Waterford ― Farmington-based developer Mark Steiner, who said Monday he’s poured millions into a nearly three-decades-long battle to purchase the former Seaside Regional Center at 36 Shore Road and make it a housing development, has sued the state to try to stop the demolition of several historic buildings on the property.

The lawsuit was filed March 14 in Hartford Superior Court.

In it, Steiner claims the state, which abandoned Seaside in 1997, failed to maintain several of the site’s historic buildings, which caused them to decay over more than two decades. As part of a Department of Energy and Environmental Protection project, those buildings are now slated for demolition.

“Water infiltration and exposure to the elements has caused the deterioration of several architectural and structural components of the historic buildings, which was accelerated by the subsequent vandalism that occurred and continues to occur because of neglect by the state,” the lawsuit said.

Back in 2010, the state Department of Public Works announced it would sell the property to Steiner for $8 million. It took 18 months after that to draft a contract between him and the state, he recalled Monday. During that time, he had obtained a zone change from the town for the 36-acre site that would allow him to renovate the buildings for housing development.

“We got the zoning,” he said. “The town was very happy and supported it, because what we were talking about was restoring the buildings and adding some residential housing. It would be all upscale.”

He said the state was “thrilled” with the plan.

“And what we said to the DEEP is ― we’ll build this waterfront park for you and we’ll maintain it,” Steiner added.

He explained that when the state had offered up the property to various state agencies in the 2000s, DEEP had been the only one interested, but only wanted to create a walkway along the water, not use the entire property.

But Steiner’s dream shattered in 2014 when, in a move many decried as a political gambit, former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced the state would terminate its contract with Steiner in favor of designating Seaside as a state park. DEEP presented a master plan for Seaside State Park in 2016, which included renovating the site’s main building as a 100-room lodge.

In February 2023, DEEP changed its plan and announced it would use $7.1 million in American Rescue Act Plan funds to carry out a “passive park” plan for Seaside. DEEP released the plan on March 14, the same day Steiner filed his lawsuit. The DEEP plan calls for “the removal of deteriorated buildings,” along with new restrooms, picnic areas and walking trails and improvements to the shoreline and parking areas.

The passive park would also include “historic interpretive elements honoring the architecture and historic use of the site,” according to the status update. No work has yet been done to the site, because the state Department of Administrative Services is in the process of selecting an engineering firm for that project.

Paul Copleman, a spokesperson for DEEP, declined to comment by phone Monday to Steiner’s claims of state negligence in taking care of the site, but issued the following statement:

“Since the pandemic, demand for outdoor recreation and access to Connecticut State Parks is at an all-time high, so it is disappointing to hear of this complaint being filed asserting that selling this public treasure is a ‘prudent’ option,” he wrote.

“As the steward of this park, with its beautiful views of Long Island Sound,” he added, “DEEP is committed to protecting the public’s use and enjoyment of this shoreline jewel. We will continue to be thoughtful and transparent as we work to implement the Passive Park Concept at Seaside State Park.”

But Steiner, who claimed in his lawsuit that five buildings would be demolished to complete the new park, disagreed. He doesn’t think razing buildings that contributed to Seaside’s 1995 National Register of Historic Places listing constitutes preservation.

“If the state is not ordered to preserve the historic buildings at Seaside at this time, the continuing damage and destruction will unreasonably destroy the public trust in these historic building and the destruction will be irreparable,” the lawsuit says.

DEEP declined to say what specific buildings would be demolished. Steiner said buildings that would be demolished include the main Stephen J. Maher building, Nurses’ Residence, Superintendent’s Residence, and Duplex House, all contributing resources to the national register, and a maintenance building, which is not.

All four of the National Register buildings were designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert.

Marjorie Pearson, vice president of the Cass Gilbert Society, a nonprofit founded in 1998 to promote education and appreciation for Gilbert’s architectural work, said Seaside was one of his last projects before he died of a heart attack in England. She called it one of his more unusual works. It is one of only two hospitals Gilbert ever designed; the other is in Oberlin, Ohio.

“I know people like Steiner have put up various proposals to reuse it, but it’s not the easiest thing to do,” she said.

Steiner, who spent months with architects and engineers when he was attempting renovate the property, agreed that doing so would be more difficult than building new. But that’s still his goal, and not just because he has sunk “millions” into the project.

“A number of people ― family members ― have suggested just walking away from it,” he said. “There is no remedy. Once they tear those buildings down, they lose some of the most significant buildings in the United States.”

d.drainville@theday.com