This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

03/30/2017 05:28 PM

Last Fragments of Center School Cleared in North Branford


This morning, workers cleared the last fragments of debris from the demolished Center School, built in 1920. The town hopes to attract a town-center friendly developer to the newly cleared lot at 1599 Foxon Road. The former Community Center building, built in 1979, was also demolished to create a clean slate of 5.59 acres which also includes the former Wall Field.Pam Johnson/The Sound
Former Community Center and Old School Demolished

The last fragments of the former Center School were cleared away today, the final step in the town's plan to create clean slate of property at 1599 Foxon Road that's hoped to attract a town center-friendly developer to build a mixed-use complex.

Today's final demolition of the wooden school building, built in 1920, followed this month's earlier tear-down of the adjacent former Community Center brick building, built in 1979. The lot also includes the former Wall Field.

On Tuesday, April 4, the Town Council may discuss the next steps for the property, said Town Manager Michael Paulhus. The council is meeting at North Branford Intermediate School at 7 p.m. on Tues. April 4 in order to open a Public Hearing on the proposed 2017-18 Town Budget later in the night's agenda.

Paulhus said 1599 Foxon Road will be on the agenda; and the council could begin discussion if time allows; due to the need to open the public hearing. The discussion would center on whether the town is ready to select a professional broker to reassess the property value and solicit proposals.

A 2015 valuation of the 5.95-acre parcel (land alone) is $459,700 with an assessment value of $321,000.

Bringing a "town center" mixed-use development to 1599 Foxon Road began with a public charrette process in 2014, guided by the Economic Development Commission (EDC) with an urban planning study group from Yale. During two charrettes, residents helped sketch out a guide for future developer to hopefully follow. The desire is to see a mix of commerce, residences, potential open space and area-connective　paths for vehicles and pedestrians.

In 2015, Middletown-based CenterPlan was recommended by the EDC to the Town Council as the property's ""preferred developer." After initial meetings with CenterPlan drew unresponsive results, in early 2016,　the Town Council dismissed CenterPlan's "preferred developer" status.

The same space as it looked in February 2017, with the former Community Center building in the foreground and Center School at back.Pam Johnson/The Sound