Talk Of Queen St. Homes

Sparks A New Wave Of Interest

By Steve Bigham

The phones in the first selectman’s office have been ringing off the hook this week. With talk of the town-owned homes on Queen Street back in the news (see related story), it seems everyone is lining up in the hopes of someday buying one of these “fixer-uppers” in the center of town.

The homes, however, are not for sale.

The four houses deemed sellable may eventually be sold, but at least two things would have to happen. First, the town would have to buy Fairfield Hills. Town officials say it would make no sense to sell its property on Queen Street if it did not by the campus because it would need the Queen Street land for town offices or a firehouse. Second, a town meeting would need to be held to approve any proposed sale of town land. Before that, however, the Legislative Council would have to favor the sale and there are some who oppose the sale.

This is the second such “Queen Street Rush” to take place in the past two years. The first occurred soon after the town purchased the homes from the state back in 1999. The suggestion at the time that the homes might be sold sparked intense interest from potential buyers. This most recent rush was brought about by a budgetary decision made by the Legislative Council, which anticipated the sale of the Queen Street homes and allocating some of the proceeds at a future date for open space as an alternative to development. However, town officials say prospective buyers of the eight homes will simply have to wait.

“People are calling up and asking if they can buy one of the houses. I’m glad to see there is interest in purchasing the houses, but they’re not for sale,” noted First Selectman Herb Rosenthal.

Under the town charter, the Legislative Council must first vote to recommend that a town meeting be held to determine if the homes should be sold. Then, if approved at a town meeting, the Board of Selectmen would be charged with conducting the sale, which can either be done by sealed bid or public auction.

In January 2000, the Board of Selectmen recommended that the homes be sold “as is.” However, the Legislative Council soon thereafter voted against selling the homes for fear it would be a costly move in the long run. Last year, council member Donald Studley, an accountant, suggested that the town demolish the houses and keep the land for town use either as open space or for future municipal space needs. He presented figures that indicated that selling the homes to families with school-age children would be costlier over time than simply tearing the houses down. Under one Studley scenario, which made several assumptions, selling the homes would end up costing the town about $4 million over the next 25 years. Mr Studley figured in the cost to educate children over several years compared to the relatively small return in taxes. These are not $750,000 homes, council member John Kortze said.

Demolishing the buildings would save the town $809,000 over time, Mr Studley said.

Several other members of the council agreed with Mr Studley, who two years ago, questioned the town’s interest in purchasing the homes and property from the state. The town eventually purchased the properties for $1.2 million.

Council member Doug Brennan questioned Mr Studley’s figures, saying he may have left some key “assumptions” out. For one, he said, the figures do not include all tax revenue the town stands to receive from these homes. He also guessed that the town would sell the homes for a higher price than Mr Studley had calculated.

The counter-argument to Mr Studley’s was that the town could lessen the impact on schools by selling the Queen Street homes and using the money to purchase open space elsewhere in town where even more homes were slated for construction.

Mr Rosenthal agrees, pointing out that Newtown residents were told at a town meeting in 1999 that the town’s intention was to eventually sell the homes with deed restrictions.

“I do think people voted for purchasing the Queen Street [houses] with the thought in mind that the town would sell the houses,” he said. “Of course, the Legislative Council may think differently.”

Council member Melissa Pilchard said the land was not purchased with demolition in mind, although some Queen Street residents were hoping that would happen in favor of open space.

The town purchased each home at a cost that ranged from $76,500 to $140,000.

The homes were once a part of the Fairfield Hills. The town originally purchased the homes and property in an effort to control future development in that area of town. As required under state law, Newtown was given right-of-first-refusal when the state decided to sell the properties. The parcels cover about 15 acres along the east side of Queen Street and include empty houses once used for staff at Fairfield Hills. There is also a barn and stone outbuilding. All of the homes are connected to public water and sewer lines.