GREENWICH, CT — The deadline to submit bids for the redevelopment of the historic Havemeyer Building in downtown Greenwich is quickly approaching.
Originally set for Nov. 15 at 11 a.m., the deadline was moved to Dec. 20, First Selectman Fred Camillo said last week during the updates portion of the Board of Selectmen meeting.
“We should have some really, pretty good and strong responses to that,” Camillo said. “That should be helpful to the Board of Education and to the 63,000-plus residents of Greenwich that would love to see that building returned to the people and enhanced and fixed up.”
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The Havemeyer Building at 290 Greenwich Ave. houses the town Board of Education, and it has deteriorated over the years.
Sugar magnate Henry O. Havemeyer and his wife Louisine funded the construction of a school at the site, and work was completed in 1894, according to a report from the advisory committee on the Havemeyer Building.
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The committee was tasked with identifying, evaluating and recommending potential options for the future use of the structure and its site.
The building served as an elementary school, hosted high school classes, and has housed the Greenwich Board of Education and school district’s central administrative offices since 1948.
The basement is 17,736 square feet, the first floor is 17,729 square feet, and the second floor is 13,598 square feet. The attic sits at 3,457 square feet.
According to the RFP, which was originally issued on July 24, “The town is looking for a developer who will provide a high-quality vision and commercial proposal for the redevelopment and long-term use of this property. The town encourages respondents to submit creative proposals that generate strong activities and meaningful community uses, that together will benefit the town of Greenwich and the residents of Greenwich.”
The town also noted it would be “beneficial” to provide sufficient parking for the site and for the public.
“These proposals should capture the historic significance of the building and its architecture, consider new additions or enhancements that are compatible with the existing building and immediate site, and conform to the existing surrounding area and neighborhoods,” the town added.
Camillo has said that “time is of the essence” to move the school staff out of the aging building and he’s argued that it doesn’t make sense for the BOE to stay in a deteriorating structure that’s smack in the middle of Greenwich Avenue in the business, commercial and entertainment district.
There have been several attempts over the years to move school staff out of the building.
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