CBRA News

Published: Tuesday, March 30, 2010
By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich, Register Correspondent

DERBY — The city is negotiating with a California developer interested in giving downtown a multimillion-dollar face-lift, and shovels could be in the ground within 18 months.

That’s the latest word from Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley and the Redevelopment Agency, which recently voted to allow Mayor Anthony Staffieri to begin negotiations with Eclipse Development Group of Irvine, Calif.

The goal is to hammer out an agreement where the developer will conduct a study — on its own dime — of downtown, create a concept plan, secure tenants and begin discussions with private landowners in the redevelopment area.

Staffieri, in a written statement issued late Monday, said, “Essentially, they (the developer) are asking the city of Derby to give them time to develop a concept, at no cost to the city, and bring that concept back for our approval or disapproval.”

“It is a win-win situation for the city. We have developers who are willing to begin the process of moving forward, and willing to risk their own funding to see if this project can work,” he said.

O’Malley said the developers attended the agency’s March 18 meeting to discuss the prospects. Eclipse President Doug Gray and Executive Vice President Paul Bernard said they specialize in downtown redevelopment and brownfield sites.

They envision a plan that could include retail shops, an upscale movie theater, walking and seating areas with benches, old-fashioned lighting and smaller-scale stores to complement Derby’s history and sense of community, according to O’Malley.

The one thing the developers said they won’t bring here is a “big box” retailer.

O’Malley said the city recently met with the Connecticut Development Authority to discuss downtown, and the state later contacted Derby about Eclipse’s successful involvement with a $55 million project in North Haven, on a site similar to Derby’s.

“After visiting the (Derby) site on a number of occasions ... they have decided that they could potentially develop a project which would positively impact the city of Derby,” O’Malley said.

Aldermanic President Kenneth Hughes said the city is proceeding carefully, and is “cautiously optimistic” about the potential development.

“This is an opportunity for the city of Derby to have someone else pay for the cost of putting a plan together and doing their own due diligence,” Hughes said.

“It won’t cost the taxpayers a dime and it might very well result in a plan that turns our downtown around. This is a very positive step for Derby, and I am pleased to be part of history in the making. We seem to have a ready and willing partner,” Hughes said.

O’Malley said while the agency has heard several proposals, including a sports complex, a mixed-use conceptual design and drugstore, none of the developers had the finances to move forward.

The 22-acre downtown parcel extends from the former Lifetouch Studios and the former Housatonic Lumber toward Caroline and Main streets.

The city has been trying to redevelop downtown for years. Most recently, the Board of Aldermen voted to settle a lawsuit with the former ousted downtown developer Ceruzzi-Derby Redevelopment for $1.75 million. The city kicked Ceruzzi to the curb in 2007 for dragging its feet with its proposal to redevelop downtown.

Agency Chairman and Alderman Joe Bomba said he’s excited about the prospects for downtown.

“This is a great opportunity and I believe (Eclipse) has the capacity and vision to create something that will make us all proud,” Bomba said.