Army plant considered for movies

RICHARD WEIZEL rweizel@ctpost.com

STRATFORD — Plans to redevelop the former Army engine plant are back in the spotlight.
And this time it could literally be true, as movie businesses are apparently among those scouting the 79-acre Main Street property as their future home.

Mayor James R. Miron disclosed the film companies' possible interest in the shuttered manufacturing facility during a news briefing Tuesday in Town Hall.

"There have been at least one or more film industry companies who have met the minimum requirements to bid on the property and have shown serious interest," Miron said.

While declining to name the companies, the mayor said he has been in contact with their representatives.

Miron said among the requirements at least one of the movie businesses has met is putting up the required $1 million entrance fee to demonstrate serious interest in obtaining the contaminated site from the U.S. Army. The plant, which has been closed for more than a decade, turned out equipment for defense, most recently engines for Army tanks.

The plant site is located on the banks of the Housatonic River and across Main Street from Sikorsky Memorial Airport.

"I'm not saying I favor one industry over another, but think of the incredible possibilities of having a film production company on that site," Miron said. "It could spur between $3 to $5 million in taxes a year, and stimulate economic growth through jobs and the numerous people coming into the town on an ongoing basis. "With Connecticut
now targeting the film industry as an increasing alternative to New York City, which has a $5 billion movie and film-making industry, why not have Stratford lead the way here in our state?" the mayor said.
Miron said there are "tremendous built-in advantages Stratford has to offer — such as being just 50 miles from New York City and having Sikorsky Memorial Airport right across the street. There would be terrific access to Stratford."

The mayor said many of the existing 56 buildings on the site could be used for filmmaking, and that even serious contamination there would be cheaper to clean up because such an enterprise would require a far lower environmental standard than housing or even commercial use.

Officials said the cost of the cleanup, which some estimate at up to $80 million, would depend greatly on the type of development at the site, now zoned for industrial use. It would cost the least to remediate if that zone remained intact, they said.

"The filmmakers talk about using the site for filming, sound stages, post production uses and other ways they could utilize the parcel," Miron said.

But Miron cautioned that residents shouldn't count on lining up on Main Street to catch a glimpse at Tom Cruise or Meryl Streep just yet.

"All bids will be considered, and we still have no idea which company will be selected by the Army," Miron said. "It's just a fascinating possibility."

The U.S. Army, which owns the land, and the federal General Services Administration earlier this month kicked off the online bidding process for the property.

Town, state and Army officials, as well as representatives from Cushman & Wakefield, an international commercial real estate firm managing the marketing effort for the property, said turnout at a November bidders' conference in Hartford was better than expected.

But Paula Santangelo, in the public affairs office for GSA's New England region in Boston, said only one bid had been submitted so far — though the bidder "must remain anonymous" and she can't name its business. Once the bidding period is close to ending, GSA will use a Web site announcing that bidders have 72 hours to make final submissions.

Miron said he expects that to happen in early to mid-February, but Santangelo said no decision has been made on when to close the bidding.

The winning bidder will become the developer of one of Stratford's prime pieces of waterfront property, a site long envisioned as the key resource for economic growth over decades to come.

LINKS

Point Stratford

Brochure and Photos

Bidding Process

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Article courtesy of the Connecticut Post

Town of Stratford