Litchfield Board of Selectmen: Public Hearing Focuses on Bantam Annex Options

9/29/2026 7 p.m.

Present: First Selectman Denise Raap. Selectmen John Bongiorno, Dan Morosani, Anne Dranginis, and Jeffrey Zullo.

The in-person public hearing of the Litchfield Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. at the Litchfield Intermediate School by First Selectman Denise Raap.

The BOS held the hearing to discuss redevelopment options for the Bantam Annex, which is currently hosts municipal offices, community programs, space leased for the Bantam Post Office, and other activities. The building was designed as an elementary school in the 1950s by renowned Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer.

Bauhaus design had a goal of unifying fine arts, craft, and industrial technology. The modernist public building is noted for its modular design, natural light, and efficient use of space, according to information provided by the Town of Litchfield.

There are “significant infrastructure and maintenance needs” that must be addressed, according to Town leaders. They include a failing roof with active leaks, an aging oil-fired boiler, aging air-handling equipment, and asbestos associated with the original radiant heating system.

At the public hearing, Raap introduced Mike Fortuna, Partner and Principal with TLBA Architecture.

“We were charged with looking at the Bantam Annex building, (which is) the former Bantam Elementary School, as well as the Town Hall to maximize and optimize use of the two facilities,” Fortuna said. “In that process, we went through a full conditions assessment of both buildings to determine what condition the buildings were in, and what kind of work would be needed to get them back to functional use, particularly the Bantam building.”

There were four options presented and discussed.

Option 1: Complete renovation for municipal use

This makeover would provide a comprehensive renovation of the Bantam Annex to retain municipal offices and existing public uses with the building, Fortuna said. The estimated cost is $32.8 million. Improvements would include upgrades to the building envelope, insulation, windows, roof, mechanical systems, and electrical infrastructure, as well as potential full electrification and rooftop solar, he said.

“It's a big nut. We understand that. But if the goal is to preserve the building, restore the building and give it another 50 years of productive life, I think we can do that,” Fortuna said.

Option 2: Phased renovation

This work would address the building revamp through a multi-year capital program, including improvements to the roof and building envelope, municipal office areas, parks and recreation and community space, residential areas, and post office.

TLBA Associate Paula Tunney said phasing allows expenditures to be spread over several years.

“Renovating the building all at once would be the most cost-effective, but might not be the best approach,” she said.

Option 3: Affordable housing conversion

Selectman Jeffrey Zullo presented a proposal to convert a portion of the Bantam Annex into 14 affordable workforce housing units while retaining town ownership of the 10.5acre property.

Under this proposal, the Litchfield Housing Authority would lease the residential portion of the building and pursue state funding for the conversion, while the town would retain responsibility for the property and continue to maintain public uses.

The proposed housing component would include 11 one-bedroom or studio units and three two-bedroom units.

“I want to clarify: This is not low-income housing. This is affordable housing.” Zullo said.

Option 4: Demolition/deconstruction

This choice would involve demolition of the Bantam Annex and restoration of the site. The estimated cost is $950,000, Zullo said.

This option would require the Town to identify alternative permanent locations for municipal departments and community programs currently housed in the building.

Several residents brought questions and comments to the public hearing.

Longtime Litchfield resident David Wilson, who also is a former Town Treasurer, advised against the phased financing suggested in Option 2. He questioned whether it would be more economical to bond the project at one time or borrow incrementally over five years.

Marty Connor, Chairman of the Litchfield Inland Wetlands Commission and former Land Use Administrator, said inadequate meeting space needs to be addressed, including dedicated rooms to accommodate large public community gatherings.

Emergency access concerns to the Annex were raised by John Buonaiuto, Bantam resident and members of the Bantam Planning and Zoning Commission, on behalf of Fire Chief Ryan Litwin. Because the property has one vehicle access point on Doyle Road, Buonaiuto said, high-density reuse would necessitate construction of a secondary emergency access road and a new municipal fire hydrant.

Demolition of the Annex was opposed by Kirsten Rand, who spoke as a representative of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She noted the building’s architectural significance due to its design by Breuer. Rand gave the Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan as an example of adaptive municipal arrangements that can protect historic properties.

Inadequate meeting space was a concern noted by Barbara Putnam, a 40-year Litchfield resident who spoke at the public hearing. She said relocating Land Use staff and records to temporary modular offices behind Town Hall as part of one option for the Bantam Annex could result in disorganized and inaccessible public records.

Zullo said voters will have the final say on the matter via a future vote.

“We want to have a referendum with Town support,” he said.

Selectman John Bongiorno motioned to adjourn the hearing at 9:14 p.m., with Dranginis seconding the move. The BOS unanimously approved adjournment.

The BOS’s next meeting was set for Oct. 20, and its first November meeting was scheduled for Nov. 3, both starting at 5:30 p.m.