Empty factory buildings still abound, but the administration of the current mayor, David S. Cassetti, is working to remedy that. The city is taking possession of the long-dormant Ansonia Copper and Brass site, roughly 50 acres, in hopes of securing funding to clean it up so it can be leased to new manufacturers, said John P. Marini, the city’s corporation counsel.
“The final frontier for the city is to restore that for economic use,” he said. “It’s a huge challenge, but the biggest opportunity for the whole area.”
Multifamily homes on small lots line the hilly streets around downtown. Single-family homes — mainly older ranches, raised ranches and Cape Cods with larger yards — are found in the city’s Hilltop section. About 60 percent of Ansonia homes are owner-occupied, according to information from the nonprofit organization DataHaven.
Zuppardi’s, a spinoff of the well-known Zuppardi’s Apizza in West Haven, Conn., opened earlier this year just outside of downtown, on Beaver Street. Jim Ormrod, who grew up in the Zuppardi business, opened it as a commissary kitchen for his pizza truck, but also sells takeout, modeled after Brooklyn slice shops.
“The building had been empty for a long time, and the locals were glad to see it get done over,” Mr. Ormrod said. “I put a lot of time, effort and money into this place. I think it’s contagious — I’ve already noticed that a couple of buildings on the street have been repainted since.”
A new sports training facility and soccer stadium is planned for vacant land along the river. Olé Football Club, a semiprofessional soccer team, will be a primary tenant when the complex is completed, probably within a year.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nytimes.com
