the November Planning and Zoning Meeting after an additional zone text change.
80 market rate apartments are being proposed on the site of the soon-to-be demolished Lifetouch building. These new residences will provide a critical mass of people in our downtown to not only help keep existing businesses healthy but also to attract new businesses.
Five reputable companies responded to the RFQ for the development of the Southside of Main Street. Subsequent conversations with developers have led to a comprehensive development plan that includes hard numbers and viable infrastructure improvements that must happen before the city-owned land on Main Street and is ready to be developed.
The Army Corps of Engineers maintenance requirements for the levee on the Housatonic River have been completed: Sluice gates have been repaired, toe drains have been inspected and cleaned and riverside vegetation has been cleared and controlled. This is important work that has been ignored for over a decade.
The City is engaged in negotiation with the Maybrook Railroad Company to purchase the spur that acts as an impediment to development on the South side of Main Street.
Negotiations are taking place to remove the Rubino Brothers’ scrapyard from the development site. This along with our work on the Levee system will allow the city to solicit proposals for mixed use development on our 14 acres along the Housatonic River.
Just because you don’t see these things and just because we haven’t been out there in the press politicizing every move, does not mean we are not working hard every day to bring Derby back to prosperity.
I resent the implication that my lack of economic development experience is hurting the city. This administration has the best interests of all Derby residents in mind, and my background in business makes me perfectly qualified to see all these things through to completion.
I’d like to thank the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen for believing in me and trusting me to lead our economic development efforts. Everything I do, I do for Derby.
The writer is the City of Derby’s economic development liaison and a former member of the Derby Board of Aldermen.
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