Restaurant Property Purchase Endorsed By Guilford Land Acquisition Commission

GUILFORD, CT — The Guilford Land Acquisition Commission is the latest entity to endorse the town's purchase of 505 Whitfield St., the former property of The Mooring restaurant.

The commission is a tri-partisan conglomerate of volunteer representatives from 10 different town boards and commissions, which seeks to determine and recommend to the Board of Selectmen the feasibility of acquiring land, development rights, and conservation easements.

"The Land Acquisition Commission supports the acquisition of 505 Whitfield Street to enhance access to Long Island Sound, utilizing our bonding authority, if necessary, and seeking all federal and state grant and bonding resources," the town said in a news release Thursday.

"The consensus during our recent meeting, and even more so afterwards, was in full support of the acquisition," added Land Acquisition Commission Chair Scott Williams.

Earlier this month, the town announced its intention to purchase the former home of The Mooring restaurant and related buildings for $3 million.

First Selectman Matt Hoey called the purchase "a generational opportunity" for the town to preserve the shoreline and give the community more ways to access coastal resources.

The purchase has been approved by the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and Planning & Zoning Commission, and the Guilford Preservation Alliance also endorsed the acquisition.

Guilford will hold a Town Meeting at the Community Center on Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss and vote on the acquisition. All residents are invited to attend.

For more information on the purchase of the property at 505 Whitfield St., click here.