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Avon council backs exploration of buying 200 Fisher Drive for school central office
Summary
Avon officials reviewed options to relocate the Board of Education central office and gave consensus to advance purchase of 200 Fisher Drive, a 20,908 sq ft building with tenants, pending review by the Board of Finance and a Dec. 10 Special Town Meeting vote.
Avon Town Council members on Sept. 11 reviewed a staff recommendation to purchase 200 Fisher Drive and partially renovate it for use as the Avon Board of Education central office. Town Manager Brandon Robertson said the town negotiated a purchase-and-sale agreement for $2,250,000 and staff estimate total acquisition and initial renovation costs at about $3,187,000.
"The building currently has lessees and we would keep several of them and would provide a revenue stream to offset operating costs for the building," Robertson said while outlining a plan to place rental income in a dedicated special revenue fund. Superintendent Dr. Bridget Carnemolla described persistent health and safety problems at the current central office at 34 Simsbury Road, including asbestos and repeated basement flooding, and said consolidating into a newer facility would reduce operational risk.
Financial staff said a portion of any bond issuance may be taxable because private tenants occupy part of the building, and they presented FY2026 projections showing gross lease payments of about $129,082, net lease revenue of about $119,401 and total projected operating revenue of $153,910 when combined with a BOE contribution. Robertson said closing would occur on or before Jan. 31, 2025 if voters approve the acquisition at a Special Town Meeting planned for Dec. 10, 2024.
Council gave consensus to move the proposal to the Board of Finance for further vetting. The presentation, including detailed cost estimates and revenue projections, will be posted to the Town's website; the council made no formal purchase vote at the Sept. 11 meeting.
