Southbury Considers Buying Edgewood Club

SOUTHBURY, CT — The Board of Selectman authorized $3,000 to give Southbury the option of purchasing the Edgewood Bath and Tennis Club in Middlebury at a price of $2 million.

The money will go toward a non-refundable purchase option, which gives Southbury the right to buy the facility up until July 31.

Final approval would be subject to a town meeting or referendum.

First Selectman Jeff Manville said that buying the facility as opposed to renovating the town pool at Ballantine Park would be a more fiscally prudent move.

"I believe this acquisition could offer a viable, fiscally responsible solution to the impending and costly replacement of our existing Town Pool at Ballantine Park, while providing the long-term potential for additional expansion, including a year-round Community Center," Manville said in a statement. "The opportunity to explore this acquisition required prompt action, and I'm grateful to my colleagues on the Board of Selectmen for their unanimous support and encouragement to proceed."

The town pool has been in service for 50 years and is estimated to only have one or two more years of life left in it. Replacement costs for the pool alone are estimated to bet between $2.9 and $4.2 million. The cost to bring the pool into ADA compliance would push that estimate up even more.

The Edgewood pool is larger and has more swimming lanes than the current town pool. Renovating the town pool would also leave Southbury without a public pool for a summer.

Additionally the cost to replace aging tennis courts at Pomperaug High School are estimated at $1 million. The high school already uses the Edgewood courts.

Edgewood's site would also allow for future possibilities such as a year-round enclosed pool. full-size gymnasium and multi-purpose athletic fields.