Business Building Permits Rise 93% in Stratford in 2010 Over 2009

There was no good news forthcoming on the Army Engine plant property in south Stratford. However, economic development in general has picked up significantly in Stratford from 2009 to 2010, as evidenced in a report recently released by the town's Office of Economic Development. 

In that report, it was detailed that Stratford enjoyed a whopping 93% increase in business building permits in 2010 compared to 2009. 

According to J. Bruce Alessie, Special Projects Coordinator for the town of Stratford’s Office of Economic Development, the town recorded $19.49 million in permits in 2010, up from $10.11 million in 2009 and $7.39 million in 2008. 

“Despite the economic conditions that have persisted in the financial market,” Alessi said, in his annual report last month, “the commercial marketplace in Stratford enjoyed strong growth in economic activity during 2010.” 

“The commercial, industrial, retail and office building permits closed out the year with the third highest growth since 1997,” Alessi said (see chart in PDF format, above right). “For the past three years, Stratford has enjoyed a positive growth of investment in the business community.” 

Major developments during 2010 include construction of the 113,700 square foot facility by Stratford Land Development, Alessi said. “This completes their West Campus and Federal Express will occupy the facility and add more than 100 jobs.”

Other major developments in 2010 include: 

• A new 16,000 square foot medical facility is under construction at 495 Hawley Lane.
• Sikorsky Aircraft received $4.54 million in permits that includes two new buildings, one of 12,000 square feet and the other 5,000 square feet that will be additions to their Main Street facility.
• Aurora Products has added an additional 6,075 square feet to its operation, which marks the fourth expansion in the last nine years in Stratford Executive Park. Aurora now occupies 76,665 square feet. 

On the leasing front, Office of Economic Development reported: 

• Yale New Health locating at 99 Hawley Lane’s Merritt 8 office complex, adding 200 new jobs.
• Urstadt Biddle, owners of the Dock Shopping Center, will have West Marine as a new tenant this spring.
• Stratford Land Development signed a total of 109,890 square feet of leases during 2010, including 12,900 new, 93,690 extending, 3,300 expanding and 1.4 acres in ground leases.
• Queue Inc. signed two long-term leases of combined 16,000 square feet. The firm publishes and distributes educational software and workbooks to educators, Alessie said.
• Innoteq expanded its operation to 10,280 square feet on Lordship Boulevard. 

On the retail front, there were plenty of positive developments: 

• ShopRite replaced Shaw’s at Stratford Crossing.
• Jake’s Wayback hamburgers has occupied the long vacant property at Main and Barnum.
• Sunny Side Breakfast & Beyond has occupied the point of Barnum and Nichols Avenue.
• The Peppermill has been replaced by the Star Diner, a subsidiary of Savin Rock Roasting Co.
• Harborside became Savin Roasting Company.
• Sam’s Club Wholesale Food Store opened on a distribution center on Stratford Avenue.

“A total of 153 new businesses registered with the Town Clerk’s office during 2010,” Alessi added, “with 50 businesses opening storefronts.”

The news bodes well for the taxpayers of Stratford, town officials agreed, and there is great hope that 2011 will bring more good news.