Greenwich Teen Center Claims Town Locked Them Out Of Arch Street Building: Lawsuit

GREENWICH, CT — A 34-year partnership at 100 Arch St. between the longest-running teen center in the country and the Town of Greenwich appears to have concluded with a lawsuit between the two parties.

The Greenwich Teen Center, Inc., listed as the plaintiff, has filed a verified lockout complaint and an application for temporary injunction against the town.

The lease between the teen center and the town at 100 Arch St. expired on Dec. 31, 2025, with the yearly rent having been $1 per year.

According to filing in Stamford Superior Court's Housing Session, The Greenwich Teen Center Inc. claims the town "put metal brackets on every door of the building" on or around Jan. 5.

Additionally, the complaint claims "the defendant opened the plaintiff's boxes and possessions including their safe and have denied the plaintiff access to the property."

The building is owned by the town, and it has housed the Arch Street Teen Center since October 1991.

"The plaintiff, a nonprofit teen center, is a longstanding tenant of the Town of Greenwich which operates a teen center including a recording studio and theatrical space," the complaint says. "On Jan. 5, 2026 the defendant locked the plaintiff out of the premises including from its sound equipment, lighting equipment, business records, personal property, etc."

In September, the teen center announced Arch Street 2.0, a new space for high school exclusive and community and alumni programs, at 255 Field Point Road, the former site of Crush Table Tennis Club.

In the Facebook announcement at the time, the nonprofit said its Arch Street location would "continue to maintain and serve our middle school students as well as continue to host incredible teen and community events."

The Greenwich Teen Center is the longest-running, privately funded teen center in the country. Its creation was spearheaded by a group of residents led by former state Sen. L. Scott Frantz (R-36).

"Arch Street is a drug-free, alcohol-free environment where teens can initiate and organize activities that improve their social and recreational lives and provide leadership and community service experience," the nonprofit's Facebook page says.

The teen center's website was operational earlier this week, but now the site notes it's undergoing "exciting new updates," and it directs users to follow on Instagram.

In 2010, in the 20th year of a 25-year lease, the teen center requested an extension with the town.

The Representative Town Meeting then approved a lease agreement on April 12, 2010. The agreement allowed the teen center to renew its lease for two five-year terms after the initial term expired on Dec. 31, 2015.

First Selectman Fred Camillo on Sunday issued a statement on the teen center, two days after he declined comment to Patch due to pending litigation.

Camillo said recent news articles about the closing of the teen center at 100 Arch St. "have unfortunately led some to promote a false narrative," and he felt compelled "to state the actual record," despite ongoing legal legal action.

In an emailed statement to Patch, Camillo said Kyle Silver, executive director of the teen center, acknowledged in writing in October that the nonprofit's lease would be expiring on Dec. 31, 2025, and that the teen center would be out of the building by that date.

"We relied on this representation. When the lease expired, he then asked for additional time to remove property which remained in the building. We granted an additional two weeks with the stipulation that a waiver and release be provided holding the Town harmless for any loss or damage to the property remaining in the building," Camillo wrote.

"The building as left behind by the Teen Center presented a liability for the Town. An internal audit of the building revealed that many of the improvements that were promised by the Teen Center as per the lease were not done, and that the building had fallen into disrepair due to the Teen Center's failure to perform necessary maintenance over the years. Needless to say, Mr. Silver did not sign the release and instead retained a lawyer.

"As a result of the pending litigation brought against the Town by the Teen Center, the Town has now obtained the previously requested waiver and release," Camillo added.

It's unclear what will happen with the historic building that once served as a horse barn for the Bruce estate.

Camillo wrote in his weekly newsletter to the community on Friday that he will soon be forming a new task force to determine what the best future use of the building should be.

"For the past 36 years, the Greenwich community has enjoyed having the longest running teen center in the entire country," Camillo wrote. "Oh behalf of a grateful Town, I want to thank my friends Scott and Icy Frantz for starting the Arch Street Teen Center all those years ago and also thank the many board members who contributed so much time, sweat equity and funds to keep it going to benefit the youth of Greenwich."

Camillo noted the new task force will develop a request for proposal - or RFP - "so we can immediately start to look at the best possible use for this convenient and scenic venue."

More information on the task force and its membership will be released soon, according to Camillo.

Located near Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, the building was later used as a warehouse for the Greenwich Department of Public Works.

Attempts to reach the attorney representing the town were unsuccessful last week.

Abram Heisler, who is representing The Greenwich Teen Center, Inc., declined comment on Jan. 20.

Patch also reached out to Greenwich Teen Center Executive Director Kyle Silver for comment but did not hear back.