Squandering Bridgeport Hall’s Value

To the Editor:

Bridgeport Hall, the most valuable building at Fairfield Hills, is a 46,368-square-foot building constructed in the shape of a capital H with an addition on one end. It served as the central dining hall for the FFH patients. Before it can be used by anyone, the town must absorb the costs of removing the contaminated soil around the perimeter as well as the perimeters of every building.

Bridgeport will require a heating system, roof repairs, hazardous material abatement, and renovation. If the town leases it to someone willing to invest the necessary funds, estimated at $2.8 million (FFH Advisory Report 2002) to do these tasks, we should expect very little revenue to flow to the town until the investor has recovered his investment. Town officials have stated they will not sell FFH buildings or land; they will lease the buildings. Therefore, unlike a similar facility, the privately owned The Fireside Inn on South Main Street, the leaseholder will pay no property taxes. Personal property would be taxed unless “forgiven” in the lease agreement.

Those who believe that Bridgeport Hall should become a community center for the town cite the need for meeting rooms and activities that are not possible in a gymnasium. The best-known use is the annual Labor Day Book Sale that nets over $100,000 each year. Other proposed uses include exhibit space, weddings, dances, teen meeting space, senior center activities, family activities like roller skating or ice skating in the winter with portable type panels designed for that purpose, and others.

Families often want a place to catch an affordable meal after the many soccer, baseball, and softball games. There is room in Bridgeport Hall to accommodate many uses. If the town gradually renovated the building, it could become a marvelous facility.

There is plenty of land privately held property and town-owned Commerce Park for economic development. Our citizens shouldn’t have to subsidize businesses with our $20 million purchase and environmental cleanup of FFH.

While citizens deplore the loss of our meadows and forests by private developers, we can hardly expect private land to be saved when the town aggressively seeks to develop beautiful FFH. They tell us it will generate revenue for the town. Maybe in 25 years, but by that time its beauty will be spoiled by parking lots and the flow of traffic.

FFH is a Quality of Life issue. Save it for the enjoyment of all Newtown residents.

             Ruby Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                               July 27, 2005