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Historical Commission backs Smith Street Jail renovation, refers recommended bidder to Land Use
Summary
The Norwalk Historical Commission reviewed four bids for the long‑planned Smith Street Jail interior renovation, eliminated an unqualified low bidder, and voted to recommend the project and the qualified low bidder, Titan Enterprises, to the Land Use Committee for approval.
The Norwalk Historical Commission voted April 22 to recommend approval of the Smith Street Jail interior renovation and to refer the project and a recommendation to award the contract to Titan Enterprises to the city’s Land Use Committee.
Commissioners reviewed four bids submitted for the project and discussed floor plans and preservation measures. Facilities Management and Purchasing had flagged the lowest bid (VVV Industries, $381,721) as not qualified; with that bidder removed from consideration, Titan Enterprises submitted the lowest qualified proposal at $478,000, the commission’s materials show.
The renovation will convert one former cell to a mechanical room to house heating, cooling and electrical systems, preserve historic prisoner graffiti behind protective sheeting and rebuild the main stair to meet building code. The second floor will be left largely as open gallery space with climate‑controlled collection storage and an ADA‑accessible restroom. Commissioners discussed the project timeline and budget, noting prior exterior restoration work on the jail and related site improvements funded largely by grants and insurance with a limited city contribution.
“This has been in process since 2010,” a commissioner said during discussion, adding the group’s desire to complete the project after years of deferred work. Staff and Facilities Management recommended Titan based on city references; commissioners voiced confidence that the qualified bidder could complete the work. The commission’s vote to recommend the bid and refer the item to Land Use was recorded as unanimous on the call.
Next steps: the Land Use Committee is expected to review the recommendation; if it approves, the item will move to the Common Council for final authorization before a contract is executed and construction begins.
Details from the commission’s presentation and the bid review will be posted with the Land Use referral materials when the item is scheduled.
