Middletown committee hears options to save former St. John School as redevelopment stalls

The Middletown Economic Development Committee heard detailed testimony Sept. 10 about the fragile state of the former St. John School, with residents and preservation advocates urging steps to stabilize the 1887 building while longer-term redevelopment options are explored.

Chair Vinny Lucreta opened the meeting by calling for information rather than decisions and asked those with knowledge of the property to brief the committee. Jim Cahill, a Middletown resident and alumnus of St. John’s, described a building that has been closed since 2010 and is suffering from “the roof needs replacement,” damaged upper floors and “bricks falling on the North Main Street side,” adding the parish is spending “upwards of $20,000 plus just to keep it standing.” Cahill said the parish is operating in the red and cannot absorb ongoing maintenance costs.

Peter Harding, who has worked on housing projects with the diocese, summarized earlier redevelopment efforts. He said Columbus House presented a 2023 plan that had roughly $5 million committed but left a financing gap of about $3 million to $3.5 million, which prevented the project from moving forward. Harding noted the team had previously explored combining the school and adjacent parish property to increase unit counts and financial feasibility.

Preservation advocate Renee Travera, representing Preservation Connecticut, urged exploring state historic preservation options and said the State Historic Preservation Office offers a bricks-and-mortar matching grant program that can provide up to $200,000 for repair and maintenance. “You could approach the matching grant,” Travera said, and noted the program is highly competitive and typically requires plans and a formal application.

Committee members and staff compared the proposal to a prior conversion in New London, which they said cost about $9.9 million around 2015; speakers cautioned that inflation and current funding competition would increase costs for a similar project today. The group discussed short-term options, including using the building as a warming center if brought up to code, but speakers said the fire marshal has deemed the site uninhabitable and that initial stabilization — heating, insurance and targeted repairs — could cost on the order of $20,000–$30,000.

The committee agreed to follow up with Department of Housing staff (Mary Ellen) and the Columbus House contact Karl Rodenheiser to see whether immediate stabilization funding or grant applications could be pursued. Chair Lucreta noted limited local economic development funds (less than $100,000) and said any bridge funding would require clear justification and cooperation with the parish and diocesan leadership.

The committee did not vote on any formal action regarding St. John’s at the meeting. Instead, members asked staff to compile preservation guidance and funding options and return with concrete next steps and contacts for potential applicants.

The committee said it will keep the item on future agendas while staff pursues the suggested outreach and grant information.