Mary Findlay hopes a special designation from a state historic board might save the old garage at Mead Park.
The Connecticut Historic Preservation Council will consider an application Nov. 3 from Findlay and the New Canaan Preservation Alliance to place the 110-year-old building on the state's Register of Historic Places.
Findlay, president of the preservation alliance, said her group considered the idea after town buildings were surveyed last year. Although the alliance planned to have buildings on the west side of town reviewed over the winter, it decided to make the garage a priority because it may be torn down.
Town officials planned to raze the garage, located at the edge of Mead Park, because it serves no purpose. The Board of Selectmen tabled the hiring of Sisca Northeast of Brewster, N.Y., to do the work after the firm pulled its bid. The town may rebid the project.
"In the course of reviewing this building, the state staff of the (historic council) thought it would be eligible for a listing on the historic register," Findlay said.
Such a designation could make the garage eligible for matching grant money, Findlay said, which would pay to renovate it for public use. The town or a group interested in preserving the building could apply for the grants, Findlay said.
She hopes to create a nonprofit group to apply for grants. That group would then have to develop a financial plan and a use for the building that would enhance the park, would be agreeable to its neighbors and could make money. "Many ideas have to be considered," Findlay said.
The council's decision would not force the town to stop its plans to raze the structure.
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