Politics & Government
New Canaan Explores Buying Building For Police, Education Offices
The Elm Street building currently houses a company relocating to Ohio.
NEW CANAAN, CT — The town has begun exploring the possibility of purchasing an office building on Elm Street to jointly house the New Canaan Police Department and Board of Education offices, according to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan.
Such a move, if it comes to fruition, is still a few years off, but New Canaan officials are considering buying 258 Elm St. because it could end up costing less than just renovating the 90-year-old building that currently houses the police department alone.
"It's a modern building and up-to-date," said Moynihan Thursday, during a briefing in Town Hall with members of the press.
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Currently, Covia, a mining, oil and natural gas products and materials company, has offices in the building, but it is in the process of relocating to Ohio, said Moynihan.
The building has been appraised at $8.2 million, and the town would need to spend perhaps as much as $2 million to renovated it for the police and education departments, according to Moynihan.
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To renovate the police building, the town has earmarked close to $8 million, and Moynihan was quick to add that it could possibly cost more. Darien, he said, spent about $17 million renovating and expanding its police building.
In the coming weeks, town and Board of Education officials are slated to meet and tour the Covia building, said Moynihan. The town would lease space back to Covia for about three years, giving the company plenty of time to relocate its employees. But the three-year delay also would allow town officials plenty of time to work out the logistics of designing and renovating the building.
If the plan moves forward, New Canaan would seek to sell the police building to a developer to turn it in senior housing, with the stipulation that it not be torn down.
"We want to monetize that building," said Moynihan. "Not own it, but not see it torn down."
Photo of 258 Elm Street, New Canaan via Google Maps
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