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| Enfield is weighing redevelopment plans for the former Fermi High School Annex, with housing at the center and community spaces like the pool and auditorium set to remain. |
Enfield is considering selling parts — if not all — of Fermi High School, with redevelopment focused on new housing, most likely senior or age-restricted. The town wants to retain some of the building’s facilities, including the pool, auditorium, and meeting spaces, while the sports fields and track would remain town-owned.
This plan is outlined in a request for proposals (RFP) that the Town Council will take up at a special meeting Monday at 6:15 p.m. at Town Hall. [
See Council agenda packet] The
presentation itself.
Pickleball Courts and Hidden Motives
The timing sheds new light on the town’s recent decision to build pickleball courts at Fermi. That $600,000 project — paid out of town reserves — now appears less about meeting recreation needs and more about making the property attractive to potential developers for a housing conversion.
The town wants to advertise the RFP by October. That appears rushed, considering the scale of the project, the potential impact and the public interest. If the council approves this Monday, the public will have had almost no time to consider the merits and provide feedback.
The compressed timeline — combined with the limited public discussion so far — raises questions about whether development interest already exists.
At the time of the pickleball vote in late July, it was clear that something larger was in motion with Fermi.
FOIA Request Still Pending
On August 1, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the town for documents related to the Annex, including reports and internal communications. While the town acknowledged receipt, it has not provided any of the requested materials.
There are substantial issues to weigh.
To understand the merits of this proposal, we need clarity on the town’s needs and how Fermi is being used.How Fermi Is Being Used Today
Fermi is more heavily used than the RFP suggests. Weeks ago, Council member Bob Cressotti shared with me a list prepared by his wife, Marilynn Cressotti, coordinator of Enfield Alternative Education. It outlines all the present uses of Fermi and was written in response to internal discussions on the property’s future (see appendix below).What's Missing: Cost Data
What’s missing is cost data. We don’t know what it would take for the town to retain or improve this property. That information is essential to making an informed decision.
Once the town sells an asset, it’s gone. That’s not inherently bad — other communities have converted schools into housing. Enfield did it with Mark Twain. But Fermi is different. It plays a unique role today, and could serve even more in the future. Before selling, the town owes residents a full discussion — not just about what Fermi is worth today, but about its potential to meet Enfield’s needs in the years ahead.Appendix
This is March 11 email to former Town Manager Christopher Bromson from Marilynn Cressotti, coordinator, Enfield Alternative Education, which is based at the Enfield Annex, the former Fermi High School. In it, the uses of Fermi are detailed:
Good Afternoon Chris,
I always feel that an informed decision is always the best for all stakeholders so I would like to make sure that you are given all information that I have regarding the use of the Annex. I will use a bulleted format to. make it easier to visualize:
Park and Recreation - all programs are. at the AnnexDolphin Swim Team - September through February, May through August. Meets take place on the weekends
Pickleball - Monday through Friday 9 am-12pm, Thursday 5-9pm, October through May
Adult Basketball Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 5-9 pm, January through May
Youth Travel Basketball
Youth Wrestling
Tons of Fun Youth Summer Camp - Licensed and affordable for families, 7 am - 6 pm, June 16 through August 8, using the gym, pool, all rooms in D-Wing, Cafeteria, AE Yoga room
Pool - ToF Camp, Swim Lessons, Open Swim
High School
Swimming - Late August through February ( Girls and Boys Seasons) Practices each afternoon, home meets, 2:30 - 6 pm
Wrestling practice - 2:30 pm to 6 pm. November through Early March
Fields for JV sports, sports camps (Using the inside of the building for bathrooms and inclement weather if available)
Enfield Special Olympics
Swimming in the pool - December through the first week of June, 5:30-8:30 pm
Snowshoeing outside - December through the first weekend of March
Track and Field - practice at the track March - 1st weekend of June
Enfield Police Department
1st & 3rd Floors, Stairwells
Training on the 1st Floor - padded room and a workout room with gym equipment, Hallways for trainings and drills, ex active shooter training and dogs
Staff meetings in the large room on the third floor
Trainings on the 3rd Floor - ex. active shooter training, dog training
SSO Trainings
Outdoor Bike Training
Homeland Security holding trainings, drone training outside
Use of AE computer lab
Toys for Joy Categorize the donated items by age and gender - large Ampitheater room and another room
pick-up at Door #4
BUZZ Robotics
Cafeteria - both sides, for the build and the practices
4 former Tech Ed rooms
Friends of the Library
1st Floor of the former Fermi libraryBooks that come to the drop off are categorized and shelved for their books sales
Weekend book sales 2-3 times per year for entire weekends, with child activities provided in the Yoga room
Health Department - Fred Hall has 2 rooms on the first floor
Adult Ed
2 computer Labs for assessments necessary for mandated programs
Yoga Room - 2nd Floor of former Fermi Library
AE Office/Registration
Guidance Office
Coordinator Office
Mandated Program Rooms - 3 rooms 9-12 am, 5 rooms 5-9 pm
Enrichment rooms
Driver Ed - Amphitheater Room Tuesdays and Thursdays5:30-8:30 pm
Pearson View Testing Center, GED State Testing Site
Secure Office Space
Computer Lab for the tests
DAR - 1 room
Community Conference Room
PMT Training throughout the year for staff and admin - must be refreshed each year plus any new staff (paras, behavior techs, special ed staff, nurses, admin)
Community Chorus - double room on the third floor on Thursdays during the school year
ETV - former Fermi Cooking Lab
Opera House Players
Auditorium, D-Wing classroom for set building
Auditorium for rehearsals, set and shows
Fields
Used by various teams, local and rentals
Athletic camps held - use inside at times
Garden Club
Greenhouse - planting, plants
B204 - meetings
5K Runs
Begin and end on property
Venders, booths and services
Building and Grounds
- former Fermi Auto area
#1 Reunification Site - if ever needed
Outside Pickleball Courts - just approved under the lights to be part of the Park and Rec Department
**. Ben Alex, a former FHS Wrestling coach donated $10,000 for this wrestling center. Ben Alex was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, as well as a Gold Key Honoree from the CT Sportswriters' Alliance.
I have worked with the children of Enfield for 50 years and want for them what I would want for my own children. We have depleted activities for our kids (no movies, bowling, roller-skating) and I would hate to see them lose the rec department activities. I was so hoping that we would purchase the St. Adalbert's Gym for the kids in Thompsonville and put in a pool so we have two pools in the summer for our town of approximately 43,000 people.
I would like to meet with you to go over this list so that you best understand how our community utilizes the space.
Please let me know when you are available to meet.
Thank you,
Marilynn Cressotti
Coordinator, Enfield Alternative Education
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| Screenshot of town's RFP presentation |
