Housing At Fairfield Hills, Again?

To the Editor:

History may help readers understand why the recent proposal to convert Cochran House at Fairfield Hills into small apartments for the expansion of Nunnawauk Meadows must be rejected immediately. About 1976, a group of dedicated citizens, led by the late Arthur Sherrer, recognized the serious need for inexpensive, supervised, and safe senior housing. Numerous seniors felt they could no longer cope with a house and other problems associated with aging.

Mr Sherrer searched for land in Newtown to launch his dream. Excitement grew when the state agreed to provide unused land on Nunnawauk Road not easily accessible by Fairfield Hills Hospital. What next?

Art and his group needed money to build the first units. They approached the then-Board of Selectmen. Would the Town of Newtown sell municipal bonds to get the project started, and the Nunnawauk group would repay the town gradually as seniors began to occupy the units? The answer from the selectmen was, “Absolutely not!”

Art, being the compassionate man he was, could not give up. He turned to the federal government for the loan. His marvelous dream carried the day, and a federal agency funded the early project, but there was a major catch! Use of federal money required applications for housing at Nunnawauk must be accepted from all citizens of the US no matter what state they lived in. Newtowners must get in line.

Over the years, Nunnawauk Meadows has built a marvelous facility and a sterling reputation for serving the needs of low-income and/or handicapped seniors. Quickly, a long waiting list developed and continues today.

Fast forward to the town’s serious consideration to buy FFH. Early on, Nunnawauk was offered a building on the campus. The Nunnawauk administration declined the offer, citing the cost of off-site administration and the distance from the home base.

While the years were passing, municipal needs increased, and the local sports programs were expanding and needed more playing fields. Again, a dedicated group of baseball parents approached the state for land at FFH along Mile Hill South. Yes, was the answer and over the years the Glander fields were improved. Eventually, participants began to use the paved parking area at Cochran House. The FFH Bond issue of $21,723,600 included funds for seven new playing fields, (Fig. ES6 FFH Master Plan 2005). Much needed diamonds were to be built once Cochran House was demolished. Currently, the softball diamond at FFH overlaps and shares part of the existing soccer fields.

If our leaders persist and insist on a zoning change to allow housing at FFH, our hopes and dreams to make FFH a destination for all the citizens of Newtown to enjoy beautiful open space and engage in all types of activities will be lost. Housing developers will keep knocking at the door.

Nunnawauk Meadows has been a marvelous success. Now, however, we Newtowners must say No and keep FFH for ourselves.

Ruby K. Johnson, PhD

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                              July 26, 2011