MERIDEN, Conn. (WFSB) - The former Meriden-Wallingford Hospital, vacant since 1998, is set to be torn down and replaced with a new Casimir Pulaski Elementary School.Chris Williams, who has lived near the property for three years, described the building’s condition.“It’s just a lot of leaves, a lot of grass, you know, a lot of cars driving by it. I would drive around it and, you know, see wild animals, skunks and ground hogs and stuff like that,” Williams said. “Me and my wife joke about how it look...
MERIDEN, Conn. (WFSB) - The former Meriden-Wallingford Hospital, vacant since 1998, is set to be torn down and replaced with a new Casimir Pulaski Elementary School.
Chris Williams, who has lived near the property for three years, described the building’s condition.
“It’s just a lot of leaves, a lot of grass, you know, a lot of cars driving by it. I would drive around it and, you know, see wild animals, skunks and ground hogs and stuff like that,” Williams said. “Me and my wife joke about how it looks. It looks like a little horror spot.”
Meriden Superintendent Dr. Mark Benigni said the current Pulaski school building is outdated.
“It’s just an older facility. You have a building from 1972. It’s cramped for space. It had portable walls, so you’re separating classrooms with portable walls. You have single-pane windows. It’s just past its prime,” Benigni said.
The plan calls for demolishing the old hospital and building a new 97,000-square-foot Pulaski school in its place, with room for 700 students in pre-K through fifth grade. Benigni said the new school will include a special education autism program, an outdoor area for learning and play, and air conditioning.
“It’s time. I think parents are waiting for this new school. I think everyone is seeing this as a great opportunity,” Benigni said.
State Rep. Jack Fazzino, D-Meriden, Berlin, Cheshire, said the project will benefit the surrounding neighborhood.
“This is going to change the face of this neighborhood. It is going to inject new life into downtown Meriden,” Fazzino said.
Fazzino said the project is expected to cost $122 million, but the Meriden delegation in Hartford secured a state reimbursement, bringing the cost to Meriden taxpayers down to about $15 million.
“Folks have been begging for this hospital to get repurposed, and this is a noble purpose for the site,” Fazzino said.
Demolition of the old hospital is planned over the next year, with the goal of having students in the new school within five years.
Williams said he sees the change as a positive for his neighborhood.
“If you’re going to tear it down and do something new and build something better, why not?” Williams said.