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2016: Academy School Outcome Still Uncertain

Another year has come and gone and the former Academy School still stands vacant. While 2016 began with the possibility of transforming Academy School into a cultural arts center, the year draws to a close with an uncertain future for the old building.

Since 2011, the town has struggled to find a viable use for the building. Coming into 2016, the previous Board of Selectmen (BOS), under the direction of former first selectman Fillmore McPherson, had signed a letter of intent with the Shoreline Arts Alliance (SAA), set to expire July 1, 2016, to pursue the possibility of transforming the space into a cultural arts center. As the new administration under First Selectman Tom Banisch took office, sentiments towards the financial possibility of a cultural arts center shifted.

In the early months of the year, the architect selection committee selected Centerbrook Architects and Planners for the project to assess the cost of the rehabilitation of the building and to transform the building into a cultural arts center. In February, the BOS established an Ad-Hoc Academy Elementary School Architectural Services Negotiating Committee to begin a financial discussion with the firm and negotiate the scope of services, schedule, and professional fees associated with the project. Newly elected First Selectman Tom Banisch quickly expressed his doubts about the project.

By April, the Negotiating Committee recommended the BOS move to accept the contract, noting the town would need to spend approximately $100,000 to formally assess the current state of the building. The $100,000 figure left Republican members of the BOS uncomfortable and on April 18, the BOS voted to approve the contract with Centerbrook Architects but failed to release the funds for further studies or extend the letter of intent—to the dismay of SAA supporters.

On June 27 the BOS voted to extend the letter of intent 60 days to allow for further negotiations of the lease. However, on July 21, SAA decided to step away from Academy School, citing a lack of progress over recent months and a shift in business terms.

With summer drawing to a close, the town was once again left to decide what to do with Academy School. On Aug. 18, the town opened the building to the public in an effort to sell off old equipment left in the building.

Banisch said he hopes to hold meetings so residents and interested parties can pitch ideas. While no meeting dates were set, at the BOS meeting on Sept. 26, Town Attorney Ira Bloom of the firm Berchem, Moses & Devlin, shared information suggesting that the deed of Daniel Hand may no longer restrict what the town chooses to do with the building.

With possible legal hang-up seemingly out of the way, the town continues with the plan to hold workshop meetings. With 2016 nearly over, Banisch said the town is currently working to hire a professional facilitator to run the meetings, which are likely to begin in early 2017.