NAUGATUCK — Republican mayoral candidate Tamath Rossi discussed her plan for the former Naugatuck Armory.
“We have an opportunity to turn the Naugatuck Armory into a multi-use facility that will improve customer service to our community, provide efficiencies for public safety operations, save infrastructure investment and add to our tax rolls,” Rossi said in a press release.
Rossi, who is currently deputy mayor, is one of three candidates in a Republican primary for mayor. The Republican Town Committee’s endorsed candidate is Seth Bronko. Burgess Alex Olbrys is also in the primary.
Two former National Guard Armory buildings sit on a 3.5-acre parcel at 607 Rubber Ave. The National Guard stopped using the facility about five years ago. The state approved conveying the land back to Naugatuck earlier this year. Borough officials are reviewing it.
Rossi said, in the press release, she wants to relocate the Park Department, alternative education classrooms at the former Naugatuck Visiting Nurses Association building and Naugatuck Youth Services to the armory. She said she wants to create a public safety emergency operations center and a multi-use community center at the armory. She added the armory could also be used to provide training facility space for the police and fire departments.
Once youth services and alternative education classes have been moved, Rossi said, the buildings currently being used would be sold to get them back on the tax rolls. She added that options for the Park Department property would also be explored.
The value of the three properties adds up to over $1.2 million, according to land records, the release stated.
