Mia Bomback reports:
Once again, the Long Lots School Building Committee failed to reach a final decision regarding a plan for a new elementary school.
But last night’s meeting brought a major development.
Literally.
Westport architect Joseph Vallone presented his own plan for the demolition and reconstruction of a new building that preserves the Westport Community Gardens and Long Lots Preserve — and the property’s existing baseball field.
Vallone’s solution? A 3-story school.
It would be built on the site of the current baseball diamond.
He presented 2 versions. The new athletic field would be constructed where the school now stands, or on the current parking lot.
“This is 2023. We need to be designing a 3-story building with compact massing and a smaller footprint,” said Vallone, a licensed architect and developer, and member of Westport’s Public Site & Building Commission.
One version of architect Joseph Vallone’s plan …
Vallone’s idea was met with criticism from committee members. They said that a 3-story proposal violated previously stated Board of Education specifications.
Vallone replied: “Let’s not forget that both Kings Highway [Elementary School] and Greens Farms [Elementary School] are 3 stories.”
… and another.
Following Vallone’s proposal, Jennifer Fava — director of Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department — presented her report on usage of the athletic fields on Long Lots property.
The report revealed that over 11,000 participants utilize these fields annually, excluding physical education classes, adult leagues, and camp rentals. The report said there are 108 participants of the Westport Community Gardens. (Click here for a full report.)
While Fava’s report proposed possible alternative locations for a baseball field, including Winslow Park and Lillian Wadsworth Arboretum, these options pose “challenges” for fields requiring an abundance of space and specific topography, LLSBC member Don O’Day noted.
Rick Koczera then provides estimates from Newfield Construction. Building Plans A and B — involving renovations and extensions — were the most expensive, totaling around $107.5 million and $105.7 million, respectively.
Plan E — calling for the relocation of the gardens — is the least expensive, with an estimated cost of $91.5 million.
Plan C-ALT — the only reconstruction plan retaining the garden’s current site (potentially in exchange of a baseball field) — was slightly more expensive, projected at around $94.3 million.
Cost estimates were projected on a screen at last night’s meeting. (Click on or hover over to enlarge)
The renovation plans take longer to finish, Koczera added, nd will require 29 to 30 months of construction before the school can operate. The reconstruction plans allow students to return to school 18 months after construction begins.
The meeting in Town Hall Rooms 201/201A concluded with public commentary from neighbors and gardeners alike, voicing fears for sustainability of the property.
“Our biggest concern pertains to the demolition of the gardens in lieu of a ball field,” Sloan Sehr said.
“As all of us who live on Bauer [Place] know, there are already a myriad of different drainage and flooding issues, and the removal of these community gardens is going to directly jeopardize the sanctity of our homes.
“When you don’t have all the plants, the trees to absorb all this water, what recourse do we have as residents when our basements are flooded?”
The small Town Hall meeting room was filled last night. Some attendees stood in the hall. (Photo/Karen Mather)
The committee intends to vote on which proposal to recommend to First Selectwoman Jen Tooker at next week’s meeting.
Advocates for the preservation of the garden are wary of a rushed decision.
“I am calling on the First Selectwoman to delay [her recommendation],” Sal Liccione, a Representative Town Meeting member, said, “so we can have a community meeting, ASAP, to discuss all of our options, including Mr. Vallone’s plan.”
(“06880” provides hyper-local journalism every day. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)