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March 25, 2024

Shuttered Waterbury dealership to be replaced by national collision repair chain following $1.18M sale

Google Maps 1200 Wolcott St., Waterbury
By Michael Puffer

Lewisville, Texas-based Caliber Collision will open a repair center in a new building at a former dealership property at 1200 Wolcott St. in Waterbury.

Waterbury officials confirmed the sale of the 3.8-acre property near the Wolcott town line Friday to Torrington-based builder Calito Development Group, which is going to develop the property.

Mayor Paul Pernerewski said Caliber will employ about 40 at that location, stabilizing a property that has been empty for years with a nationally recognized business.

Pernerewski said the move will also help the city recruit additional businesses into vacant spaces along the retail-heavy artery. 

“I firmly believe the more businesses you can attract to an area, the more attractive it becomes for others,” Pernerewski said. 

Founded in 1997, Caliber has grown to more than 1,700 centers nationwide.

Matt Eucalitto, of Calito Development, said his family company paid $1.18 million for the property in a deal that closed Friday. The plan is to divide the property roughly in half, knocking down a dilapidated, vacant dealership building on the front portion and replacing it with a 12,500-square-foot, high-bay building made for Caliber, which will lease the property.

Calito specializes in developing properties for lease to national chains. It is a preferred builder for Dollar General, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Chipotle and other retailers.

Eucalitto said he expects to demolish the existing dealership building at 1200 Wolcott St., by mid-April and finish construction within six months. Including the purchase,

Eucalitto estimated the total project costs around $4.5 million.

Waterbury officials agreed to a tax stabilization agreement with Calito Development last year, setting the value of the redeveloped property at $691,600 for two years, then $1.2 million for the following five years. 

Eucalitto plans to leave a 5,520-square-foot building on the rear portion of the property standing. The building had served as office space and a studio for photographing cars.

Eucalitto said it could serve as shop space for a contractor. The rear portion of the divided property will share a common drive with Caliber, he said.

Calito Development’s purchase had not yet been logged in Waterbury land records as of Monday afternoon. The property’s listed owner, 8 South Main Street LLC, paid $716,000 for it in 2021, according to city assessing records. The principals of 8 South Main Street LLC are Joseph and Annette Niemiroski, of Holland, Massachusetts, according to state business records. 
 

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