New Canaan Denied Grant Money for Lumberyard Study

NEW CANAAN, Conn.  – Plans to study the possibility of transforming the Lumberyard Parking Lot into a decked parking area with senior housing will go on hold as New Canaan will not receive state grant dollars.

The state Office of Policy and Management did not include New Canaan in the list of recipients for Transportation-Oriented Development grants. Eleven cities, towns and regional planning organizations were given $5 million to study such projects.

“Obviously it’s disappointing to put a lot of work into something and not get the grant, but at the same time I think everyone involved had realistic expectations,” Town Planner Steven Kleppin said Friday. “ In looking at the municipalities that were awarded grants, it appears that larger municipalities were given preference as well as proposals tied to the New Haven/Springfield rail line project and the New Britain bus way project, which many say was the impetus for the grant offering.” 

New Canaan had hoped to review the feasibility of transforming the Lumberyard lot off Elm Street, currently used by Metro-North Railroad commuters, into an area for senior housing and a decked parking lot. The plan drew many critics, including residents who feared the project would ruin downtown New Canaan’s character and commuters who feared they might lose parking.

Kleppin said he is not sure what the Senior Housing and Health Care Committee will do next, but it may not be the end of exploring different uses for the Lumberyard, which he once labeled as an underused space. “Hopefully another grant opportunity becomes available in the future so we can really study the Lumberyard in depth,” he said.  

Grant opponents were happy with the state’s decision. "Although the (New Canaan) Town Council vote was 6-5 in favor of moving forward with the application, we are delighted that the Connecticut Department of Transportation found other applications to be stronger and more in line with their goal of increasing ridership on the rails and buses,” said Patrick Swearingen, a member of Citizens to Preserve our Village Character.  “When the next grant opportunity arises in the future, we expect our local officials to steer clear of commuter parking lots for senior housing." 

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