A developer based in Boston wants to move forward with plans for two former hospital buildings in Newtown. Those plans call for new apartments and stores at the former psychiatric hospital campus known as Fairfield Hills, that has been vacant for decades. But before those plans get final approval, both state and federal regulators want the entire history of the property… which is currently owned by the town and on the State Register of Historic Places… fully documented. The property is about to also gain federal recognition on the National Register of Historic Places. Compliance would not only gain approval for the development, but it would also qualify the developer for as much as $10 million in federal tax credits.
A lot of development is anticipated in the new year in Danbury. Projects include new apartments at the Danbury west side office complex known as the Summit, along with a new office building in the downtown on Main Street. The Summit project alone means 180 new apartments will be available this coming spring, with another 180 apartments to follow later this year. Additionally, about 200 apartments could become a reality at Danbury Fair mall as part of its plans to reinvent itself. There are also plans for apartments, offices, and new stores on Mill Plain Road. The old state courthouse in Danbury is also slated for restoration.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and its partners are encouraging folks to get outside on New Year’s Day. Here in Connecticut, in-person and self-guided hikes and programs will be offered at 17 state park and forest locations, including Southford Falls State Park in Southbury. Most of the outings average one to two miles, but can be longer depending on the location Visit the DEEP Calendar of Events at https://www.depdata.ct.gov/calendar for full details.
Photo: Newtown Police Department
Police in Newtown have released an official statement regarding the arrest of Meghan Gouveia, who was arrested following a shooting incident that involved an adult male. Police say they will not release the identity of the victim, and as of last report, he remained in stable condition. There were two children present at the time of the shooting. The children were not physically injured, and the children are healthy and safe in the care of family members. The police department is aware of social media posts made by Gouveia that caused concern, but they say there is no credibility and there are no active criminal investigations into any of those allegations.
A bomb scare on Christmas Day in Wilton has resulted in the arrest of a man from Norwalk. 33 year old Clifton Allison is now charged with second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree breach of peace for the incident that took place on Monday at his former workplace, ASML on Danbury Road. Police say they got a call from security there around 3pm on Christmas Day, about someone who brought a bunch of bags into the building and then left in an Uber. Allison was identified as the man with the bags, as he was a former employee of ASML. The bags turned out to be nothing after the bomb squad was called in. Allison denied doing it, but he was arrested later when he returned to the building on Monday night after 10:30. He was in court on Tuesday, and at last word was being held on $10,000 bond.