Committee recommends library leases for Danbury Hackerspace and New American Dream Center after broad community support

The Committee of the Whole for the Danbury City Council on March 31 recommended that the full council approve two leases for space in the Danbury Public Library: a temporary occupancy for the Danbury Hackerspace and a lease for the New American Dream Foundation to locate a New American Dream Center inside the library.

Why it matters: Dozens of nonprofit and library leaders told the committee the center would expand access to immigration assistance, translation and referral services, and other wraparound supports for Danbury’s large immigrant population. The recommended leases would place the New American Dream Center in two interior rooms (the old SCORE office and an adjacent conference room) and allow the organization to operate during library hours.

Multiple speakers representing area service providers described the center’s recent impact. “Relocating the center to the Danbury Public Library will offer the necessary space for essential services and facilitate easier access to clients,” said Susan Gillio, executive director of Families Network of Western Connecticut. Elke Calderoswine, a forensic clinician and prevention director at MCCA, said the foundation provided “rapid response” assistance in sensitive legal and housing cases. Katie Pearson, Danbury Public Library director, said the partnership aligns with the library’s strategic plan and helps remove barriers such as transportation and language.

Committee members discussed lease details before voting. Councilman Rotello said he supported the proposals but raised a concern about the city offering below-market rent and waiving utilities, suggesting future tenants should share utility costs. Taylor O’Brien, the mayor’s chief of staff, said the New American Dream Center would occupy a small office and an adjoining conference room and that the center would follow library hours; he also said the ad hoc process had determined the nonprofit had been in long talks to occupy the space.

Councilman Coelho asked whether the city had sought competing applications for the space; O’Brien said no competing applications were known and that the administration had continued talks already underway. The committee added cleaning fees to the license agreement; specific annual utility costs were not specified at the meeting.

Votes and outcome: Councilwoman Lapine moved to accept the ad hoc recommendation for the Danbury Hackerspace lease; the committee voted unanimously to recommend the hackerspace lease to the full council. A separate motion to recommend approval of the New American Dream Foundation lease carried with a majority of ayes and one recorded nay from Councilman Coelho.

Next steps: The committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the full Danbury City Council for a final vote at a subsequent meeting.