Contributed
A conceptual illustration of a recreation complex on Olson Drive. Keep in mind this is a concept, so don’t count parking spaces. No formal plans have been submitted to the city at this point.
ANSONIA — Corporation Counsel John Marini announced Tuesday that the city has received the approvals needed to buy 8 acres on Olson Drive from the Ansonia Housing Authority for $510,000.
The property was once home to the federally subsidized Riverside Drive housing complex, which opened in 1963 but had become rundown and outdated by the 2000s.
The land, although located in the city, is controlled by the department of Housing and Urban Development, of which the Ansonia Housing Authority is an entity.
Mayor David Cassetti’s administration is considering selling the land to The Primrose Companies, whose CEO John Guedes wants to redevelop the land into a $14 million recreation complex.
Back in 2019 the Cassetti administration issued a “request for proposals,” asking private companies to pitch ideas to redevelop Olson Drive, which is a large open field at this point.
The administration likes the proposal from The Primrose Companies, which calls for:
- a 49,000 square-foot, “all sports” training building
- a 39,000 square-foot indoor soccer facility, and
- a FIFA regulation-sized soccer field.
At the time, Primrose offered $250,000 for the land.
Ansonia has not accepted that offer because before any negotiations could start between Primrose and city government, the Cassetti administration had to seek approvals from federal and state bureaucracies to buy the land.
That process took some two years to prepare and get through.
At a meeting of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen Tuesday, Marini said the administration needs to schedule a closing date for the sale of the land from the housing authority to the city. After that, negotiations can start with The Primrose Companies.
The Cassetti administration didn’t solicit ideas from the public for future uses at Olson Drive, something that has generated some complaints.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Alderman William Phipps suggested the city may want to consider something other than a private recreation facility at the property. He noted downtown Ansonia has lots of residential units under construction or getting ready to be constructed.
Phipps said the city may want to consider keeping the land as open space, and use it the way Shelton uses Veterans Memorial Park at 38 Canal St. East. The Shelton property, once home to a factory, is now green space with a pavilion and is the site of summer concerts and other community activities.
Shelton has added hundreds (and hundreds) of new residential units to its downtown, a path Ansonia is now heading down, Phipps noted. Perhaps it makes sense to have a community space for all the new people living on Main Street, the Alderman suggested.
“There’s a lot of potential, rather than giving it to a private developer for the sake of a few dollars in taxes,” Phipps said.
Marini and Ansonia Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley expressed a different philosophy, saying Ansonia needs the revenue.
“We really want that extra dollar. Those extra dollars mean extra books, they mean extra teachers. It really allows us to move forward,” Marini said. The corporation counsel noted that parks come with a cost because the city pays to maintain them.
O’Malley said Shelton had limited options for its open space downtown because the land was contaminated. Passive recreation was the most efficient use of the property.
Alderwoman Diane Stroman asked whether the Valley YMCA, which closed its building in Ansonia, could build on or use the property. She also noted the proposed recreation facility is a for-profit enterprise, and that city residents will be charged to use it.
Alderman Joseph Jeanette Jr. asked whether Ansonia residents could receive a discount.
Phipps also remarked on the purchase price the city is paying, asking where the city is getting the money. Marini said the city hopes to recoup the price by selling the property.
Marini said the suggestions and questions from the Board of Aldermen could be part of the city’s negotiations with The Primrose Companies.
The status of the negotiations could be discussed at the next Aldermen meeting, scheduled for July, most likely in executive session since the matter deals with real estate strategy.
