William Squier photo

Stamford's Old Town Hall: Who wants in?

Stamford had high hopes for the revitalization of its Old Town Hall when the design for a planned expansion was unveiled in September 2006. Old Town Hall — or OTH, as it was deemed — has been empty since the early 1990s, when the probate court was moved to Stamford's Government Center about two blocks away, emptying out OTH.

The design for the renovated Old Town Hall was controversial. Many felt that the two-and-a-half story glass-enclosed addition clashed with the beaux arts style of the existing building. But it did succeed in bringing the aging structure up to code and provided it with modern amenities like a handicap accessible elevator capable of making six stops on the structure's four multi-level floors.

It was a bit surprising, then, when there was so little interest from businesses in occupying the "new" Old Town Hall, despite the modern add-ons and its location smack in the middle of downtown. With a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Nov. 19, the Ballet School of Stamford is the building's only committed tenant.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. So, the Old Town Hall Redevelopment Agency decided to devote most of the first floor to an art gallery. In the next month, they plan to conduct a search for a curator to take charge of choosing the exhibits.

And if all goes as it usually does, the artists will attract the desired "gentrification," lure in some new tenants and be back out on the street in no time.