The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
PLANS FOR LAND
Residents, experts discuss strategies for brownfield properties
TORRINGTON >> Would residents support a sports complex on Migeon Avenue?
That’s an idea some residents came up with as they considered the ins-an-douts of developing a strategy for brownfield redevelopment, during a public meeting and brainstorming session, focused on the ongoing effort to create a strategy governing the future of brownfield properties in Torrington.
The city received a $200,000 grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development in January 2016 to come up with the plan and hired Meriden-based BL Companies to spearhead the effort.
Geoff Fitzgerald, principal with the group, and Valerie Ferro of Good Earth Advisors, have been crafting the study — they discussed a market analysis conducted as part of the effort in February — and led the meeting at City Hall on Tuesday.
Fitzgerald said the meeting was intended to illustrate the manner in which brownfield properties are developed, so the residents in atten-
“We want to try and understand the city as well as you do, so we want to have you as informed as possible to give us some good feedback.” — Geoff Fitzgerald, BL Companies
dance — about 10 — could have a better understanding of the process and offer feedback. “We want you to understand all the complexities that go into a site,” said Fitzgerald. “You understand Torrington and these sites better than we do. We want to try and understand the city as well as you do, so we want to have you as informed as possible to give us some good feedback.”
As part of this goal, those in attendance took part in a thought exercise.
The group was split in two, with one group of people serving as developers, and the others as the city government.
They each brainstormed ideas for the future of 535 Migeon Ave., formerly the home of the Union Hardware Company, considering what they’d like to see happen to the property and potential pitfalls they could face along the way.
The city group suggested that a sports complex would be a suitable use for the site.
“There doesn’t seem to be enough sporting-type of facilities, and reinvented sports opportunities, and we thought this might be a perfect place for that,” said Paul Cavagnero. “Whatever can be fit into this space, and available to all generations.”
This connected with the thoughts of the developer group, which noted environmental studies, state funding, tax situation, zoning, the neighborhood, price and hopes for a shovel-ready project as elements in the study.
That group hoped for offices for teachers and businesses for fabrication and creation and/or a sports complex, which would dovetail well with the nearby Forbes School.
There are two main areas of focus to be considered as part of the brownfields area revitalization study — the former Hendey Machine Company building, and the former NIDEC building.
The market, physical conditions, conceptual futures for the city, and cost estimates will be analyzed for both properties, according to documentation provided Tuesday, as part of the overall project.
The future redevelopment of Franklin Street is also included in the scope of work.
The brownfield strategy, according to the documentation, will touch on legal issues regarding a private assessor, attracting developers, the redevelopment process and dovetailing that with the city Plan of Conservation and Development. An implementation guide will also be put together.
Officials, Fitzgerald and Ferro and residents also discussed obstacles and opportunities for development in the city, including the city’s status as a micropolitan community.
Torrington, as a municipality of between 10,000 and 50,000 people that serves a larger geographic area, is the third-largest micropolitan area in the country, according to Economic Development Director Erin Wilson. The city does not qualify for funding available to larger cities, Wilson said, despite providing necessary resources for the residents of Litchfield County as a whole.