Fairfield Hills Lease Terms

Were Unacceptable

To the Editor:

As a member of the Fairfield Hills Authority, I am offended by both the tone and substantial misrepresentation in the e-mail by Philip Clark published in The Newtown Bee [“Potential Tenant Backs Away From Woodbury Hall,” 6/15/12]. Members of the authority made every effort to negotiate a lease with Mr Clark. They were eager to accommodate, if at all possible, Claris Construction’s particular needs and demands.

It turned out that Mr Clark’s were not negotiating terms at all, but ultimatums, which no responsible entity, public or private, could accept. They turned out to involve not one property, Woodbury Hall — which Mr. Claris would lease, beginning in July for 99 years, without paying, for at least the first ten years, any taxes or rent — but three properties. Danbury Hall would be demolished, at Newtown’s expense, to provide Mr. Clark with what he called a “visual easement” forever. Newtown Hall would be available to Mr Clark, under a right of first refusal, forever. Woodbury Hall, Danbury Hall, Newtown Hall. It is the sort of arrangement Claris Construction would have us believe is a magnet to other private enterprises. It looks more like the reverse: a shutting out from Fairfield Hills Campus of any private enterprise other than Claris Construction, Inc.

One reason Mr Clark’s proposal received as much serious attention as it did was a general wish to see something, almost anything, going on at Fairfield Hills. But many things are already going on: the vegetable garden, the municipal center, walks, dog walks, play, benches, a fine new building proposed for the Newtown Ambulance. Not least, we have the enjoyment of beauty by the owners of this unique outdoor space.

The campus offers something rare, of which the present generation is making increasingly good use. Future citizens will be glad we did not rush this unfortunate proposal.

Renata Adler

Hattertown Road, Newtown                                            June 20, 2012