Putnam Armory pg 6 2-18-10
- Details
- Category: Past Issues
captions, from top middle, clockwise:
(inside) Fresh cinder blocks where a Guard truck accidentally hit the wall outside.
Scoreboard
(inside) Side entrance
Mechanisms for opening upper gym windows
Furnace room
Parking lot through vandalized window glass.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- The former National Guard Armory will be getting an intensive look-see this week and if all goes well, the proposal for the town to acquire the property from the state will move forward again.
The 3.56-acre property between the elementary school and Murphy Park was declared surplus property by the state and is now in the conveyance process. The town of Putnam, which gave the property to the state for an armory in 1956, has the option of buying back the property for about $500 in legal fees, according to Town Administrator Douglas M. Cutler.
A week ago, the Board of Finance asked that an environmental study be done on the property. The survey would determine what environmental concerns might remain at the property and how much remediation costs might add to the purchase "price."
Cutler said the town has asked CME Engineering of Woodstock to conduct a Phase II survey which involves looking at all the records connected with the building. Eagle Environmental will be looking at the building and property itself this week, checking for asbestos, lead and other environmental concerns.
"They will find out the nature of the work and how much environmental corrections might cost, if needed," Cutler said. When all the numbers are known and the town decides whether it's worth whatever the bottom line cost would be, a town meeting would be needed to approve the purchase. Cutler added that it might be possible to obtain grants to handle any environmental concerns left at the building and for rehabilitation.
An open house at the armory Feb. 13 drew about 50 people. Joseph Balesano, of the military department's property office, said the above-ground fuel tank for fueling vehicles for the Connecticut Army National Guard's 250th Engineers, bridge building unit, was removed when the guard moved out about two years ago.
He added that no maintenance work, not even truck oil changes, was done when the Guard was there.
An underground 5,000-gallon fuel oil tank was replaced about 15 years ago, Balesano said. At that time "remediation" work was done and all the asbestos insulation around piping was replaced. Balesano added that an alarm system was added to the oil heat system then. The roof was replaced five years ago.
Until 9-11, Balesano said, the gym was available for community use. State Rep. Shawn Johnston arranged for the building to be open for public tours. He said he remembers playing football for Putnam High and going into the armory gym during halftime. "They'd put cardboard down on the wood gym floor," he said. The armory gym also hosted basketball games and the scoreboard remains.
Suggestions for the property range from a Town Hall annex to a recreation center to a bigger home for the Putnam Public Library.