Redevelopment Plans Inch Forward At Fairfield Hills

By Kendra Bobowick

Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Bob Geckle wanted the year “wrapped up” as he looked toward the first days of 2008. There were a few loose ends left in initial redevelopment plans for the former state hospital in the first days of January in the form of some uncompleted lease deals.

When will the leases be signed?

One developer poised to lease a Fairfield Hills building may be the key for others to follow, Mr Geckle believes. Despite the political blows to Fairfield Hills plans in late 2007, Mr Geckle anticipates redevelopment will find progress in the coming year.

David S. Hawley of Hawley Realty is close to signing a lease agreement with plans to renovate space at Newtown Hall. “It’s in the final stages…I hope next week,” said Mr Geckle in the last week of December. “It’s important to get that one done.”

Danbury Hospital aims to expand services in roughly 6,000 square feet of that space. The authority chairman said, “We’re working to get that wrapped up…the real focus is to get the hospital at Newtown [Hall].” With the deal in place, he senses other developments will follow. Referring to plans also in the works, he said, “Then we’ll focus on the restaurant, then the duplexes.”

Gordon J. Anderson is considering a lease agreement to renovate Stratford Hall for restaurant space, and possibly Pushpa and Navine Kapur will move ahead with their plans to redo several duplexes along Washington Square for boutique space. Another prospect, William Mangold of Mangold Construction LLC is no longer looking at other duplexes for use as office space.

Last week as 2007 crept toward its end, Mr Geckle could glance back at 12 months of an unexpected struggle to carry through with Fairfield Hills plans in motion since 2001. A battle challenging the project that began with a civil suit filed by resident and local business owner Matthew DeAngelis had turned political as a new Independent Party of Newtown (IPN) emerged and campaigned on issues including harsh scrutiny of Fairfield Hills redevelopment.

Several IPN representatives who were also from the school advocates group We Care About Newtown (WeCan) argued that school expansions were a higher priority than another aspect of Fairfield Hills plans — relocating municipal and education department offices to the campus. Authority members defended Fairfield Hills plans, noting that the town’s investment in the property and the people it would bring through the campus were important lures for developers.

Although school expansions funds and money spent for Fairfield Hills did not come from the same appropriations, the argument went back and forth throughout 2007. Summing it up, Mr Geckle noted in late December, “What should not be a political issue turned into a huge political issue.”

Late in the year the developers with pens raised to sign leases suddenly hesitated when November campaign results brought in a new first selectman who questioned Fairfield Hills plans. Standing firmly behind the Fairfield Hills redevelopment initiatives was former first selectman Herb Rosenthal, who lost the town’s top seat to challenger Joseph Borst two months ago. During his campaign and after elections, Mr Borst had vowed to review Fairfield Hills projects, even demanding delays in the advanced plans to establish a municipal and economic hub in the parklike campus with several vacant buildings. Since the November election, developers’ enthusiasm to fill the campus had lost momentum with Mr Borst in the first selectman’s seat.

Moods changed in December, however.

Decisions by the Board of Selectmen to promptly move ahead with Fairfield Hills plans have revived interest. As recently as December 28 Mr Geckle looked toward the first week of the year with confidence that Hawley Realty would be the first to sign a lease.

Already at work building a private facility is resident Peter D’Amico, who is building the Newtown Youth Academy. The indoor sports complex also appeals to the Parks and Recreation Department. In past weeks the recreation commission chairman has said that a proposed recreation and community center to house Parks and Recreation offices and seniors would benefit from indoor gymnasium and track space. Also underway is renovation work at Bridgeport Hall, which will house the municipal and Board of Education offices.