Task Force: Former Noank School Should Remain Publicly Owned

The group charged with suggesting a future use of the former Noank School will recommend the property remain in public ownership and the Noank Fire District be given six months to present a plan on how to use the school and land.

Under the recommendation by the Noank Reuse Task Force, if the Town Council rejects the Noank Fire District plan for the property, or the district fails to present a plan, the school would be razed and the property used for open space.

The recommendation will presented to the Town Council on Oct. 25.

Hank Steinford, the planning commission representative on the task force, said he has doubts about the plan.

"I'm very skeptical about it at this point," he said, adding that he's unsure about financing building repairs "Who's going to pay for the huge renovations that are largely necessary? Obviously, the Noank Fire District doesn't want to pay for it, so it would become a taxpayer cost."

He estimated renovations at $200,000; demolition of the full structure is estimated at $345,000.

But Frank Socha, chairman of the Noank Fire District, said the idea is to allow the district six months to evaluate the property and see if they might want to take the site with some of the building in tact.

He believes the fire district could use the newer section of the school, which houses the former principal's office, kitchen, gymnasium and several classroom -  for meetings, office space and storage. The older section of the school, connected to the newer section by a glass area in the middle, could ultimately be torn down, Socha said.

"At some point down the road, we would have to discuss the financial aspect of it," he said. "We don't know enough now to put any numbers on it."

Socha said a key cost to consider is demolition.

"I'm suggesting that they could, for a lot less money, help the fire district out, renovate the building, tear down that one section (in the middle) and then they still have two usable buildings the fire district could make use of," he said.

A survey of residents done this summer found that most would like the former property used for recreation or open space, and many would like the school building saved.

Of the 189 survey responses, 107 people chose recreation as their first or second choice for future use of the property. Seventy-nine chose open space.  The least popular choices were residential single-family lots and an artists’ cooperative.

The survey also showed that most believe the town, rather than the fire district, a non-profit group or a private party should own the site. Of those surveyed, 115 said town ownership would be their first or second choice.

Noank School was originally built in 1947, and was added to in 1963.