[Bassin34]

Hi all,

Does anyone know of any plans for business development in the Seymour/Beacon Falls area (which I am a resident) or the Valley in general? Why is it that the Valley towns remain so run-down? Every pub in Seymour is a dive bar and decent restaurants are few and far between in Derby, Ansonia, Seymour, Beacon Falls area. I don't understand why these towns remain so trashy. Riverfront property in most areas is prime real estate, yet in these towns don't seem to want to revitalize or develop. The residents of these towns are primarily decently paid blue collar workers (cops, fireman, nurses, teachers, electricians, etc.) and a growing number of white collar professionals as well. Beautiful new homes continue to be built in Seymour and Beacon Falls as well as other towns to attract upper-middle class families, but the business districts remain blighted. Any information on future renewal plans is appreciated.

[UconnHusky1]

I heard rumors of a river walk along the Naugatuck River that will connect all towns between Torrington and Derby. However, I find it very unlikely.

[Stylo]

You mean the downtowns? There's not a ton of money/jobs in that area. They are also old mill towns that have taken a long time to recover since industry abruptly left them. They were never high income areas though.

It's also an area kind of removed enough from Stamford/Norwalk and from the New Haven area to not be super desirable for white collar workers.

THAT SAID, I'd disagree on Seymour. It's far from blighted. The downtown looks 100x better than it used to, and there are some really nice new businesses there. The town in general has seen some nice new development real estate wise and is continuing to grow. Nearby Shelton has also grown a lot, and Oxford is up-and-coming. These towns offer a bit of a better commute and their demographics have shifted upwards. Shelton's downtown is looking to improve with a lot of new development there. Many of these downtowns lack housing and suffered from the development of strip malls and indoor shopping malls, like almost every downtown in America. Some have just been slower to recover. There have been extensive plans for Derby's downtown, and a big project was recently scrapped. Derby also has a negative image in the area that it has to combat. Nearby Shelton, on the other hand, will only continue to grow.

[JayCT]

Derby's redevelopment plan was ill conceived. At a time that the downtown centers are becoming popular again, Derby demolished a good part of it and planned strip shopping with big box stores. Not very enlightening.

I agree that Seymour has come a long way and is likely the best downtown in the valley. That is not saying much since the competition is weak. It does take time for a town center to improve. Look at Shelton. With all the massive developments built there over the past 30-40 years, you would think its downtown would be better than it is. Only now is it getting to the point where people outside the town are even thinking of going there. Jay

[Bassin34]

Seymour is better than the others, I agree. However, they initial development that began with Walgreens and Shop & Stop was supposed to extend past the supermarket and continue up into Beacon Falls. I was told that the long-time residents were against the continued development as it would create too much traffic and noise, so the plans were stopped. If true, it is that kind of backward thinking that is so frustrating to me. Developing the waterfront areas to have quaint shops and restaurants would greatly enhance the towns' economically. You need to have a reason for people to come to the area and right now there isn't much to attract anyone. I hoped that the continued real estate development would carry over to other development.

[RogerAnthony]

Unfortunately Seymour's downtown movie theatre, the Strand, is closing at the end of the month unless someone jumps in to save it.

[Bassin34]

If there were trendy restaurants and pubs, (instead of dive bars) downtown, an old-time movie theater is exactly the kind of place that would attract people to the town. Coupled with all of those antique shops, it would attract an upscale crowd to the area. More people, more money, more growth. It's not a difficult concept, it just requires the commitment to do so.

[Stylo]

The Strand needs investment. Modern seats, modern screen, modern sound. Overall renovations. It probably needs city subsidies, honestly. Then it could pull in more people to survive. It's up to the town whether they think it's worth propping up. They could probably break even after a number of years.

No movie theater company will invest in it, because the profit margin for such a small theater is so low these days.

It could also be converted into a performing arts space, which has happened with a lot of antique movie theaters

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Bassin34

Seymour is better than the others, I agree. However, they initial development that began with Walgreens and Shop & Stop was supposed to extend past the supermarket and continue up into Beacon Falls. I was told that the long-time residents were against the continued development as it would create too much traffic and noise, so the plans were stopped. If true, it is that kind of backward thinking that is so frustrating to me. Developing the waterfront areas to have quaint shops and restaurants would greatly enhance the towns' economically. You need to have a reason for people to come to the area and right now there isn't much to attract anyone. I hoped that the continued real estate development would carry over to other development.

Originally Posted by Bassin34

If there were trendy restaurants and pubs, (instead of dive bars) downtown, an old-time movie theater is exactly the kind of place that would attract people to the town. Coupled with all of those antique shops, it would attract an upscale crowd to the area. More people, more money, more growth. It's not a difficult concept, it just requires the commitment to do so.

Not exactly true, to tell you the truth.

A large number of Seymour parents grew up in Stratford and Milford. They like that the town is more like the Stratford/Milford that they grew up in. They don't want the chi-chi crap. They just want a nice place that's clean, friendly and relatively affordable.

[RogerAnthony]

Originally Posted by Stylo

The Strand needs investment. Modern seats, modern screen, modern sound. Overall renovations. It probably needs city subsidies, honestly. Then it could pull in more people to survive. It's up to the town whether they think it's worth propping up. They could probably break even after a number of years.

No movie theater company will invest in it, because the profit margin for such a small theater is so low these days.

It could also be converted into a performing arts space, which has happened with a lot of antique movie theaters

Stylo, it was the town running the Strand. They are the ones pulling out at the end of the month because they say they are losing $20,000 to $30,000 per year of taxpayer money and the landlord intended to raise their rent. If it reopens it will be a private operator rather than the town.