When it was announced in December of 2020, the West Haven Enterprise Zone along the Front Avenue corridor was touted as being a means to reclaim and redevelop properties, once used for landfills, and sitting along the West River.
The acreage was going to revitalize the Allingtown neighborhood, which for decades was the location for commercial and industrial sites, many of which have fallen into decay and disrepair in the intervening years.
The Enterprise Zone was approved by the City Council and the General Assembly and allows for the city to negotiate with developers as far as taxes and other responsibilities. Two years into the process, Mayor Nancy Rossi sees some progress along the riverbank.
Asked about any current use of the Enterprise Zone mechanism by current or new developers, she noted some encouraging results.
“Sabatino Tartufi, at 135 Front Ave, is expanding its footprint and plans to stay in the city according to the mayor.
“(The company) acquired abutting real estate in the Enterprise Zone and has demolished the old building and in the spring will begin construction. The construction phase of their expansion will add 100,000 sq. feet of commercial space to their footprint in West Haven. Sabatino Tartufi is the world’s largest manufacturer, importer, and distributor of fresh and preserved truffles,” she said.
Another business, Industrial Recycling, purchased city-owned land at a cost of $124,000 to expand its business.
“The city facilitated the expansion of this firm in the Enterprise Zone. The city sold the entity of approximately 1.32 acres of land to allow for the expansion. The land was City owned for six years and not producing any income,” Rossi reported.
The newest development is a solar company, Greenskies, which purchased landfill property to construct a solar facility. Located at the addresses of 75 Front Ave and 2 and 8 Spring St., the new facility is on the boards to begin production later in 2023 on the 55.41-acre site.
“Greenskies is hoping to begin generating electricity on the site by late spring, early summer 2023. The project is zoning approved and approved by City Council. This project will generate significant revenue for the city for many years to come. Moreover, the project will significantly improve the environmental stability of the closed and capped landfill,” Rossi said.
The landfill has its own restrictions, according to the mayor.
“The landfill was an unproductive revenue source for last 40 years. The project is supported by the State DEEP, as these solar arrays on retired landfills generally are. The city is limited on development with a retired landfill because of Conn. DEEP regulations. However, the city will explore advertising potential revenue connected with the site and cell tower revenue and other uses including any potential municipal uses,” she said.
The final property now under discussion is 18 Helm St., recently taken over by the city.
“The site had been used to store (illegally) hazardous materials. The city will combine this .59-acre site with adjoining parcels for local business expansion, municipal needs or other commercial uses,” she said.
The city is using a flyer and promotional material to alert developers, the mayor said. But the city knows there must be more active promotion and is working toward that end.
“All the above-mentioned development was done with very little cost to the city, mostly using existing staff. Future development may require some marketing resources and other development resources,“ she said. “The city will explore additional development resources once the budget is drafted.”
The administration was looking at the composting site as a means of commercial development. It sits on the perimeter of the Enterprise Zone.
“It was hoped the Compost Site might have had potential commercial development, but that is on hold as the city needs the compost site and is expanding its use, via the new state Solid Waste (organics) pilot project,” she said.
That project, called “Food Scraps to Energy,” was implemented last month.