Updated at 4 p.m. on Friday
The Mayor's Office has released a detailed summary of all three proposals for the old East Haven High School, which will be up for consideration by the town's voters as a referendum item on next month's Election Day ballot.
The summary can be found here.
Original Story
The old East Haven High School sits and waits. The building, at 200 Tyler Street, has been vacant since the school shut its doors in 1997.
The only life that remains inside the 1936 structure, which sits on a prime 8-acre parcel in the center of East Haven, is the and the community pool.
In hopes of reviving the 8-acre property, East Haven Mayor April Capone formed a in hopes its members would develop recommendations for the best future use of the town-owned property.
Unable to narrow it down to just one choice — community use, educational use or sell the property to condominimum developers — town officials decided to through a referendum on the Nov. 8 municipal election ballot.
The Town Council approved that referendum's final language at its regularly scheduled meeting Sept. 6 (see meeting minutes in the gallery at the right that accompanies this article).
Through the referendum, voters are given three choices of directing town officials of how to move forward in determining the vacant building's future:
1. Shall the property located at 200 Tyler Street be rehabilitated at a cost to the Town and used for educational purposes?
2. Shall the property located at 200 Tyler Street be rehabilitated at a cost to the Town and used for community purposes?
3. Shall the property located at 200 Tyler Street be sold by the Town for condominium use?
A proposed deal in 2006 to sell the parcel to private developers that wanted to build senior housing was quickly squashed after public opinion at that time came out strongly against it.
And other proposasl to turn the building into a town government center with municipal offices could prove to have a heavy price tag for the town as far as renovation and construction costs.
Although voters will have their official say next month, East Haven Patch is taking a preliminary look at what residents think is the best future use for the vacant building.
Cast your vote in the poll and/or leave your suggestion in the comments section below.
And Patch will be sure to let you know the vote's final results in an updated article later this week.
“ the academy going back to JMMS” “JMMS being a K to 4, along with Deer Run and Momauquin” “Old High School would be a 5 To 8.” “would alleviate a lot of problems with overcrowding” “definitely keep the other school buildings” So let me see, You all think it is a good idea to uproot teachers and students on an annual basis so that we can resolve the issues caused by poor planning. Doesn’t sound like a SOLID FOUNTATION to me. Admit that the reorganization isn’t working, Utilize the space occupied by ACES (40 or so students) and integrate the Academy back into their districts and be done with it. And this is the best one “The big thing here is to get the reimbursement money, and that only comes when the building is used as a school” What part of the days of funny money are gone do you not understand.
I read that letter and it was a shocker and gives some insight to why the mother who was arrested for attempting to protect her child took the action she did. After reading Matt's comments, I'm thinking I would have done the same thing.
As for the bulling in JMS, It's starts at home! The parents should start being held accountable for their childs actions..Believe me with some of these kids the apple don't fall far from the tree. So Gene i'm with you on this one..
Once upon a time children went to the schools closest to their home, built relationships with their neighbor classmates that would last for years. Many life long friendships were born this way. I have attended a few of the BOE meetings, very ineffective. The amount we spend in education currently is on par with our surrounding towns, save New Haven. Why we would not have up to date educational material, and by that I mean 21st century educational tools, is beyond me. Any attempt by me to obtain meaningful accounting of expenditures from the BOE has been politely acknowledged and forgotten. Find out how much is spent and ON WHAT then make the changes necessary to have the best education we can.
As we move to a more centralized educational society, we will continue to lose the benefits of community. I really like K8, and realize that the current schools in their current state cannot physically support K8. It would require funding to update them. Wonder what the cost would be, has anyone ever looked into the cost of updating current schools. Seems it should be part of the long term maintance plan. You know I think it is called CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
The forum is taking a turn form what to do with a building to How to improve the educational conditions. Sounds like something that is needed, and you as a journalist have a golden opportunity to explore the idea. Soooo, why not get it going. Who knows some real improvements may come out of it. The forum is taking a turn form what to do with a building to How to improve the educational conditions. Sounds like something that is needed, and you as a journalist have a golden opportunity to explore the idea. Soooo, why not get it going. As to your comments on the incident last year, I did not follow it past the initial new story. To put details that you do not know firsthand in a public forum is cause for concern. Under what circumstances does the Bully need defending?
I am still concerned that there will be much confusion come November on this issue. The town web site lists Proposal #1 as Community use with,” A Variety of community purposes with the “wings and upper floor space (excess areas) for private/professional use”. And PROPOSAL#2 as a SALE FOR CONDOS. Now those folks who don’t do PATCH may be confused. Check it out http://www.townofeasthavenct.org/purchase.shtml All of the proposals carry the following statement: (cut and paste from town site) The East Haven Plan of Conservation and Development states the following regarding redevelopment of the Old High School on the parcel: * "The Town should upgrade and use a portion of the former high school as a community center that should include a range of community-oriented uses. The remainder of the school may be appropriate for private development. * The swimming pool at the old high school should be renovated, or a new swimming pool be constructed for use by town residents" Without clarity the entire process may be in jeopardy.
This is a 3-10 year plan and when completed most of us involved with this project will not be involved with the end results. This will save the Tax payers money on maintaining all the school Building we have now, Of all the Shore line Towns East Haven spends the most to run our School Buildings year after year. The Building at 200 Tyler St can meet the standerds of the Educational system once it is renovated as the new and improved Middle School / East Haven Academy. It would not impact the neihborhood as when it was a High School. The Children in this age group do not drive yet. When this plan A is completed then we can renovate the Joseph Melillo Middle School/Carbone School under plan B and make this a new Elementary Campus Then under Plan C the BOI can look at the other Schools in Town and close or rediret the use of the Building's. The Best Building after this is all completed for Town wide use is the Tuttle Elementary School, This would make a great Community Center, Maybe some Town offices, and many other uses. The other two big projects under plan A and B would be eligible for Connecticut State Grant Rembursement/ or even some Fed Grant for Green Energy. IT IS A PLAN, and if we want to make our Town better in the future, then we need to think out of the box,
sorry to hear that your very upbeat column will no longer be posted in the Patch. Their loss. Since you target the young folks of East Haven, perhaps the BOE could find some space on their site. Very extensive and updated regularly.