Debate Continues On Proposal For Glenbrook Community Center

STAMFORD, CT — Residents opposing a proposal that would redevelop the old Glenbrook Community Center into affordable housing units protested outside the Union Memorial Church on Wednesday night, News 12 CT reported.

The plan calls for the construction of 51 below market rate or affordable units at 35 Crescent St., along with 4,300 square feet available for community space (1,300 for resident space and 3,000 for community space).

Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons has said that more affordable housing options are needed in the city. Some residents want the city to save the historic building.

"If they take that last building, that's the last thing we're going to have," one resident told News 12.

Sean Boeger (D-15), a member of the Stamford Board of Representatives, told News 12 the center has had one of the largest AA meetings in the area, and the building provided dance classes for children along with a full gymnasium.

In comments submitted to the Board of Representatives last week, residents pleaded with the board to vote against the sale of the property.

"I believe Glenbrook needs a community center on Crescent Street rather than more apartments," said one Glenbrook resident. "There is more than enough housing in this small neighborhood. I ask that you vote against selling the building to a developer to build apartments."

Others urged the board to approve the plan.

"Our neighbors need safe places to live and this plan preserves the beautiful historic facade on my walk to the train. I am in favor of the plan urge you to vote in favor," another resident said.

In an effort to provide transparency on the proposal, the city of Stamford established a webpage Wednesday with links to more information.

"One of my key priorities is to make Stamford a more accessible, equitable place to live. To achieve this goal, we must strive to make Stamford a city that works for everyone and creating affordable housing opportunities is one critical way to realize this goal," Mayor Caroline Simmons said on the webpage.

"We want to be as transparent as possible about how we arrived at the decision to advocate for the Glenbrook Community Center to be repurposed for affordable housing. Importantly, the proposed site will provide public access to community space and will preserve the historic nature of the façade of the building," Simmons added.

The Mayor's Office pushed back on a notion that the majority of the community was in favor of restoring the building to a community center.

"Many residents were prompted to write letters and sign petitions in support of saving the community center, we don’t believe they represent the general sentiment of the community," the Mayor's Office said in response to resident inquiries

The Mayor's Office said the proposal before three city boards in recent months (Planning, Board of Finance and Board of Reps.) was not a choice between restoring the building to a community center and an affordable housing initiative, but a decision to vote to approve "a thoroughly vetted housing plan."

"Letters received assumed that [Glenbrook Community Center) was still in operation. Others shared feeling of loss associated with the dissolution of the community center, but did not articulate a current need for its use," the Mayor's Office said, noting that the center closed in 2018.

On Sept. 6, a vote by the Board of Representatives on the sale of the property was put on hold until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 3.

Stamford Board of Finance chair Richard Freedman said earlier that day his board had recommended the addition of a term and condition to the sale of the property.

"The terms and condition is that any future owner, their successors and assigns, be prohibited from receiving a Low or Moderate-Income Housing Tax Abatement, and the Law Department be instructed to implement this prohibition as it best sees fit," a letter to the Board of Reps. President Jeff Curtis said.

The Board of Reps. then voted 21-18 to hold off on a vote.

Crescent Housing Partners LLC, the developer for the proposal, said in a letter it agreed to the condition, and that it pledged to provide the community "with the greatest amount of community space when needed."

The Board of Reps. next meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m., on Oct. 3. The meeting can be accessed via Zoom.

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