Fw: Fw: (rshsdepot) Fairfield, CT (new station)

["Paul S. Luchter" <luckyshow_@_mindspring.com>]

My friend has questions, any answers?
- -----Original Message-----
From: Henry Rosenberg <henryr.javanet_@_rcn.com>
To: Paul S. Luchter <luckyshow_@_mindspring.com>
Cc: BobbieRL_@_aol.com <BobbieRL@aol.com>
Date: Sunday, May 19, 2002 10:06 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: (rshsdepot) Fairfield, CT (new station)


>Paul -At present there are 2 RR stations within the town limits of
>Farifield, viz. Fairfield and Southport. Do these people expect to keep 3
>active stations? I dunno. Will they try to steal Amtrak service away from
>Bpt? I wouldn't be surprised. What do they plan to do with existing
>stations? I dunno. Henry
>At 08:13 PM 5/18/02 -0400, you wrote:
>>What does it mean that this would be the only (disability) compliant
>>railroad station in Fairfield? How do they have more than one?
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>
>>To: Rail Depot List <rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net>
>>Date: Saturday, May 18, 2002 12:23 PM
>>Subject: (rshsdepot) Fairfield, CT (new station)
>>
>>
>>
>>Train Station development deal successfully negotiated
>>
>>By: Chris Ciarmiello, Staff reporter May 17, 2002
>>Fairfield Minuteman
>>
>>Only one month after an Independence Hall meeting room was filled with the
>>sounds of First Selectman Kenneth Flatto's gavel and developer Kurt
Wittek's
>>angry objections, the two were all smiles on Monday as they jointly took a
>>major step toward creating the town's long-awaited third train station.
>>
>>Flatto and Wittek, a partner at Stamford-based Blackrock Realty, signed a
>>four-page memorandum of understanding, laying the groundwork for the train
>>station and 930,000 square-foot commercial development at the former
>>Bullards manufacturing site near Commerce Drive.
>>The project would provide the town with much-needed tax revenue, as well
as
>>spaces for most of the 1,500-plus people currently on a commuter parking
>>waiting list, according to town officials.
>>"I stood at this podium a few weeks ago ... and the environment in this
room
>>was significantly different," Wittek told the Board of Selectmen on Monday
>>afternoon. "We're glad it took this direction at the end."
>>At the April meeting that Wittek referenced, Blackrock Realty officials
>>fumed when Flatto presented his reworking of former First Selectman John
>>Metsopoulos' plan, including plans for the town to acquire part of the
>>35.6-acre site from the developer by eminent domain or condemnation, if
>>necessary.
>>But having reopened negotiations about two weeks ago, both Flatto and
>>Blackrock Realty officials now say that the new deal is one that will
>>benefit all parties.
>>Under the revised plan, the train depot, an entrance bridge from Kings
>>Highway East, and nearby road improvements would to be completed within 3
to
>>4 years of the plan's approval, Flatto said. Up to 30,000 square feet of
>>retail and commercial space inside the depot could also be ready by that
>>time, with the bulk of 900,000 square feet of office space being phased in
>>over the next decade or so.
>>According to preliminary estimates, the town would earn $700,000 in tax
>>revenue from the site within three years of the plan's approval, Flatto
>>said. That number would escalate to $2 million by the 10th year after
>>approval.
>>Flatto said he hopes that a final contract between the town, developer,
and
>>the Connecticut Department of Transportation will be reached by mid-June.
>>The boards of selectmen and finance and the Representative Town Meeting
>>would then have to approve the town's portion of funding for the project,
>>expected to be about $6 million.
>>State officials did not return a phone call on Tuesday regarding the plan,
>>but Flatto said he believes that "we have their blessing."
>>Monday, the Board of Selectmen approved $65,000 for work that is needed to
>>complete the final contract, such as environmental site assessments. The
>>finance board and RTM also must approve that funding.
>>The details
>>The plan calls for the town to purchase approximately 9 acres of the
site -
>>to be selected by the developer - on which it would build at least 1,500
>>commuter parking spaces. The town would pay $3.75 million for the land,
plus
>>an additional $6.06 million for: environmental clean-up and construction
of
>>the parking area; the removal of the main Bullards factory building, which
>>is located where the parking area is expected to be; and off-site road
>>improvements.
>>The town would bond $6 million for its share of the project costs, with
the
>>other $4 million coming through federal grants.
>>The new station would be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities
Act,
>>as per the state's requirements and would make it the only compliant train
>>station in Fairfield.
>>The state would shoulder the bulk of the initial costs, paying $16 million
>>to $25 million to construct the train platforms and a bridge that would
>>serve as the station's main exit and entry. The bridge would begin on
Kings
>>Highway East between Frank and Timko streets and run over the train
tracks,
>>ending up near the parking area.
>>According to the memorandum, Blackrock Realty would give the state no more
>>than 2.2 acres on which to build the platforms and the bridge.
>>The firm would also donate land to the town on which the train depot and
>>ancillary commercial/retail space would be constructed. That area, which
>>would be up to 30,000 square feet, would be leased to Blackrock Realty for
>>$1 per year for 49 years. The firm is expected to sublet the space to
>>tenants that include a hotel chain, restaurants, a day-care facility, and
a
>>health club.
>>At least 2,000 square feet of that depot area would be used for a commuter
>>waiting area, the construction of which would be financed by Blackrock
>>Realty. It would include about 500 square feet of police and emergency
>>services space, and, potentially, a state-operated ticket booth.
>>Flatto said he hopes that no more than three or four businesses will be
>>affected by the state's construction of the bridge. The actual number
won't
>>be known for sure until the state completes design drawings. Flatto said
the
>>town will work closely with those affected businesses to help them
relocate.
>>Developer: "Bigger guys" make deal possible
>>Wittek openly acknowledged the tense political situation that developed
>>regarding the train station. Metsopoulos, when he was first selectman, had
>>reached a deal for a 1.3 million square-foot train station development
last
>>year before Flatto defeated him in November's election. Metsopoulos' deal
>>was not approved by any town bodies, and Flatto restructured the plan when
>>he took office.
>>Wittek praised Metsopoulos for continuing to support the third train
station
>>concept, even though the plan has significantly changed.
>>He also praised Flatto for returning to the negotiating table after
>>Blackrock Realty officials had balked at the first selectman's original
>>reworking of the plan. "It takes somebody of substance to come back to the
>>table" after such a difficult impasse, Wittek said.
>>Referring to both Flatto and Metsopoulos, he said, "I think it takes some
>>bigger guys to do what's been done."
>>
>>=================================
>>The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
>>railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
>

=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #379
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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org