Newtown’s board of directors decided upon a plan to pursue and modernize two former hospital buildings on the Fairfield Hills campus into stores and apartments this past month. They had been previously awaiting approval from the state and Federal government to ensure the history of the town-owned campus is documented.
Based on the proposed plan, Fairfield Hills would be established as a place in local and national history. The plan would also acquire $10-million in Federal tax credits for WinnCompanies, an award-winning, national owner, developer, and manager of mixed-income, market rate, and military housing communities, working alongside Connecticut’s Office of Historic Preservation.
“Historic designation would open the door to tax credits that could play an important role in moving this development closer to fulfilling the community’s vision for the property,” President and Managing Partner of WinnDevelopment, Larry Curtis said.
The $10-million in federal tax credits would allegedly be the key to making the investment profitable in the buildings that have been vacant for decades.
“It would definitely make there [be] more traffic in and around Fairfield Hills. It could also bring more money into the town and the area, but [it] could also not be beneficial, depending on how expensive the project is. It could also make the fields/park less usable for events and sports, which could also make the town lose money if they can’t host those anymore,” NHS freshman Lahja Kurjaka said.
In the past, Newtown has responded to unsafe buildings by knocking them down which is known to be both an expensive and time-consuming operation.
In 2020, Newtown residents came to an agreement about two of the largest buildings on the Fairfield Hills campus; voting approximately 9,400-7,300 to rezone Fairfield Hills with a mix of shops and housing between the buildings.
“They shouldn’t put apartments and shops into the Fairfield Hills’ Campus because it will disrupt the environment,” NHS freshman Brady Wennerholm said.
As of recent, WinnCompanies plans to build 56 apartments in the 90,000-square-foot structure built in 1933, as well as 113 more apartments in the 200,000-square-foot structure that was built in 1940.
“The Fairfield Hills housing plan would provide an opportunity for people to come to this community and enjoy all that [Newtown] has to offer. Fairfield Hills has the ability to provide sewer and water service where we are not cutting down trees in pristine areas or relying on septic systems,” Newtown resident Sabrina Charney said.
Winn’s plans are as far as the concept has gotten at Fairfield Hills as the renovation is expected to cost $50 million to $60 million. Without the historical status that has yet to be approved, Winn is unable to afford the investment.
“I feel like people wouldn’t really want that. [Fairfield Hills] is almost like a monument. If it were to be changed people wouldn’t want to live there because of the history it has,” NHS freshman Lola Arpi-Tenesaca said.
There have been four primary proposals for what is to come of the abandoned buildings at Fairfield Hills.
The first includes the continuation of town activities (sports, camps, etc…). The second involves more of a main street concept (businesses, shopping centers, downtown aspect, etc…). Additionally, a proposal encompasses a mixed-use campus with residential housing (housing, more elegant structures, etc…). The last primary proposal was an option to pursue commercial investment (putting in hospitals, conference centers, etc…).
It remains to be seen if historical status pertaining to the Fairfield Hills Campus will be approved in order to invest in further plans for the establishment.