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09/12/2012 02:00 PMThe Academy School Building on the Green has stood vacant for seven years—but perhaps not for too much longer. Last summer, the Town of Madison formed an Academy Ad Hoc Investigation Committee to put together an informed recommendation for its future use, including whether the town should retain or sell the property.
In March, the committee submitted a report estimating that it would take $8.1 million to repair the building—not including building modernization costs. Earlier this month, it published a status report (see related content at right), outlining its findings to date. A public discussion on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Town Hall will focus around the question of whether the town should retain or sell the property, as well as the historical importance of the property.
“Right now, we’re at the point where the discussion is about whether or not the town should maintain it or potentially sell the property. That’s the important first decision,” said David Kadamus, chair of the committee.
The most likely options for the building that the committee is currently considering include leasing it to a non-profit organization, turning it into higher-price housing (in which case the town would lose ownership, but gain financially), or turning it into town offices.
The latter option—bringing Town Hall back downtown—would depend on the concurrent development of Town Campus into senior or higher-priced housing to off-set the cost; it would also reinstate a traditional component of the Green and perhaps revitalize downtown businesses, suggested the report. Other options include converting the building into a library and demolishing it.
“We have been reviewing a variety of options and alternatives,” said Kadamus, who added that a subcommittee investigated how other towns have dealt with similar buildings. “Some people have renovated similar buildings into senior centers around the state.”
Of all the factors taken into consideration, from the physical characteristics of the building to the potential economic benefits, the committee is most interested in the historical importance of the property. For almost 300 years, the town has made an effort to protect and expand its Town Green.
According to the committee’s status report, “We believe that in understanding the history of Town Green from a hilly, swampy area to the current common space, Memorial Town Hall and Academy School should be incorporated and respected in planning the area’s future.”
The upcoming public discussion will center around residents’ opinions of the Academy Building’s historical importance, which will determine whether the town keeps the property.
“The core decision is more the historical significance of that property,” said Kadamus. “That’s the first level of advice we want to receive from public input.”
The committee, which meets monthly, is seeking public input this month and next through a series of public hearings. The input will help advise its eventual recommendation to the Board of Selectmen.
The public discussion is on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Town Hall. For more information, visit www.madisonct.org/Academy/agenda.html.