Date: Fri 17-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Fairfield-Hills-Queen-Street

Full Text:

Town Weighs Offer Of Queen Street Properties

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The town of Newtown has until September 1 to make an offer to Hartford on

seven state-owned properties for sale along Queen Street.

The state has given the town right of first refusal on the properties, which

sit on the western edge of the former Fairfield Hills Hospital campus. Seven

old homes, each on one-acre lots, and eight vacant lots are available.

The small houses were once used to house staff members who worked at Fairfield

Hills, which closed its doors three years ago. The picturesque land behind the

homes is actually open space owned by the state's Department of Agriculture.

So far, the town has made no decision on whether it wishes to purchase the

properties, although it has expressed general interest. First Selectman Herb

Rosenthal said this week he has received cost figures on the properties but

will not release them publicly until after negotiations. He shared those

numbers with selectman Joe Bojnowski and Bill Brimmer during an executive

session Monday night.

The town has the option to purchase as many or as few of the parcels as it

sees fit.

Some Legislative Council members have advocated purchasing at least some of

the land, especially the property closest to Grand Place. There are three lots

together in this area, making it an ideal spot for a ballfield. The Parks &

Recreation Department is in need of another soccer field. Adjacent to the land

is an accessway that leads into the agriculture land behind the property. The

state is expected to retain this road.

Several residents from the Queen Street area are urging the town to purchase

the land for open space. Joe Humeston, representing both the Housing

Partnership and Habitat for Humanity, said he would be interested in further

exploring the buildings to see if they would be of any value to either one of

the organizations.

Mr Rosenthal said the buildings need some work, especially inside. "The

interiors are in pretty rough shape. The exteriors are a little bit better,"

he said.

All of the properties have access to sewers and water.

The first selectman explained that while the town must make an offer by

September, it is still not obligated to purchase the land. If the town decides

at a referendum it does not want the land, Mr Rosenthal still has the option

of backing out of the deal. If the town turns down the state's asking price,

the land then becomes available to the general public. However, if the state

reduces the price, it must once again give the town right of first refusal.

The state also owns several old houses along Mile Hill Road South, which have

not yet been offered to the town.