Bids sought for station renovation
CANAAN — The Board of Selectmen remains optimistic that the renovation project at the historic Canaan Union Station will get underway soon. Selectman Charles Perotti gives a progress report at every meeting and often his message outlines roadblocks that have hampered the project. The station was ravaged by an arson fire in 2001. It was purchased by the Connecticut Railroad Historical Association created by local residents. The exterior was redone, but funding is needed to restore the interior to create space for businesses.
Long on the list has been the need for a forced agreement account between the Housatonic Railroad and the town to allow passage across a crossing in the back of the station so construction can take place. While the track is owned by the state, which leases it to the railroad, the land the track sits on is owned by the association. The state Department of Transportation gave the town the right to access land it uses for excess parking for the lot in front of the station. That land is owned by Robert Gandolfo, who leased it to the town for 99 years for $1 a year.
"We need to iron out some facts," Perotti said about the agreement. "There's a lot of terminology to work out." While he hasn't gotten official word, Perotti said he saw on the DOT's website that bidding on the project will open Feb. 14. He said he doesn't have any bid information yet, but he's been contacted by some contractors anxious to get the bid specifications.
"People are hungry and it's a good project," he said.
Bob Riva, an association member, was at the meeting and mentioned the recent removal of the old caboose that had been at the station for a number of years.
The car had to be removed since it wasn't part of the project design and the association feared it would have to pay to take it away, which would have been expensive, he said. A New Hampshire man agreed to haul it away and gave the association a $500 donation. First Selectman Douglas Humes, who is president of the railroad association, addressed a question from Selectman Susan Clayton about his role in the group and as a DOT employee. He said the conflict quesiton was cleared with the town attorney and the state's attorney general.
His area of focus at DOT is permits and his territory does not cover Canaan.
He has always assigned the station business to another selectmen, so he is not involved in any negotiations.