Stratford Hall As A Restaurant?—

Authority Reviews FFH Development Options

By Kendra Bobowick

With just a brief agenda before them, Fairfield Hills Authority members spent one of the year’s last meetings discussing economic development, safety, and demolition.

Director of Economic and Community Development Elizabeth Stocker noted that the concept for building a children’s museum at Fairfield Hills is “still alive.” Her efforts toward its development are still active, but plans for where the museum would go are not clear, she said.

Ms Stocker has received inquiries regarding Stratford Hall, one of the buildings that has been on the receiving end of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remediation grant applied in past years. Unlike other structures, this building no longer requires the environmental cleanup as part of any prospective renovation project.

She also told the authority that one party has expressed interest in Stratford Hall as a restaurant; she expects to do a walk-through in coming days.

Liking the idea, member Andrew Willie said, “It’s ideal for a restaurant, and could have a beautiful bar downstairs.”

Other inquiries to filter through Ms Stocker’s office include an interest in building a hydroponic greenhouse, creating recreational or fitness uses, and an interest from Newtown Parent Connection, which has also looked at the campus, she said.

Member Renata Adler raised concerns about a request for proposal (RFP) process for leasing the buildings that the authority recently discussed with selectmen. In short, a developer could renovate and repurpose a property while carrying the responsibility for demolition and remediation costs, and paying a $1 lease. She worried that someone could walk into the town offices with just $8 dollars for example, and lease all the viable properties. Members assured her that a prospective tenant would have to “hit all the marks,” meet their standards for reuse, and have a means and financing in place.

“They would have to prove they could undertake the project,” Ms Stocker said.

Ms Adler also worried that potential developers might not have learned about possibilities of redeveloping Fairfield Hills. Ms Stocker’s office is available for contact, and “anyone can come in [with a proposal] at any time,” member Brian White explained. Ms Stocker also conducts outreach.

Funding via an approved past Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) has funds allocated to raze Danbury Hall, which sits prominently on Wasserman Way. As Chairman James Bernardi noted: “Mother Nature is taking those buildings down piece by piece,” the demolition is good news. Should the authority contact Town Historian Dan Cruson to look through the rooms before Danbury Hall comes down? Yes, the members agreed, which brought them to the point of safety.

After a few question arose around the table, members felt that a town official should accompany Mr Cruson inside of Danbury Hall.

Members felt that someone who knew the buildings well would make a good candidate.