Remember a few months back when Derby officials said they would have a brainstorming session over the downtown redevelopment project, and invite builders, the public, business people and Shelton officials?
It’s probably not happening.
Fresh off a Republican win in a mostly Democratic city Nov. 3, Alderman Ken Hughes said such a meeting would likely slow down the recent progress being made in the long-planned redevelopment project.
“I don’t foresee it happening,” said Hughes, also a member of the city’s Redevelopment Agency, where the idea was first hatched in September.
“To be honest with you, this past election was sort of a mini-referendum on our decisions with downtown redevelopment,” he said.
Derby has been trying for years to breath new life into its downtown — specifically the area between Main Street and the Housatonic River, stretching toward Route 8.
The plan hit a snag last year, when the Board of Aldermen threw the developer, Ceruzzi Derby Redevelopment, LLC, off the project, saying the company was not making progress.
Ceruzzi sued, citing breach of contract, and blamed elected officials for the lack of progress.
Last month the Aldermen voted unanimously to pay $1.75 million to settle the case.
(See video on left)
The money will come from the city’s fund balance.
With the lawsuit over (although Derby officials said it has not formally been approved by a judge), Hughes said the public will start seeing progress downtown — fast.
“We are ready to go, full-steam ahead,” he said. “We have developers interested in buying properties and building in Derby. You are going to see us move quickly now.”
He presented officials with a conceptual drawings showing a mix of uses in the redevelopment zone — including retail and apartments.
Guedes’ drawings are expected to be discussed Tuesday, when the Redevelopment Agency meets again. Click here for an agenda.
In July, Tom Hill, a commercial real estate broker representing John Joseph of New York-based Southern Realty and Development, said he was in negotiations to buy the former Lifetouch and Housatonic Lumber properties.
(See video)
However, Housatonic Lumber was foreclosed upon and taken over by Farmington Savings Bank. In August, the bank was considering selling the property to someone other than Hill and his client for $900,000.
Derby officials have said they like the new direction the downtown redevelopment project is taking because now the property will be divided into chunks, with different companies developing different parts of the site.
Previously, the plan called for one company to develop the entire site, something which proved to be financially impossible, officials said.
A movie theater, pharmacy and grocery store have been mentioned as serious considerations for the site — but no formal plans have been submitted.
