Wednesday night’s public hearing on the recommended proposal for adaptive reuse of the historic Havemeyer building, home to the Greenwich Board of Education administrative offices for 77 years, was well attended.
Chair of the Havemeyer RFP Evaluation Committee, Andy Duus shared the background and summary of the proposal the committee unanimously picked as their favorite of six: “Eagle/Peebles.”
The Eagle/Peebles proposal is to renovate and convert the historic building into a 71-room boutique hotel, restaurant, and event space. There would be an addition in the building’s north-west corner
The hotel would feature underground parking spaces for hotel staff, a grand atrium, and a rehabilitated auditorium, and a rooftop event space overlooking Havemeyer fields.
The restored auditorium would operate as a theater, which would be available to other organizations or members of the public to rent for private or community purposes. When not otherwise reserved, it would be used as a dining venue for the hotel’s restaurant.
Click here for the report of the RFP evaluation committee dated May 20, 2025.
Duus noted the 50,000 sq ft Havemeyer building, “one of the crown jewels of the town” located on 2.7 acres on Greenwich Ave, was funded by Henry O. Havemeyer, a sugar magnate,(1817-1907). It was originally constructed in 1892 as a public school in the Romanesque.
The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mr. Duus described the hearing as the start of the process, not the end before he opened it up to comments.
The RFP committee’s top choice, “Eagle/Peebles includes an optional building with two levels of parking plus two levels of office that the BOE could rent.
Rendering of proposed driveway and landscaping on the spot of the current BOE parking lot.
Existing parking lot on the south side of the Havemeyer building.
Out of the gate, public comments started with criticism.
“I’d encourage you to reject all bids. Listen to the people, and then you write your RFP and see what comes back.” – John Spang
Christine Edwards suggested the building be fixed up for the BOE and a senior center, and build senior housing in place of where the optional new BOE building is proposed in the Eagle/Peebles proposal.
“I disagree with the use of this as commercial; I think Greenwich needs to take it back for its own use,” Edwards said to applause.
John Spang, who described himself as a 41+ year government official said he had opened up hundreds of RFPs, RFI’s and sealed bids.
Tile mosaic inside the Havemeyer building features the date of the building’s completion. May 21, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
“I want you to succeed,” he said. “But you got it backwards. You’re calling us here tonight for our input and opinions…but you should have called us much sooner. I’m afraid by calling us now it’s going to appear that the fix is in…that’s going to follow you through the approval process that a decision was made without the people’s input.”
“There’s no groundswell for more hotel space in Greenwich. There is no groundswell to get the BOE out of the Havemeyer building,” Spang said.
“Once you give something up, you never get it back. We only have to look at the Byram School. Since that was closed, people have been saying we should not have let that go.”
Mr. Spang said it was also regrettable that an entire wing of town hall had been demolished.
“I’d encourage you to reject all bids. Listen to the people, and then you write your RFP and see what comes back,” Spang said to applause.
“Does Greenwich need another hotel when the ones we have aren’t at capacity? More importantly, how do we create a community solution for the BOE and provide a community space for our non profits?” – Suzanne Lio, director of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra
Suzanne Lio, director of the non profit Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, said, “I’d ask this committee and the residents to remember what problem we’re trying to solve.”
She said the current proposal gave no guarantee the Town would own the new BOE building and that project would add a relocation and rental burden.
Further she said there had been a promise of public and educational uses that include of public and educational use.
“I would argue that a hotel rooftop bar, rental space, and rental auditorium that doubles somehow as a restaurant venue – I don’t understand. I would say that community benefit is limited and lacks the guarantee the RFP wanted to see regular public access to the space.”
She said she preferred the proposal for the Havemeyer Performing Arts and residential project put forth by Chuck Royce and John Ferari.
“In your report you said they came in as a close second. I would ask the town residents to take a good look at the proposal to see how it solves the problem,” she said.
She said the Greenwich Library theaters and the GHS Performing Arts Center with 1,325 seats, are often too large for mid size and smaller non profits who need a home.
Francia Alvarez from the Greenwich Tree Conservancy noted the building was in the midst of a designated Municipal Historic District. She noted that memorials to veterans who gave their lives in service are honored near a row of stately Copper Beech Trees “at the crossroads of our history.”
She described the trees as natural historic assets that need protection. She said the GTC requested a site plan to include all trees by species and their DBH, and moving forward, a full plan outlining any trees slated for removal, putting on record those to be preserved and outlining measures to protect them from construction impacts using low impact development best practices.
“As a case in point, the town experienced loss of one of two historic Beech trees at the entrance to Greenwich Commons from a relatively minor project,” she said.
“The responsibility for the loss still remains unclear. The roots of Beech trees can be fragile.”
Alvarez said a gratitude grove was planted adjacent to the area of the proposed new atrium in 2021 honoring the efforts and commitment of the front line workers and local heroes during the pandemic.
Sam Rosenfeld testified at the public hearing on the Havemeyer building. June 11, 2025
Sam Rosenfeld from D1 criticized the proposal, saying that while the renderings of the hotel were attractive, the town needed an auditorium bigger than the town hall meeting room which often fills to capacity.
“A lot of us who live in this neighborhood are asking ourselves what are the things that drew us here. We like being able to walk to the Ave, but I don’t say it’s because I can walk to L’Escale. I like being able to walk to the park and being able to walk here (town hall) for RTM duties,” he said.
“How many times have we been here – for those who are active in government activities and there aren’t enough seats and we wish there was a lager space to gather – if only there were an auditorium nearby that you can think of a public use for.”
“You’ve been sent down the path with the wrong question.” – Sam Rosenfeld
“You’ve been sent down the path with the wrong question. It’s what is best for the Town of Greenwich, not what’s the best way to get $60 million off the books or what’s the best way to get get back $600,000 back in taxes.”
Noting Mr. Havemeyer gave his wealth away to build the structure for a school, Rosenfeld said, “The missing element here is how to make our town the kind of place where we don’t ask ourselves how we rub nickles and dimes together to make things work. How do we get the public so fired up about being here that they want to put money in to help our schools be better and help find a public use for that space?”
Christine Boies, from the Chamber Players of the Greenwich Symphony, said their performances have had to move to various venues because of lack of performing space in town. “We have been searching for a suitable concert venue not only for the musicians but also for our loyal and appreciative audience,” she continued, adding that they size of the Havemeyer auditorium was the perfect size and she hoped it would include a permanent performance space for the chamber players and other arts organizations. Adele Rota said the hotel renderings were beautiful but the proposal did not “check the boxes” of what’s needed for central Greenwich.
“A statement made by the First Selectman about ‘returning the building to the residents of Greenwich.’ This does not do that.”
She questioned the claim in the proposal summary that there was a “hospitality void.”
“Shame on us for not maintaining that building and other buildings to get us in the position we are today.” – Adele Rota
She said the senior center, now called the Wallace Center, across the street at 299 Greenwich Ave, shares space with arts organizations, and has no dedicated parking.
“Our seniors deserve better,” she said. “I don’t see this project making parking better on the Avenue. I see it making it worse, right in an area already problematic. I’ve missed events at the senior center because you can’t find a parking space.”
She said it wasn’t worth turning over the building to commercial interests for the property tax money.
“Shame on us for not maintaining that building and other buildings to get us in the position we are today. It’s our building and we’ll never get it back if we allow this to happen,” she said. 
Dan Quigley, who lives downtown and is the chair of the RTM Land Use Committee, turned to pose his comments to the audience rather than the committee.
“We cannot lose sight of what the major issue that our town is facing over the last few years – and that is the town’s capacity to handle the type of capital projects we have coming up. This building is the jewel of Greenwich, but right now it is an albatross.”
“It is decrepit and it is falling apart,” he added.
“This particular proposal solves two problems: the problem of procuring a new building for the Board of Education where they want to be located in central Greenwich, and it repurposes with a nod to the history and architecture.”
Tom Megna from neighboring Greenwich Mews, a senior living community to the south of the Havemeyer property (at the corner of Arch and Bolling Place) said there was concern about traffic and safety.
“We average five ambulances going down Bolling Place each week,” he said.
Regarding the planned underground parking was close to Bolling place, Mr. Megna asked, “How the heck is that going to work?”
He said The Mews had looked into developing an underground parking lot on their property, but learned there is an underground aquifer with running through the property, making it impossible.
“I’d definitely look into that before you look at underground parking,” Mr. Megna said.
Havemeyer building photographed from the north. Photo: Leslie Yager
Lucy von Brachel, former member of the Land Use Committee, said she was heartened to see the alternative proposal with mixed uses and non-profit involvement. “I think this is a healthy and less risky way to go than what is proposed,” she said.
“A better way to do this would have been to survey the community and better understand what our values are…” – Lucy von Brachel
She said she agreed with Mr. Spang that the process was “backward” and the town should consider other ideas.
“A better way to do this would have been to survey the community to better understand what our values are, and whether we prioritize making some money over community uses of a repurposed Havemeyer building,” she said. “It’s disappointing that this is the only option before us.”
“I’m also concerned about the risk involved in this. When you’re dealing with a proposal that is commercial, you’re dealing with a situation where revenue is at the developers’ greatest concern. We need to remember we are not guaranteed to get this municipal building for the BOE and I understand that would be at market rate. In exchange we get $10 million for a 99 year lease and $700,000 a year in property taxes. It doesn’t sound like the best math for us.”
Carol Zarrilli talked about the building’s public use.
“We should have gone to the town residents first to add in the community aspect.”
“Our First Selectman and many other people have touted the private-public-partnerships and the money we need to renovate this building to make it a true community building – there’s a lot of wealth in Greenwich,” she added.
“When our First Selectman mentioned to me, Carol, we’re going to do a wonderful thing, we’ll put the Havemeyer building back in the hands of the people I got excited. I was seeing community uses – not professional hotels.”
She said the arrangement with Greenwich Plaza, with a 99 year lease for the land from the town, was instructive.
“We’ll never get that property back for town use,” Zarrilli said. “Once you turn over the Havemeyer building for a 99 year lease – while we still own the land, we don’t own the building, and the use to the community is gone forever.”
James Walsh described the proposal as a “losing one.”
“The one you guys have chosen to put forward is a one time payment of $10.5 million and maybe the opportunity to lease or purchase a building at some future date for market value. That will hurt our students. That will hurt our residents. You’re really giving away this 2.7 acre parcel downtown for next to nothing.”
Walsh said the town needed to have conversation about what townspeople want.
“We don’t want to go forward and make a big mistake of giving this property up for $1.5 million. Look at Chicago with their sky-way and parking meter debacle – 20 years on, it was a horrific deal for the town.”
“If you move forward with this proposal, 10 or 20 years on people will say, hey that might not have been the best deal for the town,” he said.
“Maybe we have to cough up a few more dollars and pay for the nice things and to maintain what we currently have in town.”
Chuck Royce described his proposal he submitted with John Ferari as a “win-win for the town,” with artists having a home.
They propose to re-imagine right side of the Havemeyer building with a substantial theater and substantial other public space below the theater for the many arts.
The other wing would be offices that would pay taxes and an adjacent condominium building would pay substantial taxes.
Ductwork and insulation in the auditorium inside the Havemeyer building. May 21, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Offices at the Havemeyer building are off an extra wide corridor, a reminder that the building was originally a public school. Photo: Leslie Yager May 21, 2024
“We did a rough count of how many arts organizations there arein Greenwich – we stopped counting at 30. It’s extraordinary,” Royce said. “But this vision of having the wing dedicated to the arts has substantial benefit to the town, substantial benefit to the community in every way. I can see it adding economic vitality to Greenwich Avenue. The lights would be on, as opposed to off.”
Many in Greenwich know Mr. Royce, who along with his wife Deborah, were instrumental in saving the Avon Theatre in Stamford in 2000 after it had been shuttered for years. They undertook major renovations and re-opened the historic movie theater in 2004 as a non-profit.
“My hero in all of this is Peter Malkin who many years back, the entire building Havemeyer was going to be used for arts. The Bruce Museum was going to put the science wing. Our theatre, the Avon, would have had a couple movie theaters. He set the correct tone, and I think we should follow,” Royce said.
“Do not privatize our public assets. Preserve them and fix the auditorium in the building.” – Laura Kostin
Laura Kostin, a BOE member spoke as a resident and taxpayer, she said, “Mr. Camillo has stated his desire that the building be returned to the people. But turning it into a hotel only turns it over to the people who don’t actually live here.”
She pointed out that the First Selectman located rental space for the BOE to move to for $3 million rent annually, but the facility master plan estimated a renovation of the building at roughly $24 million.
“Not too bad of an estimate, but $3 million over eight years could cover it. I don’t see any value of throwing money away on rent and forcing our board to be nomadic.”
As for the optional new building, the proposal offers to build a new space for the BOE for $30 million an assumes construction would make it through regulatory hurdles, which she noted are considerable.
“So with no monetary value to place on the building, the First Selectman then formed a committee and asked for proposals which required no community use, and no mention that a vote of the BOE would be required for a change of use.”
While there are legitimate questions about the highest and best use of the building, a hotel provides no community benefit unless you don’t live here and are paying to stay there. The First Selectman said he was open to doing a space study of town hall to hopefully accommodate the BOE. To the best of my knowledge no firm has been engaged to do one.”
“This plan is just another way for the town to do what it always does: Let a building fall into decay and look for someone else to fix it,” Kostin added.
“Do not privatize our public assets. Preserve them and fix the auditorium in the building.”
“It’s a beautiful design, but we should have more community use of it than is contemplated.” – Peter Malkin
Peter Malkin, who was involved in an effort several years ago to raise funds to transform the Havemeyer building into an arts center said, “I think we’ve heard at least 2 proposals that might be combined in some way that might either, with the recommended proposal, devote a larger share of it to the community for actual community use, or provide some portion of the residential part of it for moderate income town employees while keeping the total design.”
“I think the Royce idea of a wing of the building set aside for culture and arts is sustainable and could work,” he added.
“My suggestion is that some thought be given to in some way combining the ideas presented as the number one and two choices.”
Anthony Moor said, “People here are seeing a clear lack of leadership from where this all began. This is a classic example in Greenwich of cart before horse. In Greenwich, we don’t have a vision. We don’t do plans. We wait for things to crumble, and when they start to crumble we either send out an RFP to someone else or we ask a donor to come in and give us some money to fix it up.”
Mr. Moore said the open forum should have come at the beginning of the process.
“We shouldn’t have been presented with a fait accompli,” he said. “Unfortunately, this process, because it was done like with the rink was done in secret behind closed doors and then brought to us.”
Rendering of auditorium/event space.
A fill-in addition in the building’s north-west corner that would complement the building’s east- and south-facing facades.
Susan Foster from Riverside said the situation was similar to what happened with the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center.
“The powers that be then pulled back and did a survey to the public and that survey was very instrumental because what the community weighed in on was they wanted a civic center, not an athletic center.”
“I am troubled to hear that the performing space doubles as a restaurant space,” she said.
See also:
Havemeyer Arts Center & Residential Project: A New Vision for the Historic Havemeyer Building June 10, 2025
May 22, 2025