City of New Britain Office of Mayor Timothy Stewart

MEDIA RELEASE



March 18, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lisa Carver (860) 826-3303



MAYOR STEWART ANNOUNCES CITY TO SEEK PROPOSALS AND BIDS FOR

FORMER SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS PROPERTY ON KELSEY STREET





New Britain Mayor Timothy Stewart announced today that the City will begin soliciting proposals from buyers for the purchase and economic development of the property at 74 Kelsey Street that is the former site of St. Thomas Aquinas parochial high school.



The City purchased the property in October 2010 from Seventy Four Kelsey LLC. The owners had fallen behind on their property tax payments, and the buildings were on the City’s blight list due to their deteriorated condition which necessitated the City’s action.



“This is the next step to turn a neighborhood eyesore into an economic development opportunity for our City,” Mayor Stewart said today.



“In order to begin the process of converting this long vacant property into productive property, we are announcing today our intention to solicit proposals from potential developers. This is an extremely valuable piece of property that can be converted to a number of uses, including housing. We have already received a great deal of interest in the property and I expect to see some very creative proposals made by potential developers.”



The lot area is 2.2 acres with two buildings that formerly housed the school and an adjacent convent. The condition of the buildings is poor necessitating extensive renovation, or more likely demolition. The parcel is currently zoned T, two-family which permits single and two-family residential structures.



“This property is in a prime location a short distance from the New Britain central business district, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) and the Hospital of Central Connecticut. With our location in the center of the state and being two hour drives from Boston and New York, this property should draw a great deal of interest from serious developers looking for opportunities in business friendly communities such as New Britain.”



Concluding, Mayor Stewart said, “This is another step in my continuing effort to return government owned properties to the property tax rolls. Over the past seven years of my administration, millions of dollars in city-owned properties have been purchased by private developers and corporations making them real revenue producers for the City. It is my intention to continue with these aggressive efforts in order to increase our grand list and to raise new revenues for the City of New Britain.”



The Request for Proposal is attached. Interested parties can contact Municipal Development Director Ken Malinowski at (860) 826-3330. Proposals are due to Jack Pieper, Purchasing Agent, City of New Britain, New Britain City Hall, Room 401, 27 West Main Street no later than 11:00 a.m. on April 15, 2011. Pre-bid meeting and inspection of premises will be held on site on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.