Operation Hope outlines plan to combine two Fairfield properties into single facility at 554 Tungsten Hill Road

Operation Hope presented plans on April 9 to the Fairfield Historic District Commission to consolidate its operations into a single facility at 554 Tungsten Hill Road, combining a former DOT garage parcel with the Saint Michael's Episcopal Church annex.

Jack Merbau, building committee chair for Operation Hope, told the commission that "as of February 2026, we have purchased the property," that the group has completed a survey and both Phase I and Phase II environmental studies that came back "pretty positive," and that the organization has hired architect Bill Serone and commissioned a traffic study. Merbau said the project would demolish the DOT garage and the church annex and attach two buildings with a connector to create a new consolidated facility.

The commission emphasized process and context. Chair Christina Negron advised Merbau that "when you have perhaps the design of the connector... you can submit it as a certificate of appropriateness, but, ideally, it might work best in your interest to do a pre-application" so the commission can review formal plans and advise whether elements will work on a locally designated property. Commissioners asked for in-situ renderings showing the new massing attached to the church to aid visual review.

Merbau said the proposed structure would seek a height allowance of up to four stories (or 52 feet) and that "the variance could take anywhere from 4 to 12 months," creating urgency to vacate Operation Hope's current leased spaces. He also noted operational details important to neighbours and the commission: Operation Hope currently operates an office and food pantry at 636 Old Post Road and an outreach and community kitchen at 50 Nicholl Street, and "Operation Hope ceases all their operations at 06:30 Monday through Friday and doesn't operate on Saturdays and Sundays." He told commissioners the organization plans neighbor outreach to explain buffers, noise control and other mitigations.

Commission members and at least one board member affiliated with First Church sought clarity about services and site specifics. A board member asked whether existing services "food, pantry, storage, living, things like that" would be preserved; Merbau answered, "absolutely" and that "everything is going to be included." The discussion also clarified which brick garage building and parcel the project would affect; Merbau described the target as an old brick building near a nearby car wash and confirmed the team understood the parcel.

Merbau said Operation Hope has engaged demolition and design planning, is exploring bids and that the building committee includes members with construction and banking experience. He also reported the organization is conducting a search for a permanent executive director, noting they have interviewed many candidates and hope to narrow finalists by early June.

No formal vote or development approvals were taken at the April 9 pre-application meeting. The commission asked the applicant to return with formalized drawings, including context-sensitive renderings, and said staff would advise whether a certificate of appropriateness or a full pre-application would be the best route once plans are complete. A motion to adjourn was made near the meeting’s close; the transcript provided does not record a formal roll-call vote on that motion.

Next steps: Operation Hope is expected to provide detailed design drawings and in-situ renderings for the commission’s review and to follow the commission’s guidance on whether to submit a certificate of appropriateness or a formal pre-application.