Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Acquisition 6 Butler topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
BET approves $1.1 million capital appropriation to acquire 6 Butler Street
Summary
The Norwalk Board of Estimate and Taxation approved a special capital appropriation, 5–2, to fund the city's purchase of 6 Butler Street. City officials said the small parcel would provide alternate access and connectivity to Lockwood‑Mathews/Mathews Park; the purchase had previously been pursued with ARPA funds but missed that funding deadline.
The Norwalk Board of Estimate and Taxation approved a resolution, 5–2, on Feb. 10 to appropriate $1,100,000 in capital funds to acquire property at 6 Butler Street.
City attorneys and staff said the parcel is being sought not for development but to provide alternate ingress and connectivity to Matthews Park and nearby public assets including the Lockwood‑Mathews Mansion. "It provides an alternate, an additional means of access to Matthews Park," Corporation Counsel Darren Callahan told the board. Staff said the acquisition had been pursued earlier with American Rescue Plan Act funding but the project missed the ARPA commitment deadline, so officials now seek bond-funded capital dollars.
The purchase was originally negotiated as part of a package that included a parking easement and was budgeted at $1.4 million. Callahan said the parties negotiated to remove the parking easement and reduce the purchase price to $1.1 million. Jared (staff) explained the funding change to the board: because the ARPA deadline of Dec. 31 was missed, the ARPA allocation was shifted to paving contracts and the property would instead be funded from capital/bond proceeds.
Board members questioned valuation and negotiation history. Staff reported differing valuation figures in the record: an assessed value of about $400,000, a December 2019 purchase price of $392,000 by 6 Butler Properties LLC, and a separate independent appraisal that estimated a "developed" value near $980,000 based on potential residential entitlements and off‑site parking rights. Board discussion also reflected conflicting references in the record to the parcel size (the transcript includes both 0.9 acres and 0.19 acres); the precise lot area was not resolved at the meeting and is not specified in the action.
Members were also told this approval is step one in a multi‑step process: after BET action the item must proceed to planning and zoning, financing & claims, and then the full common council for final authorization. Several board members pressed staff about whether additional negotiation on price remained possible; staff said they had negotiated extensively and the seller would not lower the $1.1 million figure further.
When the chair called for the vote, two members announced opposition: Troy and Ms. Yang. Yang said she would be willing to approve the purchase at a lower price. The resolution passed 5–2.
The board did not take further actions on the property at this meeting; staff noted the funding swap will be reflected in the capital and operating budgets and in minutes of the finance & claims and common council meetings.
