CT Blue

Wonders never cease. I find myself on the same side as Jodi Rell. Even weirder, I have to tip my hat to Lisa Moody.

The state owns shorefront property in Waterford, that was formerly used as a school for the developmentally disabled. It is no longer being used for that purpose, and a Farmington developer as eager to buy it to put up luxury condos (what else). Most of our local legislators were in favor of the sale

Rell put the kibosh on the sale, and today’s Day quotes some email correspondence among the governor’s staff, including this quote from Lisa Moody:

”… We have a parcel in our midst (on the shoreline I’m told) that we’re selling on the cheap,” M. Lisa Moody, the governor’s chief of staff, wrote in a Nov. 17 e-mail The Day obtained through a Freedom of Information request.“Here’s a silly idea – let’s keep it for future generations as a natural area – no paved parking lots, no buildings or facilities – just, God forbid, a pristine natural setting on the water. Want to talk about responsible growth (or responsible ungrowth, in this case). That’s a legacy item.”

As the saying goes, they’re not making shoreline property anymore (global warming excepted). The sale price was 7.1 million. The property has its problems. The buildings need substantial rehabilitation, and there are access problems. Still, I’m with the governor, and (Oh god, how can I be saying this?) Moody on this one.

But, as the headline says, so far Rell gets only half a cheer. As the article points out:

Rell hasn’t yet said what her vision is for the property, only that the state should keep it.

Not surprising, since she has lacked vision on a number of fronts. It makes no sense to mothball the buildings and shut the place down. If we’re going to keep it we should invest in making it a place that’s available and accessible to the public. It will cost in the millions to do it, but it would provide some sorely needed shoreline access in a state where, scandalously, most of the shore is off limits to the public.

Here’s betting that Rell will never articulate her vision for the property. The buildings will deteriorate, the public will not get access, and the folks in Waterford will grow even more frustrated with the situation.