Tolland Delegation Announces Temporary Halt to Proposed Land Deal For Juvenile Detention Facility In Town

TOLLAND – State Reps Tammy Nuccio and Tim Ackert, State Sen. Jeff Gordon and Tolland Town Manager Brian Foley announced Wednesday that the proposed state purchase of a property along Tolland’s "only main commercial corridor" for a juvenile detention-related facility has been temporarily halted.

The parcel in question is the Nerac campus at 1 Technology Drive, also along the 300 Block of Merrow Road (No. 303). Merrow Road is also state Route 195. The land is in close proximity to several daycare facilities and just more than a mile by vehicle to Birch Grove Primary School and a lot closer through some abutting woods.

The pause, officials said, followed a "productive meeting" Wednesday morning between the Tolland legislative delegation, town administrators, representatives of the Judicial Branch, and state officials.

The meeting was facilitated by the Governor’s Office and resulted in an agreement to stop the purchase process until "further evaluations are completed," according to legislative and town officials.

One argument was a "lack of transparency," Gordon and Nuccio said. Judicial Branch officials pointed to state statutes governing real estate transactions that limit public disclosure during negotiations in order to prevent artificial inflation of property values.

However, local leaders were adamant that the community "must have a full understanding of the
proposal and its potential impact" before any final decision is made.

"This is an important step forward for transparency and for the residents of Tolland," the
delegation said in a joint statement. "While this issue is far from resolved, we now have the
opportunity to thoroughly examine what this facility would mean for our town before the state
proceeds with any purchase. The voices of our residents must be heard in the process before any
final decision is made, and we will make sure they are heard loud and clear."

According to the announcement, the delegation and town officials will be requesting a series of comprehensive evaluations, including:

• The potential economic impact of removing a valuable commercial property from
• Tolland’s business corridor.
• A full public safety assessment, including the facility’s proximity to daycare centers,
• residences, and "other community assets."
• Clarification on operational details, security measures and "long-term implications for the
• town."
• Infrastructure impacts, including water, sewer and traffic
• A Connecticut General Assembly evaluation

The veteran lawmakers and Foley said they also received "assurances from the Governor's Office
that local officials will be kept informed as this process moves forward."

The delegation emphasized that, "This is a temporary halt, not a final resolution," and pledged to
"remain actively engaged throughout the evaluation process."

The facility would be part of the CT REGIONS Secure Treatment Program, a therapeutic, staff-secure residential program for court-involved youth (primarily boys aged 14 through 18) operated by the Connecticut Judicial Branch. It offers community-based treatment for six to 12 months, focusing on "trauma-informed care, education, and skill-building to facilitate successful community reintegration."

The facility would be 20 beds.