Following a lengthy review process and a late March approval by the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO, part of the state’s Dept of Economic and Community Development), Newtown’s Fairfield Hills campus was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places September 20.

According to SHPO, “National Register nomination is an honorary designation intended to recognize how a property or area is associated with our history — and represents the federal government’s official list of historic properties worthy of preservation.”

Newtown First Selectman Jeff Capeci said he was pleased to see this historic designation process completed. The process to become federally designated began in 2001 when a vote to acquire the campus was approved by town residents, progressed through four prior administrations and finally came to fruition last week.

“This is a moment I have been waiting for since I took office last December, and it marks an important turning point for the Fairfield Hills Campus,” said Capeci.

The first selectman said the federal listing of the former state hospital and grounds will result in the site qualifying for consideration in planning for federal, federally licensed, and federally assisted projects.

“This opens up specific projects at Fairfield Hills for eligibility for state and federal tax incentives for historic rehabilitation,” Capeci said. “I understand from corresponding with SHPO, that if a property is listed in the National Register, certain state and federal tax provisions may apply. It also qualifies the campus for federal grants for historic preservation when funds are available.”

The campus qualified to be listed as an historic district on the State Register of Historic Places following a State Historic Preservation Review Board vote in favor of the nomination on March 22 (2024). That review and qualification process was coordinated by Jenny F. Scofield, SHPO’s Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, and National Register & Architectural Survey Coordinator.

The National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Fairfield Hills Campus Historic District underwent consideration and review by the National Park Service (NPS) prior to its being approved for listing. News of the Historic Designation was well-received by Scofield.

“The State Historic Preservation Office commends the Town of Newtown for their stewardship of the former Fairfield Hills Hospital campus,” Scofield said. “The campus is a significant part of Connecticut culture for its social history and for its high-quality Classical Revival architecture, set within a rural and park-like setting to promote healing.”

Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Ross Carley remarked, “It was long in coming, but well worth the wait for the future investors in Fairfield Hills.”

Newtown resident and State Rep Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) said the listing of the Fairfield Hills campus on the National Register of Historic Places “will go far toward preserving the beauty and majestic character of the original architectural styles and details of its design that were unique to its period.”

“Ultimately, the town, and its residents will benefit by preserving these neglected, historical structures, without having to turn to its taxpayers to pay tens of millions of dollars for costly remediation or razing of the structures,” he added.

State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) said the federal designation was achieved “through a remarkable team effort by Newtown leaders, recognizing the Fairfield Hills campus and its existing buildings as historically significant. This designation opens the door for public and private collaboration, potentially paving the way for responsible economic development, enhanced environmental sustainability, and a positive, lasting impact on our community.”

When testifying before the State Historic Preservation Review Board in March on behalf of the designation effort, the lawmaker said he was impressed by how much the board members already knew about the features and historical significance of the campus.

WinnDevelopment — a leading residential developer of historic properties in New England — is the selected candidate for the creation of a planned mixed use renovation of Kent House and Shelton House. Its staff and consultant played a critical role in supporting the process leading to the state and national designations.

Adam Stein, the company’s executive vice president, said his team “is committed to restoring and preserving the architectural character of these buildings and their longtime significance to the community.”

“We look forward to working with Newtown’s leaders and its citizens to carefully renovate these great structures while also transforming them into well-designed, energy-efficient and lasting housing,” Stein said. “Historic designation also opens the door to tax credits that will be critical to moving this project closer to fulfilling the community’s vision for the property.”

Capeci said he is looking forward to next steps involving the Fairfield Hills campus now that the historic designation has been finalized.

The campus joins multiple locations in town already listed on the National Register of Historic Places including The Borough/Newtown Historic District, roughly Main Street from Hawley Road to Academy Lane; The Budd/Glover House, 50 Main Street; Caleb Baldwin Tavern, 32 Main Street; Camps No 10 and 41 of Rochambeau's Army, off Route 6; C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street; Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street; The John Glover House, 53 Echo Valley Road; Hattertown Historic District, the area near Aunt Park Lane, and Castle Meadow, Hattertown and Hi-Barlow roads; Nathan B. Lattin Farm, 22 Walker Hill Road; Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street; the march route of Rochambeau's Army, Reservoir Road at Mt Pleasant Road; Nichols Satinet Mill site; and The Sanford-Curtis-Thurber House, 71 Riverside Road.