Council sets March 10 public hearing on Stiles School sale; developer proposes 30 market‑rate units

The West Haven City Council on Feb. 24 set a public hearing for March 10 at 6:45 p.m. to consider a purchase-and-sale agreement with Ideal Group LLC to redevelop the city‑owned Stiles School building at 561 Main Street into a 30‑unit, market‑rate apartment project.

The referral and public hearing stem from a recommendation by the Committee on Public Lands, which moved the sale and asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to consider the developer’s plan. The council asked Ideal Group to appear at the March 10 hearing and present a PowerPoint about the proposal.

Why it matters: The council, mayor and staff said redeveloping the long‑vacant Stiles School would turn an eyesore into taxable property and support a corridor cleanup and transit‑oriented development efforts near the train station. Mayor Doreen DeBoer told the council remediation and demolition would be costly, and selling the building for rehabilitation avoids immediate city expense.

City and staff outlined key transaction terms and remaining questions. According to city counsel Mike Caddell, the purchase-and-sale agreement is an “as is” sale that gives the buyer 90 days to complete permits, inspections and due diligence; the buyer may decline to close and forfeit its deposit. Caddell said, “Once they ultimately purchase the property, anything that really is a problem after that is their responsibility.”

The administration and staff described the developer’s current plan as 30 market‑rate units. The agreement also includes a pricing mechanism if the developer seeks additional units in the future: an extra payment to the city of $14,100 per additional unit above 30, escalated by 3% per year. The council also noted sewer hookup fees calculated at $3,500 per unit, which for 30 units would total $105,000, payable to the city in addition to the purchase price.

Council members pressed staff on building layout and unit counts. Staff said records and earlier planning discussions showed both “2 floors and a basement” and paperwork that listed a basement plus first, second and third floors; the developer had earlier considered, then opted against, an added third floor. Councilman Steven Johnstone asked whether an elevator would be required; staff said an elevator is not required for what is effectively a two‑story building.

The council discussed public‑safety and liability during the buyer’s due‑diligence period. Johnstone noted the city retains responsibility for the property until closing; city counsel confirmed the title remains with the city through the 90‑day period.

Mayor Doreen DeBoer framed the sale as the most fiscally prudent path compared with city remediation or demolition. She said prior bidders included a proposed hydroponic farm that later sought large state funds and a separate developer who proposed a larger new‑build plan. “It would cost us a couple of million dollars” to remediate and demolish, DeBoer said, and selling the property for rehabilitation would make it a revenue generator through taxes, sewer fees and building permits.

Action and next steps: The council accepted the Public Lands Committee’s referral and voted to set a public hearing on the purchase-and-sale agreement for March 10 at 6:45 p.m. in council chambers. Ideal Group LLC will be invited to present and answer questions; Planning and Zoning will review the developer’s application as part of the process.

No final sale or zoning approvals were made at the Feb. 24 meeting; the council will take public testimony at the March 10 hearing and may take additional votes afterward.