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Mayor Cassetti outlines redevelopment plan for Ansonia Copper & Brass site
Summary
After the city secured title to part of the former Ansonia Copper & Brass property, Mayor Cassetti said the city will seek appraisals, issue RFPs and use state, federal and ARPA funds for demolition, remediation and redevelopment aimed at returning jobs to Ansonia.
Mayor Cassetti told the Board of Aldermen on June 11 that the city has secured court‑granted title to the western portion of Riverside Drive and the former Ansonia Copper & Brass property and will move to prepare the site for redevelopment. "It is our future, it is the hopes and dreams of Ansonia and the valley and we will not let you down," he said.
Cassetti said the city will begin using grant funds now that title is secured, start an appraisal of the full property and issue requests for proposals for lease or purchase of roughly 60 contiguous acres. He said the goal is to clean and remediate the site and attract developers who will create jobs and revenue that were lost when the factory closed.
Corporation Counsel John Marini and staff described several process steps: appraisal, required environmental and historic‑preservation reviews, and RFPs for interested end users. Marini said some buildings may be retained while others will be demolished depending on what an end user brings to the table; historic‑preservation agencies may require trades such as restoring the Opera House so demolition can proceed elsewhere.
The city also plans to use a feasibility study—funded with secured grant money—for the Opera House to help structure potential tax‑credit incentives and to make the site more attractive to developers. Officials said design renderings and 3‑D models are being prepared and that an RFP for the Opera House study is under way.
Aldermen asked about timing and environmental restrictions; staff and counsel said the schedule depends on end‑user proposals, court actions on portions of the property, and state historic‑preservation approvals. An alderman noted Eastern Metals has signaled interest in more space and officials said that the Extrusion Mill could be a candidate for retrofit.
Next steps: appraisal of the property, posting of RFPs, and review of the Opera House feasibility study when bids and renderings are returned.
