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Health & Fitness

Academy Investigation Committee Invites Public to Attend Meeting

Academy Investigation Committee public forum to discuss Academy School's future. Tuesday, June 12th, 7:30 PM in Memorial Town Hall, Upper Level. Hear their findings. Share your ideas.

The Ad-Hoc Academy Investigation Committee invites the public to join them Tuesday evening, June 12th. The meeting will be the first official public forum for the Madison community to share their wishes and suggestions for the Academy building’s future. The committee will also describe its process, objectives and findings to date.

What:              Academy Investigation Committee Public Forum

When:              Tuesday, June 12th, 7:30 PM

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Where:             Memorial Town Hall, Upper Level

Madison’s Board of Selectmen appointed the Academy Investigation Committee in 2011 to explore possibilities for the site and structure and to make recommendations. While earlier studies provided insights into both potential and costs, this time the work is different. The old school building is now in the hands of the town. The Board of Selectmen will determine specific actions at a later date.

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Citizens have expressed a variety of possible uses – housing, arts center, commercial space, library. The ultimate decision will most likely require voter approval and will be shaped by strong, sometimes competing forces. The building embodies significant town education history and is located within an historic district on the town green. Senior housing and growth in the tax base are high on the wish list of many Madison residents. Low interest rates and a soft construction
sector are the few advantages of a weak economy.

The committee’s greatest challenge is to find ways to preserve major parts of the old building. The cost to repair and modernize the structure is likely to substantially exceed $10 million. The committee recently estimated repairs alone at $8.1 million.

The Board of Selectmen encouraged the Academy Investigation Committee to think creatively. Their recommendations to the Board, expected later this year, may include multiple uses. A public-private partnership to facilitate recovery of the costs is also under consideration. The meeting will help shape the future of this prominent downtown asset.

The Ad-Hoc Academy Investigation Committee has its own website with minutes of meetings and study documents.

http://www.madisonct.org/Academy/agenda.html

Those interested in further background on the work of the committee, the building and its history can find it in a four-part series in The Madison Patch that began in January of this year. Here are the links.

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