Stonington School Administration Building being considered for new uses
Mystic — The Stonington Facilities Committee is beginning to consider possible uses for the former School Administration Building in Old Mystic, including senior housing and a senior center.
With the move of district administrative staff to the Pawcatuck Middle School building, the committee is looking at ways to reuse the School Administration Building as well as the closed West Broad Street School in Pawcatuck.
Committee Chairman Paul Sartor told the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday that the town is continuing to work on a proposed lease for West Broad Street School by St. Michael School in Pawcatuck.
With that underway, Sartor said the committee has turned its attention to the School Administration Building and has been brainstorming ideas about its future use. He said committee members view the property as a way to provide additional community services.
He said the committee has met with the Stonington Housing Authority, which operates the K. Richmond Homes housing project in Pawcatuck, and they proposed building up to 28 one-story units of elderly housing in seven buildings on the four-acre site that has frontage on North Stonington Road and Route 184.
The building itself would be preserved for other uses under this plan.
Sartor said the committee also has reached out to Leanne Theodore, the town’s human services director, to see if the building could be reused as a community center or senior center.
Sartor pointed out the town has neither of those facilities but relies on organizations such as the Stonington Community center, the YMCA, the school system and Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center to provide such services.
Sartor said the building also provides an opportunity to have such services in a different section of town.
“We’re very excited these organizations within the town could find uses for the property, which could provide value to the citizens of the town of Stonington,” he told the Board of Selectmen.
Sartor stressed the committee is in the very preliminary stages of exploring options for the school administration property.
“Nothing is a done deal,” he said.
Sartor said the committee plans to speak to neighbors around the building and hold a meeting and open house at the building this fall to hear what they have to say.
“We want to let the people most impacted to provide their input,” he said.
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