The cleanup and demolition of the former Farrel Foundry and Machine Co. site in downtown Ansonia is expected to happen by this fall, according to the city.
On Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont joined city and state officials in Ansonia to formally announce the release of state funding for the project.
In June, the state announced it would be awarding more than $19 million in grants to help remediate dilapidated and blighted properties around Connecticut, with a goal of getting unused sites cleaned up and back in use.
For Ansonia, this grant money included $1 million to assess, demolish and remediate a portion of the Farrel site, at 35 North Main St., to create manufacturing and light industrial space.
Sheila O’Malley, Ansonia’s economic development director, on Friday said this latest grant, in combination with federal funds, means the city can get the site demolition and cleanup finished.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to start removing asbestos in August, a process which will take approximately four to six weeks, according to O’Malley.
Once this is finished, demolition can begin, likely in September or October, with removal of debris to take about a month, she said.
According to Lamont, the creation of manufacturing and light industrial space is crucial to the development of Ansonia’s downtown district.
City officials have said the demolition and cleanup is a step forward in getting the long-vacant parcel back in use.
“We have no doubt we can easily fill this space once the building is taken down,” O’Malley said. “I have had at least 20 people ask me about manufacturing space.”
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.
