|
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CLICK ON THE
APPROPRIATE ICON
EVENTS PHOTOS
SENSATIONAL
SUMMER
SERIES - 2010
CLICK
HERE
FOR
DETAILS
| |
FROM “THE HOUR”
FRIDAY, 04/02/10 / PAGES A3 A4
Public to hear
developer's proposal for senior housing on Fitch property
By ROBERT KOCH /
Hour Staff Writer
A plan to turn the former Fitch Elementary School property into a senior-housing
facility will be the topic of a community forum at the East Norwalk Library next
Wednesday night.
The forum, set for April 7 at 7 p.m. at the library at 51 Van Zant St., has been
arranged by the East Norwalk Improvement Association.
"The Improvement Association is interested in anything and everything that's
happening in East Norwalk that may affect residents, and this is something that
has been on the back burner, front burner and side burner for some time," said
ENIA Executive Director Stanley M. Siegel, referring to various plans put
forward over the years for the former school at 73 Strawberry Hill Ave. "We just
thought it was important to let as many people know as possible, so they could
learn more and voice their interests and concerns."
An organization which operates an assisted-living and memory-care facility for
seniors in Danbury is considering a similar use of the 2.7-acre parcel and brick
building on Strawberry Hill Avenue in Norwalk.
Conceptual drawings submitted to the Department of Planning and Zoning by
Maplewood at Strawberry Hill, LLC, show a two-story, 67,100-square-foot facility
with 37 assisted-living units, 35 memory-care units and 12 other units, as well
as a courtyard and living, dining, dietary, wellness, and arts and games rooms.
"We're going to be there to basically to explain to the neighborhood what we
contemplate for the property," said Frank N. Zullo, the Norwalk attorney
representing Maplewood at Strawberry Hill, LLC.
Maplewood at Strawberry Hill would include an atrium gathering room with
fieldstone fireplace, library, full-service dining and private dining rooms, an
arts-and-crafts lounge, country store, wellness center and "Brain Gymnasium." A
beauty parlor, pub lounge, multi-purpose room, roof-top Zen garden and exterior
courtyard with gathering green are also part of the plan.
The property is owned by Connecticut Community Bank, according to the Tax
Assessor's office. Sale to Maplewood at Strawberry Hill, LLC, would be
contingent upon Zoning Commission approval of a formal development plan,
according to officials.
David W. Park, ENIA board member, said the neighborhood association doesn't take
positions for or against such proposals -- "we're just there to present
information." Speaking as a resident who lives across the street from the
property, however, he expressed support for the plan.
"Speaking as a resident, I think this would be wonderful for Norwalk," Park
said. "It's something that Norwalk needs, senior housing, and it's impact on the
city won't be that great, as far as traffic and infrastructure requirements. It
will also increase the Grand List a little bit."
The two-story brick building, which was constructed in 1930, was once known as
Fitch Elementary School and more recently as Lea Manor. It has been boarded up
for a number of years. Efforts to develop it into housing and condominiums were
rejected by the Zoning Commission following opposition from neighbors.
|
