The city introduced earlier this month that it had obtained a $5 million donation to construct a brand new $21.5 million civic heart in Outdated Greenwich.
And the Consultant City Assembly unveiled the id of the donor Monday evening because it agreed to simply accept the donation, which got here from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis. The RTM accepted the settlement by a vote of 115 to 31, with three abstentions.
Below the settlement, the brand new civic heart will likely be named the Cohen Japanese Greenwich Civic Middle.
The Cohens are longtime city residents, and Steven Cohen’s profile has risen since he bought the New York Mets.
“It is a large one,” First Selectman Fred Camillo mentioned Tuesday. “It is a place I grew up in. I performed sports activities there and went to occasions there.
“It was at all times a terrific place, however whilst youngsters we knew there have been points with the constructing,” he mentioned. “Now we received it finished. It’s a terrific feeling, and I can’t thank the Cohens sufficient.”
Steven Cohen is chairman, president and CEO of Point72, a Stamford-based asset administration agency. By their basis, the Cohens lately donated $5 million to Stamford Well being for a neonatal intensive care unit. In Might, they introduced a $1.5 million donation to assist the nonprofit Neighbor to Neighbor construct a brand new headquarters in central Greenwich.
“We’re excited to accomplice with the city of Greenwich to help the brand new Japanese Greenwich Civic Middle,” Alex Cohen, president of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Basis, mentioned in a press release. “Gaining access to up to date leisure services that assist construct neighborhood is vital for everybody. The brand new civic heart will enable for expanded applications for our neighbors, and assist construct connections between residents, the city and native nonprofits.”
Taking the vote
However some have raised considerations about public-private partnerships, which Camillo has championed, asking how a lot say the non-public donors would have on initiatives and whether or not naming rights are acceptable.
RTM member Kip Burgweger, chair of the Legislative and Guidelines Committee, mentioned members have been involved about “ill-defined language within the settlement” concerning the naming rights. Additionally they requested whether or not the cash, which is scheduled to be made in a number of funds to the city, might be revoked.
However the committee members additionally mentioned the $5 million donation was “a welcome and beneficiant provide,” Burgweger added.
The Legislative and Guidelines Committee made a movement to defer contemplating the donation till the December assembly, however it was defeated earlier than the ultimate vote of approval.
“There are quite a lot of questions, however in the end I don’t suppose a two-month delay is warranted,” RTM District 5 member Dan Ozizmir mentioned.
District 1 member Ed Dadakis later added, “This (donation) could be very acceptable, and, frankly, we’d like extra beneficiant residents like Steve Cohen. We must always all vote in favor of this with gratitude.”
Camillo informed the RTM that delaying the vote would “ship a foul message.”
“Any city in America can be actually honored and grateful for one thing like this,” he mentioned.
Bendheim household donated, too
A public-private partnership was fashioned in 2001 to construct the Western Greenwich Civic Middle in Glenville. A deal was struck with the Bendheim household, which made a $2.5 million donation and whose title nonetheless graces the constructing.
RTM member Katherine LoBalbo, chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee, additionally famous different related partnerships. Robert Bruce left his mansion and land to the city for what turned The Bruce Museum, and the Havemeyer household donated land that turned a college and in the end the Havemeyer Constructing, which now serves because the Board of Training’s places of work.
Acquiring a personal help for the civic heart was a first-term marketing campaign promise from Camillo, who mentioned he’ll search extra partnerships if reelected.
He cited a brand new municipal ice rink in Byram and enhancements to Roger Sherman Baldwin Park downtown as appropriate candidates. Camillo mentioned he may even pursue further public-private partnerships for the civic heart.
The present two-story constructing, which was constructed in 1950, will likely be torn down and changed on the identical location with the Cohen Japanese Greenwich Civic Middle. The brand new one-story constructing with 35,418 sq. toes of area will embody a full-size multiuse gymnasium with rollout spectator seating, 8,100 sq. toes of multiuse occasion area and three 1,000-square-foot exercise rooms.
The city plans to place the undertaking out for bids in November. As soon as the bids are obtained, the Board of Estimate and Taxation should launch the development cash, which is an element of the present fiscal yr’s price range.
The BET had positioned a situation that “substantial” non-public cash should be raised for the undertaking, and final month BET leaders mentioned they believed the muse’s donation happy that situation. Plans name for a groundbreaking in spring, with 24 to 26 months of development till completion.
Camillo celebrated the deal, however joked that as a lifelong Yankees fan, it was unusual to work with the Mets new proprietor.
“They’re good individuals, and so they’ve finished so much for this city,” he mentioned of the Cohens. “They love their hometown.”
When requested whether or not he would put on a Mets hat to the groundbreaking, Camillo mentioned, “Keep tuned.”
