Congressman Lends Support To Fairfield Hills Grant Request

By Kendra Bobowick

It was a quick visit, but the outcome could be worth more than $2 million in grant funds for Newtown.

Congressman Chris Murphy made a commitment to the Fairfield Hills redevelopment project Friday morning, April 11, which he discussed during a brief stop at the campus.

Specifically, he offered to support the town’s $2.1 million federal grant application for Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding for road infrastructure and utility installation onsite. Public Works Director Fred Hurley welcomes the offer. “The money would help to finish the project,” he explained. Essentially rewiring the campus with below-ground utilities, his crews have focused first on buildings under lease arrangements; however, “There will be an ongoing need for infrastructure improvements,” Mr Hurley explained. Eventually, the entire campus will need upgraded power, cable, gas, etc hook-ups. “There are areas where nothing has started,” he said. “Whatever we can bring in would help prepare those sites.” Additional funds that become available in the future “will continue to help the campus grow,” Mr Hurley said.

The $2.1 million is “substantial,” said Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Robert Geckle, and would be “extremely beneficial” to renovation efforts. “It’s important revenue to offset the taxpayers’ burden,” he said.

Noting the $21 million bond allocated in 2001 that has been spent in part for the initial purchase and first stages of work at Fairfield Hills, and the roughly $10 million slated for Bridgeport Hall renovations to relocate town hall and education board offices, Mr Murphy added up the costs, and explained, “The time seems right for the federal government to fill in the funding gaps. The timing seems quite right to bring in the dollars,” he said Monday, a few days after his visit with First Selectman Joe Borst, Selectman Herb Rosenthal, Mr Geckle, Director of Planning and Community Development Elizabeth Stocker, and other officials.

Why? “I have been following the redevelopment plans for the last year,” he said. In that time Mr Murphy has noticed that Fairfield Hills has made more progress toward reuse than at a similar site in Norwich. His comparison extends beyond state lines, however. “If we are able to do this right, it will be a model for the whole nation — to take an age-old parcel and turn it into a modern development.” Hundreds of similar scenarios exist in the country, he said. That, and teamwork are on the Congressman’s mind. “My hope is for a successful federal, state, local, and private partnership to redevelop, [this] can be a model for the rest of the country,” he explained.

Mentioning fellow politicians Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman, Mr Murphy stated in a recent release that he will request their assistance with the town’s grant application, explaining that EDA grants are difficult to secure. They are also competitive, with projects in Derby and Ansonia creating competition for Fairfield Hills.

Mr Hurley agrees with the Congressman’s intent to include the delegation’s support behind the EDA grant application. “With federal agencies, the more unified the front, the better you are.”

Rather than “flexing political muscle,” Mr Murphy confirmed that he is doing his best to promote the project, and also feels the senators’ help would be positive. “I think that there probably are not a lot of EDA proposals that get funded without support.” The EDA wants to see the support, he stressed.

Mr Borst is hopeful, noting the need for additional money for the infrastructure.

Work In Progress

Although the planning and work has gone largely unrecognized by residents outside the circle of officials and attendees at monthly meetings ongoing for more than six years, Fairfield Hills is familiar to state officials in Hartford where State Representative Julia Wasserman, for one, has lobbied persistently to promote the Fairfield Hills project. Following the $21 million appropriation, past years have seen contaminated soil remediation, especially around the base of buildings, which cleared the way for private developers to step in and renovate the former state hospital facilities for medical services, a restaurant, and other prospects now under lease.

Consultants and real estate advisors have guided request for development proposals tailored to lure business to the site. O&G Industries Inc project management firm is overseeing all stages of site work on the grounds and in building renovations. The machinery to move earth, demolish buildings, sculpt the land for new uses, for example, has been reworking the site into a parklike business and retail location that planners envision.

Also completed is a 90-foot baseball diamond, and renovations for municipal offices in the former Bridgeport Hall — work that is, again, not necessarily visible unless drivers nudge their cars along the weathered campus streets and glance out for a good look. Private businessman Peter D’Amico is also constructing a youth academy — an indoor sports facility.

Several buildings have come down in the last year to make room for the academy and ball field and others will fall as the recreation department begins work on a community/senior center in coming years. Establishing a trail system using old surfaces and existing pathways is also underway.