To the Editor:

At the heart of Newtown’s commercial area is the Middle School, a large lot, with an existing building with a large footprint, two driveways on Queen Street and the back of the lot which abuts the Caraluzzi and Villages at Lexington Gardens commercial properties.

 Why close the school when it can be sold?  The sale will bring much needed cash into the town’s coffers, broaden our tax base and reduce residential real estate taxes.

What about the children?  Could the board consider, sending 7th and 8th graders to the lovely Reed School?  Wouldn’t the 5th and 6th graders be pleased to remain in their grade schools, especially as they are under-attended?

We don’t need more retail.  We can’t even rent our current inventory.  True, for the small lots and buildings on the market.  The middle school is a large lot, with a large existing building, a very attractive prospect to retail developers, it will sell.

More retail will bring noise and traffic and lights! Look at the Caraluzzi development and Toro Restaurant. The Middle School is in the Borough of Newtown where the zoning regulations offer tight control including: light, sound, hours of operation, parking, signs, delivery hours, and traffic. The commercially developed Middle School will be a good neighbor, and one that reduces your taxes too. 

Harvey Pessin

59 Main Street, Newtown                    June 22, 2015