Community Center Grant, Building Reuse Questions Aired During Meeting

By Kendra Bobowick

Officials traded varying points of view Monday as First Selectman Pat Llodra offered candid thoughts to Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee members.

With $500,000 in grant funds approved for Newtown’s use on behalf of Kevin’s Community Center (KCC), Mrs Llodra stressed, “We’re getting close to a time when a commitment needs to be made.” She continuted, “I support [this use] of the duplexes. It’s manageable.”

She added, “The more life, the more of a destination Fairfield Hills is for people of Newtown.” Arguing to invest in KCC, she said, “I would rather bring more life to the campus than wait — create a synergy,” she said.

Several factors are in play: Will the KKC board of directors confirm that the renovated duplex will work for them, and will the town execute the grant funds? While these two questions face officials — Mrs Llodra met Wednesday night with the KCC board — the review committee members offered other scenarios for reusing the duplexes — or not. Also in the mix is the Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS), which also shares interest in the duplexes.

Review committee member Michael Mossbarger is “for having Kevin’s Community Center and NYFS,” he wrote in a recent mail; he also wants to be sure “we do not get ahead of ourselves and limit the options for organizations like KCC and NYFS, but also limit our options for the greater FFH property.”

During Monday’s meeting, he said, “It appears to us ... if you take down houses, it opens up more land. If we reuse [the duplexes], use is limited. It concerns me that just because there is a building there we should reuse it. There may be a better way.”

Mrs Llodra answered, “Maybe, but I strongly believe that should we commit to reuse of the campus to serve the community; KCC and NYFS, both of these services need our help and can use a small area of this campus.”

Member Deborra Zukowski had asked if there were other areas “where we can break ground, or must it be a reuse scenario?”

“I am a greater fan of reuse,” Mrs Llodra explained. “If we don’t answer the question of the duplexes, should we take them down? So, if we add a new building, what have we gained? We still have duplexes, still have to tear them down.”

While the boards and officials talk about the possibilities, time may be ticking on the grant’s availability.

In a later interview, Mrs Llodra said, “We might well see different visions for use of the land,” and, “I tried to be forthright for us to use a small section to benefit our community for those services, but there are other ways of looking at it.”

Mr Mossbarger also stated in an e-mail following the meeting: “The duplexes are almost, but not quite, in the middle of roughly a 40-acre corner of the property where other specific uses have yet to be identified. My concern is that if we quickly move forward on a rehab of the duplexes — it will certainly tie the FFH Master Plan Review Committee’s hands in terms of looking at all possible uses for the entire site and may limit the potential value the site has to offer.”

Considering another scenario, he speculated, “Could another building be rehabbed to accommodate the needs of both KCC and NYFS? The thought would be in keeping with the various town use buildings within close proximity to each other and leaving the greater land area open for other options so as we do not limit ourselves. I’m not sure, but we should at least consider it.”

The Grant

“I am getting unofficial hints,” Mrs Llodra said. The grant, authorized by the state for Newtown’s use, has been “in the pipeline for two years,” she said. The town has not yet executed the funds. The $500,000 will cover renovations to refit the space for KCC, and additional funds of roughly $325,000 are in the CIP to finish bringing the upgraded utilities to the duplexes. Still anticipating finalized plans, she said, “as long as final plans are in place, [the funds] are safe.”

She said again, “I am getting unofficial hints that authorized grants could be recalled.” The state is also facing economic troubles, she said.

Once KCC makes a commitment — which could follow Wednesday’s meeting — Mrs Llodra will draft a resolution “for the Board of Selectmen to officially accept the grant.”

Another Factor: School Enrollment

Sharing her “insights” with the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee members Monday regarding school enrollment studies, First Selectman Pat Llodra said, “It’s important how this touches on your work.”

She confirmed this week that the Newtown Police Department will likely seek a new space in the future, possibly at Fairfield Hills. Based on recent studies, “Some buildings may no longer be used as schools and could determine where the police department is located.”

Other related information involves Fairfield Hills Authority conversations.

Authority member Walt Motyka had presented a drawing in which he envisioned the police department, Newtown Ambulance Association — which Mrs Llodra invited to look at Fairfield Hills in its search for improved space — and Hook & Ladder Fire Company #1 occupying a shared building for emergence services on the campus. (See related ambulance association article.)

While the ambulance representatives have specifically approached the authority seeking space, the fire company has focused on a Sugar Street location specifically. The police department has made no formal announcements.

The school facilities study will not be done within the review committee’s timeframe. Paul Lundquist said, frustrated, “So we need it, but can’t reach.”

See the buildout study at www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_WebDocs/BuildOutStudy.