Photo from Facebook
The sign outside the former VARCA building on Coon Hollow Road.
The former VARCA building on Coon Hollow Road needs at least $1 million in repairs, probably making it too expensive for the City of Derby to hold onto, economic development liaison Carmen DiCenso said.
“The city, unfortunately, does not have the funds,” DiCenso said.
But, on the other hand, the city has a potential buyer who would put the property back on the city’s tax rolls, DiCenso said.
Soccer and Rugby Imports LLC in interested in buying the property and using it as the company’s corporate headquarters, according to DiCenso. The company supplies equipment to a variety of soccer and rugby programs on the recreational, high school and university levels.
The company, which is privately owned, has retail stores in Greenwich, Madison, Ridgefield, Southport, and Bronxville, N.Y.
DiCenso made his comments — and read a letter from the company — Thursday during the inaugural meeting of the VARCA Building Future Use Ad-Hoc Committee.
Contributed Photo
Carmen DiCenso, Derby’s economic development liaison.
The committee is the appointed group charged with making a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen about what to do with the 26,000 square-foot building, which is at the corner of Coon Hollow Road and Chatfield Street in west Derby, behind Derby High School.
It was formerly home to the Valley Association for Retarded Children and Adults, Inc. and was used as a community center and job-training facility for people with developmental disabilities.
The city gave the building to VARCA in 1968, but the deed was written so that it reverted back to Derby if the use stopped.
The members of DiCenso’s committee present Thursday included Second Ward Alderman Ron Sill and tax board chairwoman Judy Szewczyk.
What About The Ansonia-Derby Senior Center?
Sill noted how things had taken a 180-degree turn since April, when the property came into Derby’s possession. The governments of Ansonia and Derby distributed a photo and announced the building would probably be used as a regional senior center.
At that point, city officials were “filled with glee” at the prospect of using the building in some government capacity, Sill noted. Thursday’s about face was a surprise.
But DiCenso said things changed after he and Derby Finance Director Sal Coppola started looking closely at the building with engineers.
The roof needs repairs. The boilers need to be replaced. It could cost around $1 million to install sprinklers alone, DiCenso said.
“When we first looked at this, we definitely thought it would be a great municipal building,” DiCenso said. “And then, when we started crunching numbers and (looking at) what has to be done and what has to be fixed, we don’t have the money. The city just does not have the money to do it.”
The talk of a Derby-Ansonia senior center is still happening, though other locations will have to be explored if the city decides to sell the building.
School District Interest
Derby schools were interested in using the building’s second floor to expand its “Rise Academy,” which is currently housed in the high school. It helps kids who are struggling in the traditional academic setting.
The school district was also interested in using the building’s first floor for students with special needs who are currently taught outside the school district at big costs to Derby taxpayers.
But DiCenso and Coppola suggested the school district look elsewhere for the programs. They suggested the school district conduct a comprehensive facilities study, especially since the district is getting a new, spacious field house.
The school district has some $250,000 in grant money to contribute. The City of Ansonia has about $500,000 in grant money. But that’s still not enough, DiCenso said, and doesn’t include the costs to maintain the building going forward.
Public Reaction
Tom Lionetti, a resident in the audience, urged the committee not to rush a decision. He pointed out the city does not actually have a concrete repair estimate. He also said the committee should explore how much it would cost to tear the building down.
Lionetti said he wasn’t opposed to selling it, but warned against moving too quickly.
Coppola said the city should keep an eye on the bottom line.
“The question is — why would the city want to collect buildings if they don’t need the buildings essentially?” Coppola asked.
The finance director said it cost $1,000 last month to heat the empty building, even though the thermostat is set at just 50 degrees.
The committee will meet again in January. The potential buyer hopes to move in by May if a deal can be struck.
