A public hearing has been held by the Danbury City Council about the potential sale of a City owned property.  Only two people spoke during the hearing Wednesday night about the City looking to put 33 East Franklin Street and 72-80 Maple Avenue out to bid. 

A neighboring business owner was concerned that whatever is put there, that no street parking be allowed as is the current situation. 

State Representative Ken Gucker suggested that the City not sell the land and instead apply for a Brownfield Remediation Grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.  He says up to $4 million would be available, and then the City could turn the site into the home of an elementary school. 

City officials have previously said that the ground is contaminated with arsenic, mercury and traces of chemical production and cannot be used for residential or recreational purposes.  Gucker cited Kennedy Flats and the former Mallory Hat Factory site as properties that were remediated and now serve residential purposes. 

The E. Franklin Street property is zoned for light-industrial use.  The City Council declared it surplus in September, allowing officials to put out a request for proposals. Any final agreement of sale must be returned to the City Council for final authorization.  Danbury won a multi-year fight in 2019 over the abandoned former Amphenol 100,000-square-foot factory when a judge condemned the property.  The 3.1 acres, owned by Aberdeen Development, was $1.1 million behind on taxes and city fees.