For the third time in a little more than two years, Waterbury officials have launched a search for a redevelopment partner for a roughly 16-acre industrial site that has already been the target of about $9 million in government-backed cleanup and repairs.
On Monday, the city issued its latest “request for proposals,” seeking a development partner for the once-bustling Anamet brass manufacturing plant at 698 South Main St. Operations dwindled for years and then ceased around 2000.
The industrial complex was untended, and its buildings began to crumble and became eyesores targeted by graffiti, illegal dumping and other nuisance activity.
Under former Mayor Neil O’Leary, a company created by the city bought the property for $650,000 in 2017. The city has spent millions of dollars in state brownfield funding demolishing dilapidated buildings. It spent another $2.8 million from city taxpayers to replace the roof of a roughly 190,000-square-foot, high-bay industrial building on-site seen as ripe for reuse.
With extra environmental studies completed and more time for outreach, Waterbury officials say they are confident the latest search for a buyer will be successful. Officials say they’ve already been in contact with interested investors.
“I think there is some interest out there at this point, and we will get some proposals that will be interesting,” Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said. “Ultimately, the goal is to get it back on the tax rolls, get it back into productive use and get something down there with meaningful jobs. I think this time we can make it work.”
A search for a development partner in 2022 identified local aquaculture company Ideal Fish as the preferred buyer and tenant. The company proposed a large-scale expansion of its operations and jobs at the site, but negotiations dragged out and O’Leary called for a new search in September 2023.
The next RFP prompted responses from two industrial investment and leasing firms.
Waterbury-based Cornerstone Realty – run by the prominent Albert family – proposed to partner with local plumbing supplier Torrington Supply Co., in a $1.8 million purchase. Los Angeles-based Industrial Realty Group promised to build a business park and offered to pay $200,000 a year over five years for the property.
Pernerewski turned down those offers and announced plans for a fresh search in March. At the time, Pernerewski said he felt the proposals were not equal to the amount of investment targeted at the site.
Responses are due back to the city by Oct. 8.
More information is available at waterburyct.procureware.com.
