Back in Business

As the town enters the new year, First Selectmen Ed Haberek said that one of his top priorities will be to attract new businesses to town.

He said he is already working with several companies that have shown interest in vacant buildings and properties in town.

Haberek said a restaurant is interested in the long vacant building at 34 West Broad Street, next to the Pawcatuck River Bridge. He said he is helping the prospective tenant set up a meeting with building owner Fred Blackhall.

Haberek said he is also meeting this week with a health and fitness company that is interested in the former Stop & Shop space in the Pawcatuck Shopping Center. He said Stop & Shop has a lease that prohibits other types of food stores from moving in, forcing the center's owners to look at other types of businesses.

Haberek said an independent bookstore was interested in the dilapidated building at 2-4 Mechanic St. last year, but its owner, Stephen Vacca, never returned the company's calls.

The proprietor of a bakery is also interested in moving into the former Pronto pasta shop on Route 1, and Haberek is also working with a fruit and vegetable retailer to find 3,000 square feet of space. He said a martial arts business is planned to open above the Downtown Creamery in Pawcatuck.

Haberek said he has renewed discussions with developers of the stalled Connecticut Casting mill project on Stillman Avenue, while developers of the long delayed Thread Mill project on Mechanic Street are looking to move forward with work this spring.

The town's Architectural Design Review Board has given a positive recommendation to the proposed Tractor Supply Co. store that wants to open on Route 2 in Pawcatuck.

Haberek said he will continue his economic development initiatives, one of which involves going to trade shows to meet prospective companies. Haberek said he not only wants to continue to increase his networking but also capitalize on the contacts he's already made, such as one with a Montreal company that may be interested in the Hubbell building on Lords Hill Road.

"We're trying to move people from the prospecting phase into committing to the town," he said.

Haberek will also hold an economic roundtable discussion this spring to talk to businesses about issues such an electric costs, taxes, and infrastructure.

The town, meanwhile, is finishing a blight ordinance that will force owners of dilapidated buildings to make repairs as a way to make them more attractive to businesses and ensure safety. The Board of Selectmen is expected to send the ordinance to a town meeting in February.

The town recently cited the owners of two
downtown Pawcatuck buildings, including Vacca, for health and safety violations, and Haberek said the owners are now preparing plans to fix those problems.