Factory Demolition This Summer Clears Way for Atlantic Wharf

The transformation from Atlantic Wire to Atlantic Wharf will begin this summer as the outdated factory is torn down and an upscale residential and retail complex takes its place.

The project was unanimously approved by the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission (pictured above)Thursday. 

“We hope to start the development process this summer beginning with demolition and environmental remediation,” Robert H. Smith Jr. told the Branford Eagle.

The new Atlantic Wharf complex will dramatically change the landscape along the Branford River in the heart of town. The Atlantic Wire factory had manufactured industrial wire for a century, opening its doors in 1906. The factory closed down in 2008 after it went bankrupt. It was later charged with federal crimes and state violations in its systemic pollution of the Branford River. The new developers plan to continue the clean-up at the site on Meadow Street.

Smith, the CEO and founder of the Milford-based Metro Star Properties LLC, is pictured at center. At right is his partner, Earl Tucker, vice- president of Empire Paving in Branford. At left is Gregory P. Muccilli, a land use and environmental attorney with Shipman & Goodwin, who represents the developers.

P&Z chair Charles Andres offered his congratulations to the developers after the vote was taken. The process began in June 2014 when Smith made an informal presentation to P&Z.  After a series of public hearings, the Master Plan and Planned Development District (PDD) were approved in February 2015.  Click here to read about that. Additional hearings were held recently on the detailed site plans, resulting in Thursday’s vote.

“Interactive Process”

Developer Robert Smith told the Eagle he is pleased with the outcome of the planning and regulatory procedures. “Town officials provided for a very fluid interactive process which allowed the plan to evolve and improve. We are very pleased with the outcome from both a regulatory and design prospective,” he said.

Throughout the process, the town staff and the commission made requests and suggestions, and the developers complied. On Thursday, Town Planner Harry Smith, pictured at right above, read through an 11-page resolution which included nine pages of conditions that the developers must adhere to. For example, one of the item states: ​“Construction traffic shall be directed to enter and exit the area via Montowese Street, Pine Orchard Road or Meadow Street avoiding Church Street north of Meadow Street and other residential minor side streets.”

The commission discussed additional items Thursday before voting on the project. In addition to Andres, the commissioners voting included John Lust, Joseph Chadwick, Marci Palluzzi, and alternate Paul Higgins Jr. Commissioner Joseph Vaiuso did not vote because he was absent from some of the hearings. Alternate Fred Russo was absent.

A New Community Is Born

The first phase of site work will include tearing down the Atlantic Wire factory on Meadow Street and remediating the pollution.

The 7.5 acres along the Branford River will then be transformed into a residential and commercial neighborhood that’s within walking distance of the Town Center and the Shoreline East Train Station. Plans call for 205 apartments, featuring 30 studio units; 125 one-bedroom units; and 50 two-bedroom units. Of the 10 buildings, six will have retail, restaurants and commercial units on the first floor. The other four will be strictly residential. There will be an underground parking garage with 195 spaces, which will be open to the public.

Benefits to Town

The town stands to benefit in terms of infrastructure improvements, property tax revenue, and the removal of a polluted industrial site in the heart of town.

The developers will build a new road through the project and realign the convoluted intersection of Meadow and Montowese streets and Pine Orchard Road. This is a something the town has been attempting to undertake for several years. The intersection issue was raised by former Town Planner Shirley Rasmussen when preliminary talks began with the developers a few years ago.

In terms of tax revenue, a real estate consultant for the development team stated at previous public hearings that the project would generate an estimated $987,000 annually from property taxes, car taxes, and restaurant taxes. He calculated there would be about $319,000 in costs for education, police, fire and ambulance coverage, which would result in more than $600,000 in potential tax revenue.

Neighbors’ Concerns

Most people at the public hearings spoke in favor of the project. However, neighbors on Wilford Avenue had concerns about traffic, noise and the effect on their properties. Wilford Avenue runs parallel to Meadow Street, and some of the homes abut the apartment building that will be built across from the factory site. Click here to read about the initial round of public hearings. 

The developers met with residents over the summer and addressed their concerns. For example, the developers agreed to extensive landscaping to act as a buffer between the homes and the apartment building.

Residents earlier this month said they were still concerned about parking and traffic issues after the town announced plans to renovate and expand the Community House to add a senior center. The Community House is about half-a-block from the Atlantic Wharf site. Neighbors asked for additional discussion about traffic patterns.

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove announced his plan to expand the Community House after Atlantic Wharf’s residential project had been proposed, so traffic estimates for the Community House expansion were not factored in. Last week the Board of Selectmen agreed to commission a traffic study for the Community House project. 

Farewell to Atlantic Wire

The Atlantic Wire factory, which began operations in 1906, declared bankruptcy in 2008 after being charged with federal crimes and state violations for polluting the Branford River. At that time, former Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called Atlantic Wire one of the worst polluters in the state.

At the time Blumenthal was blunt about the company’s activities. “Atlantic Wire’s environmental record is reprehensible and repugnant — repeatedly dumping poison into the Branford River,” he declared.

Atlantic Wire officials pleaded guilty in December 2008 in U.S. District Court to the criminal charges—violating the federal Clean Water Act and submitting false statements regarding its pollution measures.  Company owners began an extensive clean-up of the site as part of a deal they made with the state.  Clean-up efforts have been underway since then.

Kevin O’Neill, president of Cherry Hill Glass Co. on Elm Street, purchased the property in 2010, along with his corporate partners, Jeffrey A. James and Theodore J. Cwiertniewicz through their One Church Street LLC. The purchase price was about $850,000. 

In June 2011, O’Neill received approval from P&Z to use 40,000 square feet of the rambling 158,000 square-foot building for production and storage of windows and skylights from his Cherry Hill Glass Co.

Robert Smith and his partners have a purchase option on the property and are expected to buy the land now that the approval process is complete.
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