NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com.
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Regarding the letter from Sheila Grow and Jackie Fucigna against the renovation at 112 Main Street, I find it necessary to respond.
As the manager of 112 Main Street I believe Sheila Grow and Jackie Fucigna are engaged in potentially hurtful mischief.
Where should I start? Let’s look at just the first four paragraphs of their letter.
- In the first paragraph they say the restoration project has “broad implications for New Canaan’s downtown Village District…will set a precedent that holds the potential to forever change the beloved and unique village atmosphere of New Canaan.”
Wow. But wait. The request only relates to the 112 Main St building which has a very unique building lot and is unlike any other building in the Downtown district. And its top floor is set back so it does not appear taller at all.
Plus the renovation of this 1880 building will actually restore the beloved and unique village atmosphere of New Canaan. The current building has an aluminum exterior that does not fit in at all. The opposite of what they claim is true.
- In the second paragraph they write: “we urge concerned parties to email the Town Planner… requesting P&Z to allow more time for the public to weigh in on the long-term impact that approval of this development.”
Wow. They ask people to request a delay. But Sheila and Jackie don’t want a delay; they just want to kill the project since delays will kill the project. And they admit that.
And by omission, they suggest the town has not looked into this project and therefore it should be delayed. But the town has looked into the project and does not require more time.
This paragraph also suggests they are open-minded (“hey, we’re just asking for a common sense delay”) but how could they possibly have an interest in a delay when they also state they want to kill the project? The two are mutually exclusive. They freely admit much later in their letter their desire is to kill the project. And this is not their first attempt to kill the renovation. This time they “conveniently” ask for delays instead of asking to kill the project because they know delays are equivalent to killing the project.
In my opinion, asking people to unwittingly kill the project by selling them on the idea of just asking them to support delays is dis-genuine and terrible.
- In the third paragraph they suggest the renovation includes residences facing the Downtown district’s street level. Simply not true. The first floor is retail like everywhere else downtown.
They claim that the renovation will drastically change New Canaan. But the restoration fits into the New Canaan traditional brick style. It is the opposite of what they claim since the building currently has an aluminum exterior that does not fit in. No, it will not drastically change New Canaan.
And no, it will not end all life on planet earth either. Such hyperbole.
- In paragraph four they correctly agree that the restoration would beautify the Downtown district but then say it would be “…a precedent-setting four-story luxury rental…”
Hmmm. No. The first story is street retail like all buildings in the Downtown district. The new building would also match the look of most buildings. Why lie? And why did they use the term “Luxury”? The building will be very nice but it will include affordable housing for regular people such as firemen.
Oh, I could go on. Most paragraphs were like this. The deceit works as follows: You attribute or suggest a falsehood to a project you oppose, then you oppose your own BS in order to discredit the project.
As the manager of 112 Main Street I believe these two people, by writing this terrible letter, are up to no good.
But the saddest thing about the letter is the potential harm it could inflict on our town. The renovation project is a nice opportunity. Let me explain.
As the manager, I have looked at ways to improve the building. It needs a refresh. Although some very minor cosmetic improvements are feasible, ridding the building of its ugly aluminum siding requires a major renovation. But that is beyond my personal and financial abilities. The current developer who wants to restore the property is the only one to come along in many many years.
If this project fails, myself and my successors may not ever be able to renovate the 112 Main Street building.
I believe more delays will likely kill the project thus killing this opportunity to improve the downtown.
How sad it would be for New Canaan to be swayed by people with limited regard for fair play or true interests is improving New Canaan.
I can only hope the town makes the right decision. My grandfather went to the little red school house. His son, my father, was born in New Canaan. I too was born in New Canaan. I may not live in New Canaan any longer but I want the best for New Canaan and urge all New Canaanites to not get caught up in this terrible mischief.
Sincerely,
David Silverberg
Manager, Downtown New Canaan, LLC
What is their motivation for killing the project? Are they just being nasty people or do they have a personal interest in it? Seems like the town has rules for things like this and they should be followed. Asking people to write letters opposing something seems to just be asking the P&Z board to reconsider something that they may have already approved.