http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/ansonia_mayoral_candidate_volunteers_to_clean_up_healey_ford/

The site has been for sale for a VERY long time without takers. No one is going to open a car dealership (of that size) in downtown Ansonia and the location with businesses behind it is not easy to redevelop.

The building should be razed and the land marketed as a site for new small shopping plaza, etc.

Hello Ryan-
What will you do if a car dealership acquires the site?
The city cannot control what private landowners do with their property such as market it for a retail center or sell it for a car dealership. If it's zoned correctly, the people actually investing their own money in it get to decide on their own timetable.
The dynamics of this site have mainly to do with an owner (Ford) that has thousands of vacant dealerships across the country that cannot be reused unless they pay to clean up the environmental contamination from servicing motor vehicles.

http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/mayor_thanks_ford_for_cleaning_up_healey_site/

That's from two years ago Resident. It would be nice if they could clean it up again because it's back to looking like crap. And since it was a campaign issue two years ago there may be interest in addressing this issue again?

If I recall correctly, Ford was officially asked to clean up the property. A property owner should not have to be reminded every 3 weeks to maintain their vegetation. With that being said, the gloves should come off and assess a blight lien with a probationary stipulation, that if not maintained reasonably, a penalty should follow. If Ford wants to maintain an empty building for perpetuity, it is their right. But, it should at least not be an eye sore to the community.

When you think about it in terms of TRUE reality the subject property actually blends in with the soon-to-be-abandoned Farrel Corp on the opposite side of Main Street.
Actually in present form.....Healy Ford visually looks better.

Mr. Luneski
You have hit on EXACTLY the problem; corporate landlords (most especially banks) are too important/busy/fragile to be held to the same standard as everyone else

didnt they fine the guy who bought the farrel property on east main st. whats with the double standard?

You are correct. If Ford (sadly) wants to maintain an empty building forever they may do so... but they have to maintain it and I am lost as to why Ansonia has not contacted or fined Healey Ford's owners.

Also, since it will be almost impossible to sell that building to another auto dealer and clearly there has been no real interest in the structure as it is, one would think Healey would hire a developer to come up with a redevelopment plan as was done for Valley Bowl. The Healey Ford location, near Target and Big Y would be attractive but the present structure has to go.

Just to be clear Ryan: "Healy" doesn't own it, Ford Motor Credit in Michigan is the owner.
It will more than likely be sold to a used car dealer (as was Dworkin Chevy-Mazda recently) since that is the highest and best use in its current configuration and the used car business is booming!
Such a use would also generate many higher paid skilled jobs than would any retail big box. A facility like that would support 50+ jobs for mechanics, auto body restorers, salesmen and finance specialists. These are all highly paid professions that will contribute greatly to the Ansonia economy and downtown marketplace.

I saw a landscaping crew at Healey Ford on Saturday cleaning up the site

I wish this site would be knocked down and just put in stores so it would be an extension of Main St.

The 2 year clean up plan.

The new used car dealer at Dworkin is SO HUGE (and what a ugly blue they slapped on the building) the chances of another used car dealer of size being able to survive at the former Healy Ford is scarce. It would have happened by now. That dealership was FAR too big to be a modern Ford dealer. They don't need showrooms that huge.. a key reason Healy died. It had a monstrous facility for low volume in a out of the way location.

How Fitzpatrick's Chrysler Jeep survives is a miracle.

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