BET Releases Money for New Greenwich Fire HQs

The town is a step closer to breaking ground to build the long-awaited Greenwich Fire headquarters — a project that''s been on the boards for years.

At its monthly meeting Wednesday evening, the Board of Estimate and Taxation unanimously approved the release of the $20 million set aside in Capital Improvement Program Projects money for a new three-story facility to be located at the corner of Mason Street and Havemeyer Place. The building will complete the Greenwich Public Safety Complex which also houses the Greenwich Police Department.

The town's Buildings Superintendent Alan Monelli said Piazza Construction of New York submitted the lowest of 14 bids companies had submitted for the project. Piazza submitted a construction plan at $16.5 million, well below the budgeted $20 million. Work on the site should begin in March, weather permitting, and take 22 months, Monelli said. The remainder of the budgeted money will be set aside as contingency.
 
According to Monelli, the construction plan is to use the limestone facade of the original firehouse built in the 1930s for interior limestone walls. The original medallions window grilles and lights that decorated the original exterior will be incorporated into the new building's exterior that will be built with new limestone and granite, Monelli said. The original stone engravings from the exterior also will be used inside the new building.

Jo Conboy, chair of the Greenwich Preservation Trust, said the new building "is a beautiful rendition of the original building."

Once construction is completed, the fire department administrators will be relocated from leased office space at 75 Holly Hill Ln. into the building as will personnel and equipment now located in a temporary station on Horseneck Lane. The town pays about $200,000 rent for the Holly Hill space.

And Monelli said, the "bridge to nowhere" inside police headquarters will finally be completed, providing a walkway connecting the police and fire departments.