Historic Commission Presses BOS for Deeper Review of Gilbert & Bennett Project, Action on Ambler Farm House

At Wilton’s Historic District and Historic Properties Commission (HDHPC) regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, the discussion focused on two of Wilton’s landmark properties: the historic Gilbert & Bennett school building and the Platt Raymond House, commonly known as the Yellow House at Ambler Farm.

For the last several months, the commission’s preservation goals for the two properties have been largely stymied while another board — the Wilton Capital Planning Committee — developed a set of recommendations for capital spending priorities to the Board of Selectmen. While HDHPC Chair Lori Fusco made repeated attempts to get a seat at the WCPC table or at least add a preservation perspective to the process, WCPC ultimately determined that the Yellow House fell outside the scope of the WCPC’s charge, and G&B’s badly-needed $730,000 roof replacement was ranked last on a priority list of 14 items that totaled $46 million.

And yet, Fusco — who has been increasingly vocal, pleading with the WCPC, First Selectman Toni Boucher and the BOS to give more attention to the needs of the historic buildings — seems intent on persisting.

“I’m still holding out with some optimism,” Fusco said. “There’s a lot going on in our town, but we’ll do what we [HDHPC] can and we’ll just keep forging ahead, one piece at a time. There’s no reason to quit — just because the past has been a little rocky doesn’t mean the future can’t be better.”

Yellow House

Since the needs of the Yellow House were not considered by WCPC, Fusco believes HDHPC must take steps to keep the Yellow House at the forefront of the selectmen’s attention, with the hope that the BOS will prioritize it for bonding.

“What we would need to do [is] just appeal straight to the Board of Selectmen with our concerns regarding having that funded,” she said. “We’ll have to go in and just make an appeal for them to hopefully do something.”

Commissioners supported Fusco’s plan to request time at the appropriate Board of Selectmen meeting when the agenda includes deliberations on the WCPC’s capital spending recommendations.

Commissioner Gil Weatherly urged haste.

“I think time is of the essence,” he said. “They [BOS] are going to come up with their list of stuff they want to bond pretty soon. We have to get our message there ASAP.”

Fusco agreed, and believes there is still opportunity for a breakthrough with the selectmen.

“This is important,” she said. “It’s our opportunity to get our voices heard.”

“As you know I’ve tried several times to act as advisory on that committee [WCPC], just to speak on behalf of our historic structures,” she said, noting those efforts were summarily “denied.” “But the Capital Planning Committee is making a recommendation — and the Board of Selectmen can take some of it, all of it, none of it, whatever they decide — so there’s still an opportunity.”

Gilbert & Bennett Building

HDHP commissioners spent most of the meeting discussing the beleaguered G&B building.

Their discussion took place on the eve of the first public forum in which residents can express their thoughts, questions and concerns about the “future of the town-owned historic building.” (The agenda and handout for the BOS special meeting — which is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 11 — is posted on the Town website.)

Fusco has offered a strong point of view on the prospect that Town officials are currently entertaining the idea of selling the property.

“A decision to sell a historically significant municipal asset before fully understanding its condition, obligations and long-term community value would be premature,” Fusco wrote in a Feb. 2 letter to the BOS.

In the letter, Fusco outlined two studies she would like to see provide that fuller understanding — and which she emphasized could be conducted at no cost to Wilton taxpayers, through two state Historic Preservation Enhancement Grants. The studies include:

• “Conditions Assessment”: a preservation specialist would document building conditions, prioritize repairs by urgency, provide cost expectations and potential future repair grants, among other guidance
• “Feasibility Study”: A preservation development consultant would evaluate physical constraints, site considerations, approval processes, and adaptive reuse possibilities

HDHP commissioners voted unanimously to formally request approval from the Board of Selectmen to apply for the HPEG grants.

At the Feb. 2 Board of Selectmen meeting, Fusco pushed back against the notion that the WCPC might be considered to lead a feasibility study.

“I also wanted to say clearly and on the record that I strongly disagree with the suggestion that the feasibility study be assigned to the WCPC,” she said. “This is not about personalities, but scope, expertise and process.”

“The WCPC has not demonstrated a willingness to include historic preservation voices in a meaningful advisory capacity,” Fusco continued. “In my experience, attempts to participate in that role have been resisted. A feasibility study concerning a historically significant municipal asset requires preservation knowledge, understanding of historic buildings, stewardship and evaluation through the lens of long term cultural and community value. For that reason, the only body appropriately suited to guide or oversee this work is the Historic District & Historic Properties Commission.”

Fusco says the due diligence from the two proposed studies would represent “best practices for public assets of this nature” and a critical step in “a thoughtful and informed process before the Town considers relinquishing control of an important historic asset.”

At the same time, Fusco also believes the BOS should not wait to proceed with a plan for the urgent building repairs and mold remediation work.

“The Town must also recognize its stewardship responsibility and plan for baseline stabilization and preservation repairs to prevent further deterioration while future decisions are considered,” she wrote in her Feb. 2 letter. “Addressing these immediate needs… ensures the property is responsibly maintained while the Town conducts the due diligence necessary to evaluate long-term options.”

Fusco ended the HDHPC meeting with a positive note for G&B supporters.

“I do want to thank everybody that’s listening that has an interest in this beautiful property. I would encourage everybody to come [to the Feb. 11 BOS special meeting] if you can, or watch by Zoom,” she said. “Hopefully we’ll have a path forward for this beautiful building.”