Boutiques, Offices

Eye FFH

By Kendra Bobowick

William Mangold envisions professionals taking a break from phone calls with clients and stepping into the courtyard outside their new offices at Fairfield Hills. On Wednesday evening, the Fairfield Hills Authority accepted his letter of intent for William Mangold Construction LLC to lease several of the duplex buildings.

The deal is subject to terms of a final lease.

“The authority is extremely pleased,” said Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Robert Geckle. “It’s been a lot of work and it’s a milestone.”

Mr Mangold’s letter was accompanied by another from Naveen and Pushpa Kapur, who are interested in two of the remaining duplexes. Repeating the word “fantastic,” First Selectman Herb Rosenthal quickly described his feelings about the progress at Fairfield Hills. The two interested parties closely follow private resident Peter D’Amico’s negotiation with the town to build a private sports complex in the place where Bridgewater House now stands. Plans are also moving ahead to renovate Bridgeport Hall to house municipal and education department offices. In coming days demolition procedures will begin to remove portions of the building prior to renovations, the first selectman announced last week. Also nearly completed is construction of a new 90-foot baseball diamond. Earlier this summer Fairfield House was torn down to make room for the field.

Since the long-ago town meeting of 2001 when the town appropriated funds to purchase Fairfield Hills, the authority’s plans to redevelop the former state hospital have finally begun to take shape. “It took time,” Mr Geckle admitted, but he believes the local parties are interested in making an investment and contribution to the town, he said.

The 1930s-era brick buildings that have been vacant and falling into disrepair since the state closed the hospital’s door in the late 1990s will soon reshape into office, retail, and business space. Now, nearly seven years later, the first two prospective tenants/developers have begun the process of leasing space. Both parties are from Newtown and will transform the empty buildings into what Mr Geckle described as professional or office space or specialty, boutique, and retail space once leases have been signed. All negotiations and proposed future building uses are in keeping with terms described in the master plan for redevelopment, Mr Geckle confirmed. The Board of Selectmen must now approve the intents to lease, and per a new state law, public hearings will be scheduled prior to lease approvals.

A Glimpse Of               Things To Come…

Proposing renovations to several of the roughly 5,000-square-foot buildings around Washington Square within the former state hospital campus, Mr Mangold said, “I’ll refurbish these and sub-lease them to professional people.” The duplexes are the smaller buildings bordering an oblong courtyard circled by Washington Square, and present a setting that Mr Mangold finds appealing. He is confident that professionals will be inclined to locate offices there. “These will be great for professional people,” he said.

The town’s interest in revitalizing the now-vacant campus also weighed in his decision to entertain a business venture on the site. With the new baseball diamond, sports complex that will house indoor courts and playing fields, and a new municipal building, he said, “Fairfield Hills is really going to be a destination place.” The prospect of a new restaurant also appeals to him.

Following Wednesday’s authority meeting, Mr Geckle indicated that another round of prospective tenants is poised to enter negotiations — a restaurant among them. “Soon,” he said.

Ms Kapur declined to comment at this time about intentions for use of two other duplex buildings.

The town will retain ownership of all the land and buildings at Fairfield Hills, and is negotiating a 30-year lease, per the letters of intent made public this week. According to the documents, lease payments for the two negotiations will be $140,000 per building. Mr Geckle said all proposals are at a fair market value.

Following Wednesday’s meeting, authority member Moira Rodgers offered her words of advice regarding the recent string of developments for the new town building, sports complex, ball field, and now prospective tenants. Responding to criticisms questioning why projects are all coming to fruition right now, she said, “It’s all part of a long process.” Again Mr Geckle said that several other buildings are currently under developers’ consideration.

A request for proposal had been established in the last year with consultant North American Realty Advisory Services LP. The request offered the possibility of a master contractor to overhaul all the buildings and space on campus, or for parties to lease viable buildings individually. Although the authority had considered approaching potential developers, both parties had responded to the request for proposals established within the last year.