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Can Fairfield Hills Generate Revenue?

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Can Fairfield Hills Generate Revenue?

To the Editor:

Maybe, but probably not anytime soon.

At its January 18 meeting, the Fairfield Hills management committee briefly discussed briefly mothballing Newtown Hall for future use. Three requirements were mentioned: no water should penetrate the building, building should be adequately heated, and a reasonable amount of air circulation.

The site manager reported there are no water leaks, that opening and closing windows could provide adequate ventilation. But Newtown Hall will need a new heating system since the central steam heating plant for FFH is no longer operable. No cost estimates for mothballing were discussed.

The March 22, 2000, FFH Advisory Committee report estimated costs for asbestos abatement and renovation for every building. Estimates for Newtown Hall were: asbestos abatement $101,500; renovations $1,291,080; total $1,392,580. Sixty-four surface parking spaces would be needed at $1,000 per space. In addition, handicapped accessibility would require installing an elevator.

The more recent master plan report of 2003 advised that buildings not put in use within five years should be demolished. I presume mothballing costs might extend through that five-year period.

Once renovations are completed, how much revenue could the town expect? “When the Danielson (CT) Armory closed in the early 1990s, the state transferred it to the town, which leased it to Deary’s Gymnastics. Deary’s spent $100,000 improving the building in exchange for lease-free space the first 10 years, after which the town gets $1,000 a month and the right to raise the rent 8 percent a year for the next 10 years…” (New York Times 6/20/04)

What enticement will Newtown need to offer a private investor to abate and renovate Newtown Hall or one of the larger buildings for reuse? How much of this property will we have to pave over to support these commercial leases? How much money will the town spend to mothball the other buildings and how many years will it take to recover these costs? I suspect it will not be an easy task to find such an investor, and actual tax revenue coming to the town may be many years in the future.

Quickly demolishing the buildings the town cannot possibly use or lease would reduce mothballing costs and liability. The preferred course of action is to land bank the campus for municipal projects such as a senior center, recreation center, and other town needs.

Please visit the www.friendsoffairfieldhills.org website for information on all aspects of Fairfield Hills. Together we can keep this property from commercialization and for the people of Newtown.

If you are concerned with the quality of life issue that the future of Fairfield Hills represents, attend the public hearing on Fairfield Hills, Thursday, February 17, time and place to be announced. This will be your only opportunity to speak concerning the future of Fairfield Hills.

Ruby Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                        January 25, 2005

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