The Greenwich Point Conservancy announced this week that it had been awarded a $400,000 State of Connecticut Urban Action Grant, which will be used to supplement funds it has raised privately for the restoration of the Chimes Building at Greenwich Point. The State Bond Commission approved funding for the grant on December 21, 2021.
The project is slated to commence in October 2022, following the receipt of necessary Town approvals, and is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete.
The cost of the restoration project is approximately $1.2 million. The GPC has raised funds to date of approximately $750,000, and the Emily Catherine Fedorko Foundation (ECFF), a partner in the project, has pledged funds of $150,000. The State of Connecticut grant of $400,000 will complete fundraising for the project.
The GPC is undertaking the restoration of the historic c1896 Chimes Building in coordination with the Town of Greenwich. The ECFF will assist with the restoration of the c1901 musical chimes instrument and bells located in the upper portion of the chimes tower, and the creation of a water safety center in the base of the tower, which will further the ECFF’s mission to spread education, advocacy, and awareness of boating and water sports safety regulations and practices for adults and children. The project will also include refurbishing the entire building in a manner sensitive to its history and architecture, redesigning and enlarging a watersports recreation area for the sailing program, new ADA compliant rest rooms, a relocated and improved Dockmaster’s office, and new
locker’s for use by boaters at Greenwich Point.
The restored facilities at the Chimes Building will be named in honor of Greenwich Point Conservancy founding board member, the late Daniel J. Donahue. The restoration work on the historic musical Chimes and bells are dedicated to the life and memory of Emily Fedorko, and following the restoration the Chimes and bells will be known as “Emily’s Chimes.”
“The Chimes Building is one of the most beautiful and unique historic structures on the Connecticut coastline. We are extremely grateful for this grant, and that the Chimes Building will soon become a renewed community resource at Greenwich Point,” said Chris Franco, President of the Greenwich Point Conservancy.
State Representative Steve Meskers, who assisted in the grant process, said, “I am thrilled to have played my part to help secure the funding for this project, which will benefit all of us. I am honored to assist the Greenwich Point Conservancy in their outstanding service to our community.”
The Greenwich Point Conservancy is a non-profit “stewardship organization” formed to work for the restoration and preservation of the historic buildings and other structures at Greenwich Point. Its restoration projects, including the Innis Arden Cottage, the Old Barn at Greenwich Point and the Feake-Ferris House, have been the recipients of several prestigious awards for historic preservation and adaptive-reuse from the State of Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects and the Greenwich Historical Society.
See also:
Meskers: $1.2 Million in State Aid On The Way to Greenwich Non Profits