Things are happening on Canal Street in Shelton.
A new community pavilion was dedicated this month. The 250-unit Avalon Shelton apartment complex continues to take shape. And plans are in the works for more apartments and shops nearby.
City leaders are also hoping the area’s protracted redevelopment — from a once-bustling industrial center to an upscale hub of mixed-use properties — gets a million-dollar boost this November.
Residents voting in the general election will be asked to approve $1 million in bonding for the reconstruction of Canal Street.
The $1 million referendum question is one of four such proposals that will be on the ballot.
So just what would the Canal Street money be paying for?
A lot more than just paving the street, James Ryan, president of the Shelton Economic Development Corporation, said last month at a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen’s Finance Committee.
“It’s not a paving job,” Ryan said. “It’s right of way, it’s acquisition of easements, it’s full-depth reconstruction. It’s all the utilities that were in place.”
He said the road will be rebuilt westward from the vicinity of the railroad bridge across the Housatonic River.
Ryan presented Aldermen with a brief summary of how far the redevelopment of downtown has come and a look at what the future entails. He said he would return to Aldermen this month if they had more questions.
Click play on the video above to see part of Ryan’s presentation — and click here to read a copy of the study he refers to in his comments. Minutes of the meeting are also available online.
The road as it is now was built in the 19th century, Ryan said, as a small service road for the surrounding industrial properties. “We need a road that serves a wider population,” he said.
The area’s history as a center of industry means there’s a lot more under the ground than just dirt, Ryan said.
“We’re finding utilities from the 1800s,” Ryan added. “We’re finding wooden conduit. There’s old raceways that used to come off the canal.”
As well as replacing some of the old utilities, the work is intended to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment in the area, and will include paving, sidewalks, street scaping and lighting improvements, Ryan said.
And as the area attracts more people — and tax revenue — the investments made by the city downtown will decrease over time, the theory goes.
“The investments that you’re making are going to and are providing a return to the community,” Ryan said. “While you’ll always have responsibilities downtown … you will be able to concentrate on other priorities in the community that require public investments.”
John Guedes, president of Primrose Companies, which is overseeing the redevelopment of the Canal Street area, said Monday that work continues despite the slow economy.
“The private sector, as difficult as the economy has been, is moving forward,” Guedes said. “The city obviously has to do its part for the program.”
Guedes called the Canal Street work a “necessity” and noted that the private investment in the redevelopment will dwarf whatever the city spends.
“The overall program for Shelton riverfront development that I envision, you’re looking at private sector investment that will eventually reach close to $100 million,” Guedes said, estimating the Avalon project will contribute about $250,000 annually to the city in taxes when complete.
Mayor Mark Lauretti urged support of the referendum for the same reason when asked about the vote this month.
“It’s the next step in the scheme of things to continue the economic development that’s been started by the Birmingham and by Avalon Bay,” Lauretti said. “We’ve made a commitment to these folks. They’ve made a huge commitment and we need to honor ours.”
“Private business has been at the table,” the mayor went on. “The tax revenue we’re going to generate from Birmingham and Avalon more than justifies spending that kind of money.”
Work at the Avalon site began early this year. According to the company’s website, leasing for the apartments will begin in January 2013.
A message was left Monday with Grant Jaber, the development director for AvalonBay.
Several pictures taken Monday of the work at the Avalon site are posted below. Article continues after the photos.
Guedes said that he’s also hoping to move forward soon with a plan to turn the Spongex Building, which sits on Canal Street just south of the Derby-Shelton bridge, into apartments.
He first floated the concept in June but said Monday that doing research on the property’s environmental history took longer than expected.
He said Monday that “within the coming weeks we’ll be moving ahead” with plans for the property.
