Preparations underway at former armory

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The former National Guard Armory on Rubber Avenue. –REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

NAUGATUCK — Borough officials are preparing the former armory on Rubber Avenue for its next life.

The state conveyed the 3.5 acre former U.S. Army National Guard Armory site at 607 Rubber Ave. to the borough, which officially took possession of the land and building last November.

The Board of Mayor and Burgesses last month awarded a contract to Plantsville-based Gugliotti Associates, Inc. for $12,750 to repair and refinish the gymnasium floor in the armory.

The floor was damaged two years ago during a large snow storm when the state called in the National Guard for assistance in cleaning the snow, Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess said. The National Guard parked vehicles in the gym, and the melting snow and salt damaged the floor, he said.

Hess said the work on the floor is expected to wrap up soon and the gymnasium will be ready for use this month.

In addition, the borough is working toward moving the Parks and Recreation Department into the building, Hess said.

“Right now we are preparing the offices for use, which includes bringing in phone lines, computers, Wi-Fi, painting, and cleaning it up,” Hess said.

Those offices are also expected to be open this month.

Looking a little farther into the future, Hess said, the building might be used by the borough’s youth organizations.

“We are also looking at some recreational uses by the Naugatuck Youth Services. So that will be the next thing we will be exploring,” Hess said.

The property must be used for recreational, parking or educational purposes, according to the deed.

Hess said the plans for the former armory will evolve over time.

“We can accomplish all of those uses without spending any additional money. So we intend to occupy it, use it, evaluate what we are going to do with the rest of the building and determine the most prudent economical way to utilize the entire building,” Hess said.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Not so fast Skidlee, Beacon Falls not only buys properties without a clear plan they take valuable land and put solar panels on it. Both towns run by incompetent democrats!

  2. Most towns purchase land/property after they know what it’s to be utilized for. Not Naugatuck!