New Britain Landowner Wants Tax Breaks To Share Proposed Costco Driveway

The battle to bring Costco to New Britain remains ongoing. Now, the co-owner of the property where the New Britain Target store sits is upset that Costco might get a tax break for opening in the city.
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart says it makes sense to give Costco a roughly $2-million tax break because the bulk retailer would bring hundreds of jobs to the city.
But James Basile, who co-owns the land and the building, says if anyone gets a tax break, it should be his property.
The main point of contention is over a proposed shared driveway between Target and Costco.
Basile originally says Target was  willing to share its driveway with Costco if Costco paid $1 million up front and $200,000 every year to Target.
Costco tried to negotiate, offering instead to landscape and maintain the shared driveway, but Basile didn’t accept the offer and now wants a tax break from the city.
Costco now plans is to build it’s own driveway for about the same cost as sharing, which Basile and some common councilors call a waste of taxpayer money.
The council will take up the tax break proposal next month.
Some members are still hopeful the two stores can come to an agreement on a shared driveway that would save everyone a little bit of money.