By Fred Camillo
As we approach spring, more daylight, new growth outdoors, and renewed spirit, determination, and commitment come with the “spring energy.” We in Town also see that same enthusiasm with projects and visions.
The Hamill Rink Task Force will have its first meeting on March 12. The task force will include community stakeholders representing the skating community, the building industry, the Energy Management Advisory Committee (EMAC), disability advocacy, veterans, the Byram Neighborhood Association, the Board of Estimate and Taxation, and two representatives from the Representative Town Meeting. There will also be liaisons from Planning & Zoning, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation. The task force will build upon the information gathered by the Hamill Rink Committee over the past four years and research conducted over the previous 53 years. My hope is that a report will be presented to me later this year so that we can fulfill the mission of Greenwich having a new skating facility in the very near future.
The plan to rededicate Veterans Plaza Park on Greenwich Avenue in the next 12 to 15 months has begun with a presentation to the Historic District Commission. The plan includes a lit water feature, enhanced landscaping, a lit flagpole, and a statue honoring our 41st President of the United States and former Greenwich resident, George H.W. Bush, the youngest fighter pilot in World War II, who flew 58 combat missions and was shot down over the Pacific. Many people in Town and beyond have reached out to offer support for this project, and we are truly appreciative of that. We look forward to the necessary approvals in the next year to bring this worthy tribute to our veterans and President Bush to fruition.
The Havemeyer Building Task Force, the second such in the last year, was tasked with creating an RFP for a reimagining of the Havemeyer Building, a nearly $100 million property currently being less than half-used by the Board of Education and also falling further into disrepair. This endeavor will conclude in the next few weeks with the next step being a professional review of the selected response and working partnership with the Board of Education to find a new and permanent home for the administration offices. This project has the potential to be transformational for the Town and downtown business district.
The long-awaited Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Center is slated to open within a month. The idea of a brand-new civic center has been discussed since the 1980s and will now become a reality. We thank the Cohen Foundation for their generous donation, as well as Icy and Scott Frantz for their $500,000 gym sponsorship. This successful public-private partnership is still ongoing and set to usher in a new, exciting era for recreation in Greenwich!
Continuing on the recreation and active lifestyle front, the Western Greenwich Greenway, which will connect several open space parcels of land and offer even more opportunities for our residents to hike the beautiful Greenwich countryside, is in progress. Additionally, a recent land acquisition by a private school will afford Greenwich residents another several dozen acres on the west side to hike and enjoy nature.
Even our four-legged friends have much to look forward to, as we are well into the approval process for our second-ever dog park in Town. A recent unanimous vote by our Board of Health was a big step toward this entirely privately funded park that will be naturally enclosed and offer dogs and their owners another place to run free.
Looking ahead to this summer, the unveiling of Greenwich Crossing will occur, promising a transformative look for Railroad Avenue and our train station. Just a few short years ago, we put together a Greenwich Plaza Task Force, and the work they did, together with the property owner, has led us to this exciting point.
On another front, the Board of Estimate and Taxation recently voted to approve a grant program that could help 159 homeowners in Greenwich who own properties prone to flooding. WestCOG identified these properties as “repetitive loss” properties and offers the best opportunity to assist these residents with flood mitigation measures never before available.
We have much to be grateful for in Greenwich and much to be excited about in the months ahead. I look forward to these endeavors and to seeing you all out and about this spring!
