School Bd Won’t Commit On Fairfield Hills Plan

By Jeff White

The Board of Education went on the record this week on its position concerning a new elementary school for fifth- and sixth-graders, saying that it was unable to support the Cochran House option, as originally proposed by developer Becker and Becker Associates (B&B), until more concrete cost figures and construction timelines became available.

In a letter presented to the Fairfield Hills Advisory Board Thursday, the board maintained that continued ambiguities in B&B’s financial proposal and timeline for the project “preclude us from being able to support this option at the present time.”

 The letter comes in response to a request made by B&B last week that the board endorse their proposal to redevelop Cochran House. Although B&B representatives attempted to make their plan more lucid during last week’s board meeting, questions still remained unanswered this week.

Much of the board’s uneasiness over the Cochran House school conversion plan hinges on the building’s qualifications for historical tax credits, which B&B maintains will save the town approximately $3,250,000. They are unsure whether or not the state will concur with this scenario, and what such credits would mean for ownership of the school. 

  There is further uncertainty on cost comparisons with other options, specifically the possibility for a new 5/6 school on the site currently occupied by Watertown Hall, which the town owns. B&B has attempted to compare construction costs at both the Cochran and Watertown sites, but the board felt analysis did not take into account inflated construction prices for a new building.

Beyond the letter, Chairman Amy Dent said that the board needs clarification on the exact uses of the adjacent properties on Fairfield Hills. Although B&B has said if selected it can fast track the 5/6 school project to meet the board’s desired fall of 2001 opening, other aspects of their development proposal will be in differing stages of construction. A school in the middle of a construction zone is a less-than-optimal situation for the board.

B&B provided additional information about their proposal to school officials and board members this week, attempting to further answer questions concerning finances, site ownership, school specifications and the historical tax credit issue.

Although addressing a few notable concerns, significantly the lowering of construction grades on the ground floor to insure more optimal classroom conditions, Dr Reed did not feel that B&B’s letter fully addressed the issue the board raised this week.

Reached for comment concerning the board’s statement, B&B President Bruce Becker said, “We’re working very hard at resolving any unanswered questions. We’re very confident that we can do that.”

The board is currently considering four options for a 5/6 school: a completely new school on the Watertown Hall site, B&B’s proposed redevelopment of Cochran House, a town purchase of Fairfield Hills with Cochran house still a possible site, or a town purchase with an unknown school development site.

“In considering any of the four options, the BOE must have financial data to compare all the proposals in a consistent manner,” the letter said.

For its part, the board is still asking the state to comment on specific aspects of B&B’s financing scheme, including the issue of historical tax credits and state reimbursements.

The board has also secured the services of Jeter, Cook and Jepson architects to develop a conceptual design and financial analysis for a new school on the Watertown Hall site. “We do expect the architectural firm to generate more up-to-date information for new construction,” Superintendent of Schools John Reed said this week. Jeter, Cook and Jepson’s findings will be presented to the board at the beginning of December, at which time the board will revisit B&B’s plan, Dr Reed said.

Although the board stated that it could not endorse B&B’s request for the development of Fairfield Hills, Mrs Dent said that the board also could not support town purchase solely on the issue of a possible 5/6 school at Cochran House. There are many options to consider, and a 5/6 school is just one of them, she said.

“The overriding issue here is time,” Dr Reed said. The board intends to request funds for their architect to begin the design for a 5/6 school at the Watertown Hall site if a decision concerning the fate of Fairfield Hills is not reached by December 1.

Although the board believes that many questions need answering, and that new construction is ultimately the preferred scenario, they are not discounting B&B’s proposal outright. According to Mrs Dent, Cochran House “is still worth considering.”