Enfield weighs future of Annex: fix it, move services, or build new

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Town Council members tour the Annex's infrastructure, peering inside utility closets. The former Fermi High School -- which closed in 2016 and is now known as the Enfield Annex -- has become a deep part of the community. Whether it's the swimming pool, space for wrestling, the student robotics competition team Buzz Robotics, summer camp or its many other uses, the building has a broad base of support. Last week, some of those supporters turned out to urge Town Council members to preserve the facility. The future of the former Fermi High School has lingered on the periphery of town discussions for years. No longer. The Town Council tour of the Annex was intended to help members see firsthand the remedial infrastructure work needed, from utility closets to the boiler room and roof. But residents saw it as a chance to show the council how important the building is to the town. A large crowd turned out, some with signs urging support for the Annex. Among those at the school was Jef...
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Amazon in Enfield: A first glimpse of their plan


Amazon bought 200 acres of industrial land off Bacon Road in Enfield about a year ago. Until now, what they planned to do with was a guess. A zoning filing offers the first real clue.

Amazon.com Services LLC has filed a zoning text amendment seeking to allow motor vehicle repair garages in the I-1 industrial zone under specific conditions. It appears on the May 28 PZC agenda, with a public hearing scheduled for June 25.

The proposed amendment is narrowly written. It would allow fleet vehicle maintenance on site, but prohibit body work, outdoor storage, and battery storage.

Whatever Amazon is planning, the operation will require maintaining vehicles on the property.

Will this ultimately become a fulfillment center, regional distribution hub, delivery station, or something else is unclear. The May 28 meeting may give some indication.

Implications for Enfield

The filing comes at a time when Enfield's employer base is changing significantly. [Data from latest town audit]

Top employers in 2019:

MassMutual — 1,538
Enfield town/schools — 1,487
Department of Correction — 639
Lego — 594

Top employers in 2024:

Enfield town/schools — 1,406
Lego — 740*
Advance Auto Parts — 415
Retail Brand Alliance/Brooks Brothers — 350

*Lego has since announced plans to relocate to the Boston area.

If Amazon builds a significant logistics operation in Enfield, it could quickly become one of the town's largest employers.

Property tax implications

Too early to say, but if Amazon builds something substantial on this property, it could potentially approach generate $3M plus in taxes -- nearly one mill or more. That would have gone a long way to absorbing the 5.1% percent mill rate increase. But again, this is speculation.

Amazon paid $20M for the property alone. Winstanley, the prior owner, had initially planned a 819,000-plus square foot building. 

Potential downsides

Increased truck traffic and local infrastructure, as well as noise and neighborhood concerns for nearby residents.

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