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Fairfield Parks Head Serves Up Renovation Plan

Gerry Lombardo unveiled a "win-win" proposal to the Fairfield Board of Finance on Tuesday night. The Parks and Recreation director explained a potential lease agreement with Fairfield Indoor Tennis to renovate the old Beanery building in exchange for a long-term lease.

"What we're trying to do is get something for the community, with a well-established entity," Lombardo said. "I think FIT offers the community a lot."

If the agreement passes the town boards, FIT would put in $2.3 million to renovate the town's building at 90 Old Dam Road, next to the tennis center, to update the lobby, office space and locker rooms. The tennis group rents the building in winter.

It would also renovate the all-purpose space that the Youth Council uses for the Beanery teen nightclub and that the Special Education department uses for after-school activities. Lombardo said the update would add a game room and an expanded parking lot.

In exchange, FIT would get a 20-year lease to continue using the building and the neighboring Tennis Center during the winter. First Selectman Kenneth Flatto said the $1.5 million the group would pay over the lease's span is nearly double the net gains for the town to renovate the building itself and rent it on the open market. The town would need to contribute up to $40,000 from the parks budget for labor and materials.

The Board of Finance will vote on the plan in January, after the Board of Selectmen makes a decision on the lease at it meeting Dec. 15.

"This almost sounds too good to be true," vice chair Robert Bellitto said. "We're getting a new building, new parking, paid for by the lessee ... and we have a 20-year lease with a tenant we've been doing business with for 18 years."

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