Business Looks to Relocate to East Haven

EAST HAVEN, CT - An existing West Haven business company is eyeing a move to East Haven, which would bring 35-50 employees to town and generate up to $60,000 in annual tax revenue.

A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. April 5 at the East Haven Senior Center to approve the conveyance of a portion of 280 Proto Drive to Anthony Augliera Moving and Storage, which is currently based out of West Haven.

The following includes a summary of what was discussed at a recent Town Council meeting and what plans the company has for East Haven, according to meeting minutes.

• Sal Brancati- Director of Administration & Management- Mr. Brancati addresses the Council and explains that they are looking to move Augliera Moving and Storage from West Haven to East Haven. They currently have four locations in West Haven, about 10 acres of land in four different locations. Their goal is to have one campus with one or two buildings to house all of their storage equipment.

The main part of their business, which many people may not be aware of, they are not just a moving and storage company, they put up the staging for all of the plays on Broadway as the main part of their business. They assemble the stage for the plays in New York and when they play is over or a new one comes up they assemble it again in their warehouse and bring it back to New York.

Disney for instance, you can’t save anything from there they have to destroy and dispose of it. Their intent is to create a campus here moving all four locations to one.

It ended up being about 110-120,000 sq. ft. which is the reason for transferring the property. They need to build an additional 70,000 sq. ft. onto the property there now.

There is 45,000 sq. ft. on the site now. They will add 70,000sq.ft; 20,000 sq. ft. which would be done now and as they phase out the leases on the properties in West Haven they will begin constructing the other 50,000 sq. ft. to have a campus of about 120,000 sq. ft. total.

In addition, for personal property they have 100 trailers which will all be housed on this property; they will see the site plan at the public hearing.

There would be about 15 tractors housed there as well as 6 box trucks. They estimate the net increase in revenue to the Town to be about $62,000/year upon completion.

There are about 35-50 employees which will spend time in East Haven when the move comes. They are very enthusiastic about coming here, they have made them feel as welcome as possible, they have commented on several occasions that East Haven appears to be the best Town to do business in. The property location is 158 Commerce Street.

Council comment:

Chairman Parlato says if anyone has any question on this, the property being transferred is Town owned property, it is landlocked. It looks like a good situation for the Town of East Haven but they will decide that at the public hearing.

Councilman Richardson asks a general question, do all of the businesses own their own property or is it Town property?

Chairman Parlato says this is a piece of property that is on Proto Drive which is an undeveloped Street that used to be Uriah Ave that went all the way into New Haven but this piece of property is known as 158 Commerce Street, the property in the rear is landlocked. The Town owns it, it is not wetlands and they are not infringing on anything.

Councilman Richardson says his question was the rest of the property owners in the Industrial Park, do they own their property?

Chairman Parlato says yes, they own the property that faces Commerce Street.

Councilman Santino says he goes down the Industrial Park regularly, about a year ago there was nothing but for sale signs. He commends Sal and says he did a great job, there is maybe 1 for sale sign now, and all the buildings are full. He says he is doing a good job so whatever he is doing, keep doing it.