At Fairfield Hills—

Desire For Tenant Outweighs Increased Abatement Costs

By Kendra Bobowick

In a recent negotiation that will cost $50,000, the Fairfield Hills Authority members recommended splitting the difference for lead paint and asbestos remediation work with Hawley Realty of Danbury. The authority members see the expense as an investment. Recent low-end estimates are roughly $100,000 beyond earlier anticipated abatement prices for renovation work at Newtown Hall.

David Hawley of Hawley Realty intends to refurbish space in Newtown Hall where tenant Danbury Hospital will expand services — a deal the authority members do not intend to jeopardize. Despite the overrun in abatement costs, authority member John Reed, for one, was firm about securing Hawley, and bringing the health services to Fairfield Hills. Hawley would be the first tenant intending to develop one of the former state hospital’s vacant buildings and bolster economic growth at Fairfield Hills. Hawley will be “vital to leverage our economic interests,” Mr Reed said.

Later in the evening Wednesday, during the special meeting called to discus the expenses, Chairman Robert Geckle explained, “The authority could have pulled out of the deal, but we didn’t want to.” Splitting the difference in the abatement costs is a “vested interest,” for Hawley and the authority’s plans for the former state hospital revitalization.

“This is the lynch-pin,” Mr Reed insisted. To negate the lease would have been the wrong move, he felt. The odds of attracting developers to the park-like campus would “radically decrease,” he said. Member Walt Motyka also did not like the odds of losing Hawley. Looking a step ahead, he saw big expenses if the building remained empty. “We would end up mothballing,” he said. Reworking the lease arrangements, however “takes [mothballing] off the plate,” Mr Reed said. Costs for either demolition or securing the building for future use come with high price tags of as much as $600,000, members estimated Wednesday.

Months ago as Hawley Realty expressed interest in renovating the space and bringing in Danbury Hospital services, anticipated abatement costs for asbestos and lead paint removal were roughly $150,000 to $200,000. An approximate $200,000 had been “built in” to lease agreement with Hawley, Mr Geckle explained. More recent numbers reached $300,000 in the lowest bid.

What went wrong? The difference between the original and new numbers has to do with the lead paint. “What Hawley has to do for Danbury Hospital and paint removal is the driver,” Mr Geckle explained. He recommends that the $50,000 expense come from the one-time $650,000 lease funds.

Although attorney David Grogins advised that the authority did not need to go to the Board of Selectmen with the proposal, Mr Geckle will advise them, he said.