The town will bring in a consultant to prepare a predemolition survey of the old brick building at Mead Park, which some residents are trying to save.
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday to hire TRC Solutions to complete an environmental analysis and survey of the 110-year-old building, located on the northern edge of the park on Mead Road. The survey will cost $5,559, Assistant Public Works Director Tiger Mann said.
Town officials opted to have the report done after residents contacted the Department of Public Health. The last predemolition report was done at the structure in 2004, Mann said.
"Everyone seems to use them (TRC) for their hazard abatement and demolition services," he said.
TRC will survey the building, develop a report and take about 75 samples of materials in the building, Mann said. "They're willing and able to come in this week," he said, noting the report should lower final demolition costs.
Town officials were preparing to tear down the building, used for storage, to open up space in the park. But several residents want to preserve the building, saying it is a brick barn and a valued part of the town's history.
Last month, Sisca Northeast withdrew its bid of $24,523 bid to raze the building after another company decided it could not take debris from the site as planned. The second highest bid exceeded the town's $25,000 budget.
Earlier this month, the state Historic Preservation Council unanimously voted to include the structure on the state's Register of Historic Places. Mary Findlay, president of the New Canaan Preservation Alliance, hopes she and other residents can devise a plan to preserve and possibly renovate the building.
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