Plans Outline Future Appearance Of Fairfield Hills

By Kendra Bobowick

From real estate use to the positioning and style of street lamps, the mix of elements that will form the “New England village” setting at Fairfield Hills is becoming clearer.

In the future, residents will be able to renew their dog’s license, pay taxes, watch a youth baseball game, and walk their pets through a wooded trail. They may also enjoy an early dinner and do some window-shopping — all depending on the future tenants planners hope to attract to the site. Plans call for both municipal and retail space to occupy Fairfield Hills in the future. Already underway are plans to move Edmond Town Hall offices to a revamped Bridgeport Hall.

With the help of Gary Sorge, a partner with Vollmer Associates LLP, the authority is aiming to establish guidelines for the campus’s appearance. Following up on the authority’s previous request, Mr Sorge compiled a “package of standards for consistency” for lighting, parking, and road profiles, for example. He mentioned an “old New England village feeling” that he envisioned.

The package of standards or priorities for the campus setting will be a reference “for establishing a style or image to build upon” for both the town and authority, he explained.

“I would hate to see on-street parking and have the campus overparked, but maybe [parking] on side streets,” he said. Similarly, North American Realty Advisory President Robert W. Barclay presented another more refined “developers’ package” or proposals to market the site to potential tenants and developers.

Naming future uses as specified in the Fairfield Hills Master Plan, he listed several options including corporate headquarters, general offices, library or art outlets, and retail establishments. Economic goals envisioned for Fairfield Hills entail investment potential, employment opportunities, expansion for the local economy, and generating income for the project. With these ends in mind, he said, “The idea is to attract investment…a lot of people have the idea that this is a park, but we’ll demonstrate there is development potential here.” He stressed, “We want to bring [Fairfield Hills] to the developers’ attention.”

Points of interest include a town hall located in the center of campus. The Fairfield Hills Authority is also working to preserve certain building for future use. The structures will be mothballed, or preserved from further weather damage and ventilated to alleviate mold and moisture.

Regarding the buildings and acreage with development potential, Mr Barclay specified that lease proposals would be offered for 30 years with a request for payment up-front, he said.

“They pay $1.5 million, for example, making it easier for us to go out and talk about it,” he said. He reasons, “It’s shorthand for developers to get a quick look at what the opportunity is.” He also said that the land would be a proposed $20 per square foot, for instance, for development rights, “and they would pay up front for 30 years of use,” Mr Barclay said.

Another task before Mr Barclay and the authority is to present the campus in a context desirable to developers.

He said, “There is nothing comparable to this property,” he said.

Mr Barclay ended his presentation to the board with a confident remark, saying, “We’re trying to get developers over the idea that it’s a park.” He also does not feel that leasing will be a problem.

“The concept of people wanting to buy properties can be overcome. I think it will work — not for everybody, but it will work,” he said.

Preconstruction Manager Scott Baillie with O&G Industries Inc presented a $789,840 estimated design/build proposal for building conservation (mothballing) at Fairfield Hills. The project components involve the design and implementation of building conservation improvements at certain sites within the campus. Designated for mothballing are Newtown, Woodbury, and Stratford Halls, and Washington Square duplexes numbers 58 through 62. The cost estimate includes construction, equipment, design, fees, and reimbursables, according to a proposal package Mr Baillie offered the authority Tuesday evening. The project is scheduled tentatively to begin in January and see completion roughly two months later.

Regarding the estimated $789,840, Mr Baillie said, “This is just an estimate until we go out to bid.” He noted that bids could possibly come in under the estimates. The actual assessments for mothballing involves multiple elements including roof and gutter inspections, checking downspouts, attic areas, basements, exterior porches and steps, foundation waterproofing, and footing drains. The mothballing would include detailed repair, replacement, and maintenance procedures sufficient to last five years.

Mr Baillie explained the essentials. The project involves “going in and cleaning up damaged ceiling tiles, etc, and anything that’s absorbing water, clear out the mold, seal buildings, ventilate, make them airtight,” he said.

In past weeks the Fairfield Hills Authority had the opportunity to submit paper work for a $650,000 grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), which is in support of the authority’s efforts to “close and secure several of the existing structures,” according to the department’s recent letter of interest.

At the time, authority chairman Robert Geckle had said, “They zeroed in on [mothballing] as being eligible for grants.” In order to retain the opportunity presented by the DECD, Mr Baillie said Tuesday, “the main focus is to stay right on track…and not jeopardize the DECD funding.”