The state bond commission Monday approved a $445,000 grant that Derby officials will use to create a comprehensive plan for the city’s long-struggling redevelopment zone.
The zone stretches on the shores of the Housatonic River along Main Street from the Derby-Shelton bridge to the Route 8 south entrance ramp next to the former Lifetouch property.
The city, under previous administrations, spent the better part of a decade trying to get companies to develop the area, without luck.
In a letter to the state asking for the money, Mayor Anita Dugatto indicates the city wants to embark on a top-to-bottom examination of the zone, including the reasons as to why two redevelopment attempts by private parties since 2004 failed to happen.
The city previously had an appointed Redevelopment Agency. Its members reviewed proposals, working from the city’s “plan of redevelopment.” Click here to read that document.
Dugatto disbanded the Redevelopment Agency last year.
Monday’s news marks a shift in city policy toward the redevelopment zone.
The old policy was to look toward private developers, with assistance from the city, to come up with a redevelopment plan, according to the mayor’s letter.
“Frustrated in these efforts, the city has determined that a comprehensive planning process conducted from the public sector side of the planning and development equation must be undertaken,” the mayor’s letter states.
Now the city is going to decide what the redevelopment zone should become, and that plan will be put out to a request for proposals.
“We will finally have a plan and approach for redevelopment that is logical, economically feasible and, most importantly, readily implementable,” the mayor said in a prepared statement Monday.
According to a press release from state legislators, the money will be used for:
- Reviewing prior redevelopment plans in the redevelopment zone
- A site assessment
- Revised development zones
- Design guidelines
- Economic analyses
- Public input
- Development of conceptual and detailed redevelopment plans.
Consultants, such as an engineering firm, will be hired to help.
“Downtown Derby has laid fallow for too long,” State Rep. Linda Gentile said in a prepared statement. “These funds will go toward needed updates.”
“This grant will help Derby movie its economy forward,” State Sen. Joseph Crisco said in the same prepared statement.
Derby had originally asked the state for $7.9 million, hoping the state could help out the city’s parking garage, which needs major upgrades.
Route 34 Widening
Dugatto has said the fate of the redevelopment zone — with its myriad of private property owners — is tied to the long-planned widening of Route 34 through downtown Derby.
The Route 34 widening project requires the state to purchase property from several owners along Main Street.
The Route 34 project took a leap forward last month when a state Department of Transportation official said at a public meeting that the state was ready to send letters to the property owners to kick off negotiations.
Downtown Isn’t Just the Redevelopment Zone
Meanwhile, Dugatto’s administration is also studying the city’s zoning in the existing business district along Elizabeth, Minerva and Olivia streets.
The zoning within that part of Derby has been showing its age. Aging, often empty storefronts dot Elizabeth Street across from St. Mary’s Church. Storefronts along Minerva Street across from the Derby City Hall parking lot are anything but quaint.
Meanwhile, there’s been a push by Elizabeth Street building owners to convert upper-floor office space into rental apartments, since the office rental market is weak.
A grant such as the one announced Monday could give Derby a chance to revisit and update the regulations downtown, and provide guidance as to what the city wants to see in the future.
The city already received a $50,000 grant to analyze how tax credits aimed at historic properties could make redevelopment possible at a property on Elizabeth Street.
That report, which the Valley Indy wrote about Monday, will include suggestions as to how the city could improve its downtown, such as hiring a point person to handle development inquiries. The city previously had a an economic development director, but the position has been left vacant since Dugatto took office.
More Reaction
A press release about the $445,000 approved by the bond commission included happy quotes from Crisco, Dugatto, Gentile, Alderman Ron Sill, state Rep. Themis Klarides, state Rep. Theresa Conroy and Gov. Dannel Malloy.
“Revitalization of this region in Derby will help bring enhanced economic development to the community, fostering job creation and growth,” Malloy said. “We are making these investments because they will ultimately facilitate a lasting, positive impact and make Derby an even more wonderful place to visit.”
“This is the first step toward downtown Derby’s revitalization,” Sill said.
“The state’s economic future is tied to the health of our downtowns,” Conroy said. “This is an investment in Derby that will pay dividends for the region and the state.”
“The economic revitalization of downtown Derby has been a long time coming,” Klarides said. “This makes sense from every vantage point. We will produce a blue print for Derby that will greatly advance economic revitalization raise opportunities for the next generation.’’