Frank Navone is still interested in establishing a bakery/café in Stratford Hall. He had approached the Fairfield Hills Authority with the idea several years ago, and returned May 22, this time proposing the idea with the suggestion that the town make the initial investment.

He currently owns Panificio Navona, a successful bakery in Bethel. Mr Navone said he is interested in making Newtown his primary location. He has a "huge following," and wants Stratford Hall as "location A," he said.

A bakery would be a "good fit for the campus," said Mr Navone. He encouraged authority members to "come sit in my bakery and see how my staff helps people. And, we make everything from scratch." His Bethel location at 7 Francis J. Clarke Circle is open for both breakfast and dinner and is "community based," he said.

For Stratford Hall, which is an open space with high ceilings, he envisions a kitchen, new entrance and parking lot, freshening up facilities and bathrooms, and described the floors as "rustic, beautiful."

Mr Navone has a vision, and "thinks this will work," he told authority members. He anticipates that $625,000 will "get me in there, and I would get it back to you in ten years."

"I could go get the money, but I don't think it's my risk to take," Mr Navone said.

"That brings up an issue for the town," said authority Chair Ross Carley.

Economic and Community Development Deputy Director Christal Preszler then mentioned that "there is another group interested in Stratford, that has not come forward." She asked, "What are our [Capital Improvement Plan] priorities?" State funds may also be available, she said.

Regarding campus improvements through both Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) funds, grants, and town resources, Mr Carley said, "We've removed buildings, done streetscaping, and we'll discuss where we want to move forward next."

Mr Navone said he would pay rent to the town and reiterated that he did not feel funding is his risk.

"If we found a way to renovate, and we do it simply for a restaurant, it's only going to be a restaurant," authority member Phil Clark said. He wondered aloud, "If we do find money to renovate and after ten years [Mr Navone] leaves …"

Mr Navone believes his bakery could handle the volume from the NYA Sports & Fitness Center, Municipal Center, and the future community center and senior center.

He would also like to incorporate dinner hours, "but start slow and easy," he said, "eventually" opening for dinner.

Part of the authority's purview, according to information at newtown-ct.gov, is to: Negotiate leases for all or any part of the land and buildings of the premises, in the name of the town of Newtown, in accordance with the provisions of the master plan, provided that any lease shall be subject to approval of the Board of Selectmen. And additional information found on fairfieldhills.org states, "A restaurant is suggested for Stratford Hall (9,000 GSF), however other uses including office or retail are also permitted."

Mr Navone's proposal is somewhat different, as he proposes that the town make the investment in renovating Stratford. The town would also own the building.