SOUTHBURY
- The former Sacred Heart Church rectory now belongs to the
Southbury Ambulance Association, which is moving quickly to
relocate its headquarters there.
The building,
known as Crosswinds, at 68 George's Hill Road changed hands
Dec. 14. The association paid $875,000 for the 4.3-acre site
and two buildings- the rectory with offices and meeting space,
and a three-car garage.
The association
has applied for a permit from the town's Building Department
to demolish the garage which, because it was built more than
50 years ago, is deemed historic. A 3,967-square-foot garage
large enough for eight ambulances will rise in its place.
There are
no plans to put eight ambulances in the building.
The association
owns two ambulances, but is trading in one and acquiring two
more, possibly as early as March, for a total of three, according
to Henry Velthuizen, president. The remaining space in the garage
will be used for storage or to house the personal cars of members
while they are on call.
Velthuizen
said members met Tuesday night with contractors who submitted
bids for the new garage. They hope to pick a contractor soon,
then begin work.
"As
soon as we get things more ironed out and get a contractor chosen,
we'll have a groundbreaking ceremony," Velthuizen said.
The former
rectory, which is 3,700 square feet, also will be renovated
so there is more office, meeting, storage and training space.
Then the
association will stop paying rent on the house between Walgreens
and Denmo's on Main Street South, and move its headquarters
to George's Hill Road.
Velthuizen
expects it will be easier and faster for an ambulance to get
to calls because it wont have to battle congestion on Main Street
South.
Crosswinds
is within a quarter-mile of Exit 14 off Interstate 84, which
means the ambulance can use the highway to get to calls on the
east side of town.
