Page 40 - North Haven Magazine Issue 32 Winter 2024

A Message From

aseball is a sport that taught me many valuable lessons the over 1200 games I played over the
Bcourse of many years. One of the many valuable lessons that I learned was the ability to deal with Michael J. Freda
and to handle failure. In baseball a player can hit .300 but that means that for every 10 at bats, that First Selectman
player made an out 7 out of every 10 times up.
For me, that valuable lesson also taught me never to get discouraged and to focus in on my next series of at bats with focus, intensity and
discipline.
Economic Development reminds me of my baseball career in terms of getting hits but also striking out. One good example of striking out was
the most recent rejection of Trader Joe’s who decided once again that they are not coming to North Haven after we had another “at bat”with
them to bring them to town.
As 2024 continues to unfold, I will be again stepping into the batters box to deliver some big hits regarding the following opportunities…

1. Getting the hotel on Universal Drive 6. Finding a development project industrial development projects to
built. for the old Sipps coffee shop on Valley Service Road.
2. Finding a solution to the location Washington Avenue. 12. Working with the owner of 1000
that Trader Joe’s was considering, 7. Developing the old Dino’s restaurant Universal Drive to develop a retail
which was the site of the old Donato’s site on northern Washington Avenue. plaza at the site of the old Otis
restaurant in front of the North Spunkmeyer location.
Haven Fairgrounds site. 8. Developing the south side of the Stop 13. Working with the commercial real
and Shop plaza which continues to be
3. Speeding up the retail store and problematic. estate agent managing the Dick’s
gas station project being built on Sporting Goods plaza to fill the old
Washington Avenue across from the 9. Helping to facilitate a new restaurant Subway location.
Fairgrounds. that wants to come to town in the 14. Finalizing the project to rebuild
North Haven shopping center plaza.
4. Working with the owners of the the old gas station at the corner of
property in front of Amazon to 10. Filling the empty space in the Target Quinnipiac Avenue and Middletown
develop that 9 acre parcel. Shopping Center where the old Avenue .
Panera Bread restaurant was.
5. Working to develop the 72 acres at 15. Finding a retail solution to develop
the end of Dodge Avenue for light 11. Working with two separate the old Rite Aid on Middletown
industrial development. developers to bring two new light Avenue.

I have many more opportunities and each and every one of them has a story behind them. Stories consisting of complexity, owner complacency
and a story of rents still being paid within certain vacancies.

2024 promises to be a year that despite these challenges, I will be stepping into the batters box in an intensely focused fashion to deliver results
for each and everyone of you.
Rest assured, I will always respond to every single challenge facing this government with a positive and very focused mindset to get things
done and to create positive outcomes because I care about our town, and I care for each and every one of you and your families.
Sincerely,
Michael Freda

18 Church Street • 203-239-5321 • www.northhaven-ct.gov