Stocker: Blue Linx Likely To Sell Following Collapse

By John Voket

Newtown Community Development Director Liz Stocker told the Legislative Council September 21 that Blue Linx will likely not rebuild, and intends to sell all or part of its 22-acre complex at 201 South Main Street.

First Selectman Pat Llodra, who was attending the meeting, said following the report that she suspected for awhile the property might be closed.

“They decided they would like to sell it,” Mrs Llodra said. “I think Liz talked to the person managing the marketing of that property.”

Ms Stocker told The Bee that Mike Struna, the town’s commercial broker for Fairfield Hills, was looking to retain the listing. She said the last time she spoke with company officials, they indicated a decision to sell the parcel would be forthcoming by the end of August.

She said other brokers have also approached other town officials about the likelihood of marketing the property, although she has no confirmation from company officials that they are going through with a sale.

That commercial/industrial complex was the site of a major and dramatic post-snowstorm building collapse in February 2011. And in June, work crews occupied the site, taking down all of the compromised structures.

According to Ms Stocker, company officials said they would be looking to get about $300,000 per acre for some or all of the 22-acre parcel. While she acknowledged the rumored cost per acre was “pretty high” for the current market, she said the offering was an opportunity for Newtown to attract a new large-scale commercial/industrial development to the site.

Ms Stocker told the council that such a vacancy would serve toward helping the local Economic Development Commission reach its goal of increasing the town’s commercial grand list by one percent in the coming year.

A call placed to the Blue Linx media liaison for details was not immediately returned.