By Editorial Staff
(June 17, 2026) — At a Special Town Meeting held on June 11, 2026, Haddam voters approved a tax abatement for development of affordable housing. According to the wording of the legal call of the meeting, the town “shall provide for the abatement in part or in whole of real property taxes on any housing solely for low- or moderate-income senior persons or families pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 133 of the Connecticut General Statutes, Section 8-215.” For the purposes of this ordinance, “Senior” is defined as any person 55 years of age or older.
The Town Meeting, which was held at the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company Community Room in Higganum, was preceded by a Public Hearing in which First Selectman Sean Donlan presented details of the proposed ordinance.
At the Town Meeting following the Public Hearing, former Haddam First Selectman Robert McGarry was selected as Moderator and the Legal Call of the meeting was read into the record by Assistant Town Clerk Dawn Tarbetsky. Two questions came before the Town Meeting as follows:
- To review and act upon the following question: “Shall the Town adopt the Proposed Ordinance for a Tax Abatement for Development of Affordable Housing Units? Yes or No.
- To do any and all things legal and necessary to accomplish the above-named purposes and take any other action that may legally and properly come before the meeting.
On Question 1, a voice vote was taken but the results were determined to be inconclusive. By a show of hands, Question 1 was approved 37 to 36, but a motion was made to take a second vote, also by a show of hands. In the second vote, the question was approved 39 to 35. Question 2 was approved by voice vote and the meeting was adjourned.
HK-Now asked Haddam First Selectman Donlan for his views on the results of the Town Meeting. His comments are as follows:
“Fantastic to see so many residents at the Public Hearing and Special Town Meeting. It’s another example of the high level of interest and passion our community has for Haddam, and a great opportunity that led to a productive discussion of the potential development of the old Haddam Elementary School building and grounds. Upon completion the old school will provide Haddam with a new senior center, commercial kitchen, exercise area and equipment, large multipurpose room and stage, state trooper office, additional town offices, conference rooms, emergency shelter, multigenerational playscape, walking paths, outside patios and additional parking. The additional spaces created will allow multiple agencies to move in, freeing up buildings in Haddam for other uses. The rest of the building will be dedicated to thirty-six units of affordable senior housing that will be available and marketed to Haddam Senior residents. These units count toward Haddam’s legal requirement to supply affordable housing, potentially preventing Connecticut state-backed developers forcing other forms of affordable housing projects in our town.
The financial benefits to Haddam will be tremendous as multiple state agencies have dedicated nearly $9,000,000.00 in grant money and funding to this renovation project. Haddam will not have an obligation to pay back these investments into our Town. Rak Realty, the developer on the project, also is contributing millions of dollars to the renovations that Haddam will not have an obligation to pay back. This project also will relieve Haddam taxpayers of the yearly $130,000.00 in carrying costs to run the HES building, as well as the nearly $1,000,000.00 in renovation costs just to repair a portion of the roof and replace entire heating system. Financial records show that since 2019, we have paid more than $1,000,000.00 maintaining the building and grounds. After completion Haddam will continue to own the entire property and building while leasing out the Senior Housing portion of the building. Even though Haddam will retain ownership of the entire property and building, RAK Realty will be obligated to Haddam to pay property taxes on the leased portion of the building, turning it into an income- producing property for the first time since the school was built.
As positive as all of the above sounds, a few steps still remain as an application must be accepted and approved by the Connecticut Department of Housing in order to secure a significant amount of funding. Rak Realty is scheduled to submit this application by July 1, 2026 and the Department of Housing anticipates roughly sixty days to review and approve. Once the application is approved Rak Realty will commence construction almost immediately, as all the updated architectural and environmental drawings and studies are complete and have been approved by the Inland Wetlands Commission, the Architectural Review Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission.
This is just one of the positive projects in progress in Higganum Center. The Scovil Hoe project is now in the construction phase with a goal of hosting weddings in 2027; and the development of the Rossi property and the renovation of the Public Works buildings are in the planning stages. These projects, along with the opening and connecting of hiking and biking trails, sidewalks, businesses and waterways will add a significant number of permanent and part-time employees, residents and visitors to Higganum Center. This influx will allow our current businesses to thrive and hopefully bring in additional businesses and services to the area. Soon thereafter focus will turn toward improvements in other sections of Haddam, with the ultimate goal of making our town the envy of the lower Connecticut River Valley and the town where everyone will want to live.”
