FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield, Southport, and Bridgeport now stand at a pivotal juncture in their historical narrative. Facing a devastating proposal by United Illuminating (UI) that would trigger profound and irrevocable environmental consequences, these communities have just been nominated for inclusion in the “11 Most Endangered Historic Places” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The full application is due on November 21 and the final 2024 list of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places” will be announced in May 2024.
The implications of United Illuminating's proposal are profound, stretching across nearly 7.5 miles of coastal Connecticut. Their project aims to replace unobtrusive electricity infrastructure with towering poles and transmission lines, which will necessitate the clear-cutting of a 20-40 foot swath of trees. Ultimately, the project will bisect and disrupt several historic districts, impacting hundreds of properties listed on the National Register.
The tract commences in the harborside neighborhood of Southport, CT a village of Fairfield and ends near the Barnum Museum, a recently designated National Historic Landmark, in Bridgeport. Along this path, a wave of disruption will leave an indelible imprint on Pequot Library, which serves as the cultural heart of Southport, as well as the Freeman Houses, the oldest Connecticut homes built by African Americans, recently saved in part due to their inclusion in the National Trust’s “11 Most Endangered” list for 2018.
Massive monopoles and disconcerting high voltage lines ranging in height from 95 -145 feet in Southport and Fairfield, reaching upwards of 200 feet in Bridgeport, will tower above treetops and steeples. Approximately 6 acres of trees face permanent clearcutting, while property rights will be forever relinquished by multiple businesses, churches, well-preserved residences, as well as a public library. Many properties will be at risk of complete seizure and/or demolition. Most residents and affected property owners only became aware a few weeks ago of the devastating consequences associated with this United Illuminating project.
The overwhelming and far-reaching impacts associated with United Illuminating’s project are undeniable, causing irreparable harm to these communities for generations to come. The proposed 115kV transmission lines will span nearly 7.5 miles and involve the construction of over 100 towering steel monopoles, each with foundations reaching a depth of 40 feet. In doing so, they will disrupt waterways, wetlands and sites with long histories of toxic contamination. The United Illuminating project poses both direct and visual threats to cherished and sacred cultural resources in Connecticut, and its implications resonate on a national scale.
About SCNETI and Empowering Fairfield
Empowering Fairfield is a grassroots organization spearheaded by the Sasco Creek Neighbors Environmental Trust Inc. (SCNETI), a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The organization’s mission is to preserve and protect the Fairfield/Southport community by opposing the current United Illuminating transmission line rebuild proposal, and advocating for alternative solutions that better meet the needs of our community.
For more information visit EmpoweringFairfield
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PHOTOS:
- Pequot Library, 720 Pequot Avenue, Southport, CT 06890 (Photo credit - Pequot Library, established in 1889 as a free public association library)
- The Freeman Houses - Recognized as the oldest homes in Connecticut built by and for African Americans, the Freeman Houses will be visually impacted by UI’s proposed transmission line. (courtesy Stacey Vairo, Preservation Connecticut.)
- Southport’s future skyline - “Iconic skylines historically defined by steeples will soon be most memorably defined by transmission lines if UI’s proposal is approved.”(courtesy David Parker)