Volume 22, Number 12
Thursday, May 21, 2020
www.berlincitizen.com
DOWNTOWN PROJECT
Council approves contract change By Everett Bishop The Citizen
The Town Council voted unanimously to amend its contract with Newport Realty regarding the sale of 861 Farmington Ave. The Berlin Fair, which attracts some 60,000 attendees annually, has been called off this year due to COVID-19. File photo
Berlin, Durham fairs canceled Miramant cited the lasting uncertainty of the virus, potential resurgence in the fall The Durham Fair and the and the health, safety and Berlin Fair have both been logistical impacts on voluncanceled this year due to the teers, guests and the compandemic. munity. The more than 100-year-old “Knowing that we are the Durham Fair has been canlargest country fair in the celed four times before, for State of Connecticut as well natural disasters and war. It as one of the state’s largest would have been held Sept. mass gathering events, has 24-27. played a critical role in this Daniel Miramant, president decision,” he said. “We have been consistently monitorof the Durham Agricultural ing the progress of both FedFair Association, said in a statement Thursday, May 14 eral and State guidelines to that the decision on whether determine its impact on our to hold the fair has been on Fair.” the minds of the planning Miramant said they are comcommittee for weeks. mitted to returning “stronger
than ever” in the fall of 2021. On Wednesday, May 13 the Berlin Fair board of directors announced on Facebook the cancellation of their 2020 fair as well. It would have been held Sept. 18-20.
Last month, the Planning and Zoning Commission
Newport Realty asked that the purchase price for the property be decreased due to the renovations required to maintain and restore the building. “We leaned toward demolition initially because we were concerned that this See Contract, A17
Gary E. Schmidt, Berlin Fair president, said in a statement that the decision was made with heavy hearts. “We take great pride in the fact that this is the Premier Event for the town of Berlin and surrounding areas for 71 years,” he said. “It has been and will continue to be a big part of the lives of members, See Fairs, A21
The building at 861 Farmington Ave. in Berlin, former home to the Country Kitchen and the Drain Doctor, will live on. The structure had been considered for demolition. File photo
R229860
By Bailey Wright Record-Journal staff
The amendment, voted on at the Tuesday, May 5 meeting, reduced the sales price of the property to $10,000 in exchange for Newport retaining the existing building.
voted 4-3 in recommending to the council that the building demolition not occur on the basis that the property displayed historical significance.