EDC Says Coogan Farm Housing Plan Would Be Good For Town

The Economic Development Commission will hold a special public information session at 7 p.m., Thursday Nov. 17 at at the Mystic Middle School for BROM Builders to present its plans for the development of a . 

The meeting will also include a question and answer period with the developer.  

According to a press release issued by the commission Thursday, the Economic Development Commission “projects a significantly positive economic impact for the Town, with employment upon completion for over 125 people and new property tax revenue of over $400,000 per year.   During construction a significant number of local tradesmen would be employed.”

Additionally, “Stonington would become a regional center for market rate, senior assisted living, with over 550 units between BROM’s facility and .  In market rate senior housing, occupancy fees are not subsidized.  BROM's facility with a significant memory care and assisted living component would complement the Stoneridge facility, which is fully occupied, by offering seniors another long-term care option.”

The release said units in BROM’s facility “will be rented on a monthly, market-rate basis.  Units in Stoneridge require an up front admission payment/investment of at least $193,000 plus a monthly market-rate rent.   BROM’s facility is being positioned to serve less affluent senior citizens, a market segment with substantial demand.”

BROM, based in Norwich, “is a family owned construction company and is very interested in getting feedback from the community.”

BROM will partner on the construction of the facility with a national contractor, the release said.   The operator will be Morningside House, a privately held company with senior living facilities in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida.  Upon completion, the new facility would likely become Stonington’s second largest taxpayer behind the Stoneridge senior living facility.  

In July BROM signed a contract to purchase the 18 acre site, which is part of an undeveloped 63 acre site across the street from .  The entire 63 acres has been listed for sale for several years for $7.5 million dollars.  In September, the , in a letter to First Selectman Ed Haberek, stated its interest in organizing a purchase of the entire 63 acres so that it could be preserved as open space.  The Nature Center’s letter noted that financial support from the Town would be required and suggested that bonds be issued to fund a portion of the purchase price, the release said.

The Inland Wetlands Commission is considering an application for the subdivision of the 63 acres into an 18 acre lot for BROM’s senior living facility.  Access would be from Clara Drive across from McQuades Market.   

The application includes an open space donation of 11 of the 63 acres to the Denison Society.  The 11 acres of open space requires no financial support or bonding by the Town (see map in photo box) and the 11 acres are contiguous to open space lands already owned by the Denison Society.   Most of the 63 acres is zoned RM-15 (moderate density residential) and is served by municipal sewer and water.  BROM’s proposed use of the 18 acres is allowed by special permit under a section of the Town’s zoning regulations adopted in 2000 to facilitate the construction of Stoneridge, the release said.