Waterbury leaders look to reduce jobs pledge in tax deal for new collision center

Waterbury’s Board of Aldermen is being asked to sign-off on a reduction in new jobs pledged for a seven-year tax abatement deal tied to the redevelopment of a vacant car dealership near the Wolcott line into a national collision repair center. 

Early this year, Torrington-based Calito Development Group bought the one-time Family Ford dealership site at 1200 Wolcott St., and has since demolished the vacant building. It’s nearing completion of a 12,500-square-foot, high-bay building for lease to Caliber Collision. 

The city estimates this will bring the property value to $1.7 million.

The Board of Aldermen agreed in July 2023 to hold the property’s appraised value at $691,600 for two years, and then at $1.2 million for five more. The deal, meant to encourage the redevelopment, also included a pledge by Caliber Collision to create 40 new jobs.  

Now, Finance Director Michael LeBlanc is asking the aldermen to change the agreement to require only 25 new jobs. 

The proposed revision will go before the Board of Aldermen at its Oct. 7 meeting. 

Attempts to reach a Calito representative were not immediately successful Monday morning. 

Caliber is supposed to open by Jan. 1 under Calito’s agreement with the city. 

Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski, on Monday, said he backs the changes to an agreement that prompted redevelopment of the vacant site.

“We understand that it’s hard for the entity that owns the property to precisely guarantee the number of employees that their tenants will provide, and we understand the need to be flexible in our approach to continuing to expand economic development in Waterbury,” Pernerewski said Monday. “We now have a brand-new building and a first-rate nationwide body shop moving in.”