Kent’s Swift House future uncertain

KENT — At its July 2 meeting, the Board of Selectmen was divided in its opinion on the future of the historic Swift House, which was denied renovation funds in the last allocation of the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program, known commonly as STEAP grants.

The STEAP finances would have paid for the transfer of Kent Food Bank to an expanded space in the Swift House, moved the town’s social services offices to the building, and several other projects, including fitting the building for ADA compliance and the addition of several meeting rooms.

The question of how to best use the town-owned building, estimated to be among the older extant structures in Kent, has been on BOS agendas for years. Selectman Glenn Sanchez said he’s been thinking about the Swift House for “two terms,” and he’s still determined to find an answer.

“Even though the STEAP grant didn’t come through for us, I am undeterred,” Sanchez said. “I am not ready to punt.”

First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer, however, took a more ambivalent tone, suggesting a vote where residents decide if it stays under municipal ownership or is sold to a private developer.

Lindenmayer expressed that moving the food bank had been an unpopular idea, and that he’d rather see funds budgeted for municipal building improvements go towards recarpeting, rewiring and otherwise updating Town Hall and the Community Center.

Lindenmayer said it should be up to the town to answer the question, “Do we see this as a town building?”

“I do,” said Selectman Lynn Mellis Worthington. “In terms of location… there’s nothing better,” she said, explaining that the town would benefit from having a facility at the other end of downtown from Town Hall.

Lindenmayer also argued that the town may have to go it alone to fund future Swift House projects. “Historically, I think it’s important to the town of Kent… I’m not sure the state of Connecticut has that same view anymore,” he said of an assessment done by the State Historic Preservation Office.

Mellis Worthington disagreed with Lindenmayer’s takeaway from the appraisal, which she felt was positive. She said she was critical of SHPO’s process and lack of communication with the town, but she felt it wasn’t to “diss [the town] about the historical significance of the building.”

She and Sanchez agreed the BOS should have a specific plan in place for the building before bringing it to a town vote, so that residents may see the possibilities for the structure before voting the building out of town ownership.

“It needs strategic thinking. It needs a plan,” said Mellis Worthington.

The Board hinted that the future Swift House could be a primary focus of an Economic Development Committee, which may enter the town’s roster of boards and commissions in the near future.