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Opinion: Building purchase will lead to a community center for all

September 4, 2018
–
Bob Welsh
Send signed letters to Nancy@NancyOnNorwalk.com

Our community took a huge loss when the Norwalk YMCA closed its doors at the end of 2012. Since that time, Norwalk has lacked a true place where residents could meet, receive programming, and participate in recreation. What the city has been missing is a bonafide community center, and I am determined to see that changed.

To that end, the city is purchasing half of the building located at 98 South Main Street. Doing so gives full ownership of the property to the city. Having complete ownership allows us to do three things. First, it ensures this vital property in South Norwalk will not be turned over to developers or for-profit corporations. Second, it allows the city to make much-needed code improvements and beautification efforts to the property. Third, it provides an opportunity for a new nonprofit agency to take the lead as a new community center for Norwalk. I am committed to bringing this resource back to our city that must, among other things, deliver a range of services for free or low-cost, and be accessible to all people regardless of their background, income, or immigration status.

While residents may have heard the city is paying $500,000 for the property and the needed facility improvements, what is often left off is where this money is coming from. The funds are part of the $3.5 million that General Growth Properties (GGP) paid to the city. GGP originally planned to include a hotel as part of the SoNo Collection – the mall project directly off Interstate 95 – but that portion of the project was later scrapped. To invest in and provide benefit to South Norwalk, GGP gave these funds to the city to use as it sees fit. To me, using a portion of these funds directly for community programming, education, and involvement in South Norwalk is a wise investment.

The project likely could not be accomplished without the GGP funds. Having this money provides a real opportunity for Norwalk. Now is time to move forward together for the benefit of our community and for those who need it most. In the coming months, the city will be issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to attract a large, community service-oriented agency (think YMCA or Boys & Girls Club of America) to run the building, match our financial investment in the property, and deliver a range of services to the community. I am excited to see the responses we get from the RFQ, but more so, excited about the future of this property. I know having a real community center in South Norwalk will create a lasting impact on the lives of countless people in our city. When finished, we can all be proud of the beautiful new facility and the effect it has in our community.

 

Harry Rilling

Mayor

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Comments

22 responses to “Opinion: Building purchase will lead to a community center for all”

  1. Lisa Brinton Thomson

    Does anyone seriously believe the mayor actually wrote this? Nope, I think this is courtesy of your taxpayer dollars, with political spin, courtesy of the asst mayor or her PR assistant, who by the way should be writing grants – or will that be done by the mayor’s hand picked SoNoCC board?

  2. U.S. Blues

    I agree with Lisa… NO WAY in hell did rilling write this.

    Harry… tick tock… you’re gone soon.

  3. Michael Foley

    The City should maintain full ownership of this building and not allow any tenant to let the building get run down again.

  4. Mitch Adis

    We could have saved $300,000+ by waiting a few months. Just like we did with NEON. What was the rush in this case? Looks like we just paid for some of Harry’s votes.

  5. Rick

    never a word about the churches who are going great things in South Norwalk with no city money it truly is ignoring and showing disrespect towards all the clergy Deacons and board members who constantly work with the youth elderly and disabled every day in South Norwalk .

    Yes make it better please start with those who work at it every day first, outsiders for profit is not what South Norwalk needs right now.

    The old Y its been reported kids are living in it whats that tell you about what city hall knows, dozens of kids weeks ago were found inside hanging around.

    Doesn’t it seem odd GGP sold its mall and no one has even mentioned it? Whats Norwalk in for now ? Cant wonder wht the RDA and The mayors have been planning.

    Be nice if anyone had a clue whats going on in this city.

  6. Tysen Canevari

    Mo Vaughn should return to Norwalk and buy the YMCA and make it a youth center for the kids in Norwalk. Maybe call it the Leroy Vaughn Youth Center in honor of his dad. Just a thought

  7. Rayj

    The old YMCA was mis-managed is why they left. Don’t give them a nice new building to run into the ground and leave again

  8. Mike Mushak

    I’m looking forward to getting our community center back up and running again in SoNo where I live. It was tragic what happened to NEON through years of mismanagement. Thank you Mayor Rilling for fixing this.

    As to the petty accusation that Mayor Rilling didn’t write this, a charge made with no evidence, all I can say to my friend Lisa is maybe it’s tome to take a vacation and give it a break.

    Editor’s note: Due to a bug in NoN’s comments system, this comment originally went into the trash.

  9. Michael Foley

    YMCA property has been purchased by Norwalk Hospital .

  10. Mike Mushak

    I’m looking forward to having a community center again in our diverse community of South Norwalk, offering much-needed social services and activities in a non-religious setting.

    The many churches in the neighborhood are also doing a great job too with their outreach and youth programs, but having our city-owned community center run by a local church as some have been pushing for over the last few years was never a good idea for many reasons, including separation of church and state for starters.

    Thank you Mayor Rilling and the Common Council for fixing this huge mess. It’s great to see good things happening around the city including this.

  11. Pros & Cons

    Time for a new era of social services and programs for ALL Norwalkers. @ Rick History lesson: Back in the day St. Joseph’s Church was one of the major resources for Latino community and church assets/property part of the original 98 South Main deal. Who remembers what UHAN stands for? And reminder that the City supports additional community services and programs at Ben Franklin School.

  12. Alan

    Why is the City buying back a building it gave to the agencies in the first place? Sounds fishy to me. The first step should be to determine if the building is worth $200K in repairs.

  13. Piberman

    The idea that City Hall had to wait nearly a dozen years for funding a SoNo center to replace the Y until GGP showed up is just preposterous. But this is Norwalk where City Hall has problems implementing modern business management skills. And there’s an election coming up.

  14. Lori Kydes

    I have been posting the original proclamation on the deeded property which the now closed YMCA sits on. I have also suggested that anyone who truly loved Norwalk and what the YMCA was and still could be get together and discuss. I am not sure Nancy if I can post the proclamation here if you could advise on this? Much more that mismanagement plagued the Y until its demise. I do this in honor of my Uncle Johnny Johns whom many including Pat Spinola, Mayor Rilling I am sure remember fondly. He was the face of the Y and helped many go to college around sports and physical education and was tireless.

  15. Lori Kydes

    I do not wish to cast stones or speak against anyone. Just truly see that this was a big part of the heart of Norwalk for the disabled, the elderly, the athlete, the indigent or those just on the edge and the wealthy. It encompassed all, and it was beautiful in that spirit.

  16. Lisa Brinton Thomson

    Mike, You know that saying, “The Emperor Has No Clothes.” It’s a political term when an obvious truth is denied, despite the evidence. Our emperor, is hastily racking up some real winners: SonoCC, Ms. King’s raise, the Innovation District, POKO and let’s not forget the Walk Bridge.

    Five years of silence in office and NOW he’s found his voice? The mayor, or whoever wrote this latest op-ed can put as much spin on it as they want – but residents are finally waking up to this administration’s charade.

  17. JP. Joe

    All this administration knows how to do is spin and not even good at doing it right, what a shame, Norwalk deserves better than this.

  18. U.S. Blues

    Run Lisa Run

  19. Mitch Adis

    So, half of the build is worth $300k. The building is in need of $200k of repairs. If they own half of the equity then don’t they own half of the repair cost? My math says deduct $100k from their half and only pay $200k if anything at all.

  20. Non Partisan

    Great spin- why not use the whole 3.5 million as a down payment on the new school we are building ) you know- the one with the multi million dollar tennis courts)

    This would-
    1 reduce taxpayer burden
    2- reduce debt need to finance the school and have a return on investment every year

  21. Rick

    The city has done damage to both the Zion and French Baptist churches , to a point where one may have to close its doors.

    Attack one church its like attacking all of them.

    Challenge me on what has gone on during the Spinnaker takeover and Ryan park fiasco.

    run by a local church or churches ? only an insider could possibly know what has gone on, this was never made public.

    St Joes separation of church and state for starters is a good example its in the courts now. The church has done well since the blowup on Firetree. Guess the Zion church looks real good to To paved paradise
    And put up a parking lot

    They along with the city jumped in Firetee’s pool without checking first if there waa water.

    Here is the proof our religious community has been attacked/

  22. Hector Delgado

    Is the City planning on auditing the books of the South Norwalk Community Center before giving them
    $ 300K

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