LCI’s Jeff Moreno at a state-owned lot on Rosette Street.
New Haven might have to pay more than $1 to gain control of 15 neglected state-owned lots around town. But it’s closer to obtaining them.
The state legislature’s Government and Administration and Elections Committee last week voted unanimously in favor of a bill that would transfer Union Station as well as 15 parcels of “excess” property into the city’s hands.
The latest version calls for the city to pay the state $1 million to transfer ownership of the train station, and fair market value for at least one of the 16 parcels it originally sought from the state. It also would remove one piece of land from the bill altogether. The original version of the bill would have turned the train station on Union Avenue over to the city for nothing, while the parcels would have gone for $1 each. (Click here to read about the 16 parcels, and the problems they have created for New Haven.)
The bill now advances to the House of Representative for consideration.
Mayor Toni Harp said on her “Mayor Monday” program on WNHH radio that she supports the $1 million pric tag for Union Station. She also said she disagrees with the state that the city should have to pay for the portfolio of smaller lots. “It’s been sitting there empty. We’ve been taking care of it for years,” she said.
Markeshia Ricks Photo
Redeker during a recent visit to City Hall.
State Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker said in an interview Monday that he continues to oppose handing over parcels of state owned land for less than they’re worth in general, and one of the state’s largest assets for any amount of money in particular.
He argued that the state shouldn’t be left holding the bag on reimbursing the federal government for any money that entity invested in the properties in question.
Ultimately, it will be up to the legislature to decide. But even with the increased cost, city officials are supportive of the changes in the bill.
City legislative liaison Mike Harris said that of the 16 parcels proposed in the conveyance bill, only two have restrictions that would require a reimbursement from the federal government. That’s a corner sliver plot, likely acquired during I‑95 overpass construction at 99 Stiles St., and another at 25 Kendall St. that was acquired for the I‑95 project on the city’s East Shore. (Read more about the other 14 lots here.)
Harris said the city is prepared to move forward with the purchase of the Kendall Street lot at fair market value, and has a plan for integrating it into the city’s economic development strategy for the area. But it also is OK with not acquiring the Stiles Street property at this time for fair market value because it does not have a plan ready idea yet for that lot. The rest of the parcels in the bill, including 11 in the Route 34 West corridor, would all go to the city for $1 each.
The changes did not appease Commissioner Redeker. He also said that when it comes assets — like excess state-owned property that is worth money, or the train station — the state should act in the interest of maximizing profitability. That means if the city wants the land, it should pay what it’s worth, and at the very least in the case of the parcels, any sale for development orchestrated by the city should send that money back to the state’s coffers so that it might repay the federal government.
“The state should act in the interest of maximizing profitability for property we own for the purposes of the state and its taxpayers,” he said.
The 2017 Agenda
| Bill # | Status | Summary | Sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB11/ HB5539 | Committee Denied | Would legalize, tax recreational use of marijuana. | Candelaria Dillon Lemar Walker Porter et al |
| SB 17 | Committee Approved | Would make certain undocumented immigrant students (DREAMers) eligible for state college financial aid. | Looney |
| HB 5434 | Committee Approved | Would have CT join with other states to elect the President based on popular, rather than Electoral College, vote. | Winfield, Porter Albis Elliott D’Agostino et al. |
| HB 5458, HB 6058 | Committee Approved | Would establish electronic tolls on state highways. | Genga |
| HB 5575/HB 7126 | Passed Senate | Would regulate companies such as Uber and Lyft. | Scanlon |
| HB 5589 | Passed House | Would expand disclosure requirements for contributions to campaign funds. | Dillon Lemar D’Agostino Elliott et al. |
| HB 5591 | Passed House | Would require equal pay for employees doing comparable work. | Dillon Walker Lemar Albis D’Agostino Elliott et al. |
| HB 5703 | Committee Denied | Would have CT enter into an agreement with other states to limit “poaching” of each other’s businesses. | Lemar |
| HJ 13/HJr 95 | Passed House | Would amend the state constitution to permit early voting. | Lemar |
| HJ 16 | In Commitee | Would amend the state constitution to permit absentee voting for all voters. | Lemar |
| SB 1/HB 6212 | Committee Approved | Would require employers to provide paid family and medical leave for their employees. | Looney |
| SB 2 | Committee Approved | Would make the education funding formula more equitable. | Duff |
| SB 8 | Committee Denied | Would allow municipalities to adopt a 0.5% sales tax. | Looney |
| SB 10/HB 5743 | Passed Senate | Would strengthen hate crime laws. | Winfield |
| SB 13/HB 6208/HB 6456 | Committee Approved | Would increase the minimum wage. | Looney Winfield et al. Albis Candelaria D’Agostino Elliott Lemar Paolillo Porter Walker |
| SB 137 | Committee Denied | Would expand birth-to-three and provide universal pre-school, among other things. | Gerratana |
| SJ 5/HJ 1 | Passed House | Would amend the state constitution to create a “lock-box” for transportation funding. | Duff |
| HB 5588 | Committee Denied | Would limit certain bond allocations. | Dillon Lemar Albis Walker Elliott et al. |
| HB 5912HB 6127 | Committee Denied | Would establish a 1‑cent/ounce tax on sugared beverages. | Lemar Elliott et al. |
| HB 6554 | Committee Denied | Would tax carried interest as ordinary income. | Porter Albis Lemar Elliott Winfield Candelaria Dillon D’Agostino et al. |
| HB 5831 | Committee Denied | Would provide bonding for transitional housing for NH female ex- offenders. | Porter Candelaria Lemar Winfield Looney Paolillo |
| SB 631 | Committee Denied | Would provide bonding to make structural improvements to the Shubert Theatre. | Winfield Looney Walker Porter Lemar Candelaria Paolillo |
| HB 6863 | Committee Denied | Would authorize bonds for renovating the Barbell Club as a youth/ community center. | Canelaria Porter Paolillo Lemar Winfield |
| SB 649 | Committee Approved | Would allow local building officials to impose fines for building w/o a permit. | Looney Winfield Walker Candelaria Lemar Porter Paolillo Et al. |
| SB 590/591 | Committee Denied | Would limit police ccoperation w/Immigration and Customs Enforcement (590); establish an immigrant’s bill of rights | Winfield |
| SB 20 | Committee Denied | Would require affordability to be considered in reviewing proposed health insurance rate hikes. | Looney |
| HB 6352 | Committee Approved | Would establish a deposit system for car tires. | Ritter Gresko McCrory |
| HB 6901 | Committee Denied | Would impose a surtax on large employers that pay an average wage less than $15/hour. | Elliott |
| HB 7278 | Passed Senate | Would convey various parcels to New Haven, among other things. | Gov’t Administration and Elections |