STAMFORD — After lengthy delays, plans for a new Roxbury School building and the demolition of the old school are moving forward.
The Stamford Planning Board reviewed and approved plans for the new school construction, as part of the process to acquire state funding. The Stamford school administration is going to a bid-authorization meeting with state officials in coming weeks, and approval from the city Planning Board is required. The board affirmed the project meets the goals of the city's comprehensive plan.
Kelly Nelli, a senior project manager working on the school replacement project with the Arcadis construction group, told the board that the preliminary work would begin in July of 2026. The first phase of the project would be the construction of geothermal wells at the site.
Nelli said portions of the old building on West Hill Road, including some portable structures and four classrooms in the rear of current building, would have to be demolished before work on the new structure could commence. The demolition, part of the preliminary phase, is required to allow access to the building site of the planned new structure. Major construction would commence in November of 2026, Nelli told the board, and wrap up in 2028.
"The kids will move into their new school August 2028," Nelli told the board. The work will take around 22 months, including the preliminary work. Demolition of the old school would take place after the new facility was operational.
Planning Board member William Levin asked why the parking at the school was being raised from around 45 spaces to 160. "Why do we need three times as much parking?" he asked.
Randall Luther, a designer on the project, replied, "The existing parking is inadequate, and the school enrollment is increasing significantly."
The current Roxbury School educates students from kindergarten through fifth grade, and the new school will offer instruction through eighth grade. The enrollment will go from 500 to 850 students.
The cost of the school replacement has been a controversial topic among city leaders and budget planners, far exceeding initial estimates of $86 million. The project is currently expected to cost $130 million, with state funding covering $78 million of that sum.
The Planning Board approved the construction project at the demolition work.
The Roxbury School, built 70 years ago, is in poor condition and in constant need of short-term repairs, according to school officials.