Greenwich Seeks Bids For Redevelopment Of Historic Havemeyer Building

GREENWICH, CT — The town of Greenwich is seeking proposals from firms to redevelop the historic Havemeyer Building at 290 Greenwich Ave., which currently houses the Board of Education.

A Request For Proposal, or RFP, was issued on July 24 with a deadline for bids set for Nov. 15 at 11 a.m.

"The town is looking for a developer who will provide a high-quality vision and commercial proposal for the redevelopment and long-term use of this property. The town encourages respondents to submit creative proposals that generate strong activities and meaningful community uses, that together will benefit the town of Greenwich and the residents of Greenwich," the town said in the RFP.

"These proposals should capture the historic significance of the building and its architecture, consider new additions or enhancements that are compatible with the existing building and immediate site, and conform to the existing surrounding area and neighborhoods," the town added, noting that providing sufficient parking for the site and for the public would be "beneficial."

First Selectman Fred Camillo and Andy Duus, chair of the advisory committee on the Havemeyer Building, appeared before the Board of Education in May to discuss the Havemeyer Building.

The committee was tasked with identifying, evaluating and recommending potential options for the future use of the structure and its site.

Camillo said "time is of the essence" to move the school staff out of the aging building, and argued that it didn't make sense for the BOE to stay in a deteriorating building that's smack in the middle of Greenwich Avenue in the town's business, commercial and entertainment district.

Duus said an engineer came in and found "no overt issues" with the building, but there weren't any "invasive" investigations performed.

Sugar magnate Henry O. Havemeyer and his wife Louisine funded the construction of a school at 290 Greenwich Ave., and work was completed in 1894, according to a report from the advisory committee.

The building served as an elementary school, hosted high school classes, and has housed the Greenwich Board of Education and school district's central administrative offices since 1948.

The basement is 17,736 square feet, the first floor is 17,729 square feet, and the second floor is 13,598 square feet. The attic sits at 3,457 square feet.

There have been two other attempts over the past 24 years to move school staff out of the building, Camillo previously noted to the school board.