Ex-Army facility in Milford considered for new uses

12/16/2006

Chris Rhatigan , Register Staff

MILFORD — The former Army facility on Seeman’s Lane could be the location for a new city health department or apartments for mentally ill homeless people. Those are just two of the proposals under consideration during the early phases of redeveloping the 2.3 acre Army site, which was closed by the federal government.

The apartments for the homeless proposal is already getting a negative reaction. A neighborhood condominium association found that of 31 residents polled, 19 ranked the homeless proposal last on a list of preferences. The other 12 didn’t list the option at all.

The survey of Meadowside Condominiums residents was conducted by a residents’ association board member. The survey ranked Fire Department storage and seniors-only housing as the preferred uses.

A proposal by The Bridges social service agency would consist of 20 percent "severely mentally ill" patients who are "basically homeless" living at the site, according to minutes of a recent Redevlopment Authority meeting. The rest of the 32 units would be for low-income residents.

Alderwoman Barbara Lambert, D-2, said at Democratic Town Meetings in her district, which is home to the site, residents strongly favored some kind of multipurpose use of the site run by the city.

Those uses would be low-impact, causing more manageable traffic than that of a housing development, she added.

Another concern is the site’s proximity to Meadowside Elementary School.

Bridges Chief Development Officer Robert Morgan could not be reached for comment.

Community and Economic Development Director Robert Gregory said he doesn’t think the population at Bridges housing would be a problem.

He said the organizations’ clients are "not that different except that they have a disability. They’re not violent."

However, Gregory noted that there was "concern expressed in the survey" by residents regarding the proposal.

Gregory said the city won’t be able to use the land for quite a while due to state and federal regulations. Gregory said he expects a decision by the Redevelopment Authority in about six months.

Possible uses for the site brought to the table include storage for the Fire Department, a new police station, seniors-only housing run by a private organization and a new headquarters for the Health Department.

Chris Rhatigan can be reached at 876-3030 or crhatigan@nhregister.com.