Real Estate A Bright Spot In Fairfield's Post-Coronavirus Economy

FAIRFIELD, CT — There’s bad news and good news for Fairfield as the town continues on the path to recovery after the coronavirus pandemic brought life across Connecticut to a standstill this spring.

The bad news is the slow pace at which certain businesses are being allowed to reopen and the good news is an uptick in the real estate market, according to Fairfield’s first selectwoman.

“I’m a little disappointed in the news about the governor just canceling the phase three reopening,” First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said at a Board of Selectmen meeting Monday, shortly after Gov. Ned Lamont announced the third phase of Connecticut’s reopening would not happen in mid-July, as planned. “… There are so many businesses that have been waiting to reopen in the phase three section of this.”

The third phase would've included the return of bars and larger outdoor event capacity for things like concerts and racetracks. The governor announced late last week that bars wouldn't reopen in mid-July and hasn't given a definitive date on when they might be able to return to business. The delay also means that private social gatherings will be limited to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors for the foreseeable future.

“It could have been done in, I think, a more reasonable way,” Kupchick said. “… We have to be safe, but we also have to live and our economy is not doing great in Connecticut.”

One economic bright spot for Fairfield is the real estate market, Kupchick said, noting that building permits are up and “real estate is moving like crazy” as thousands of New York residents relocate to Connecticut in the wake of the massive virus outbreak the tri-state area suffered in the spring.

“I’m excited about the prospect of Greenfield Hill being reignited in the marketplace,” she said.

Selectwoman Nancy Lefkowitz expressed optimism about signs of coronavirus recovery in the state.

“Seeing how well Connecticut is doing and then reading the news about where some of the other states are, it’s at least encouraging from a health perspective that we are doing so well,” she said.

While many states have experienced recent coronavirus spikes, cases in Connecticut have been gradually declining since the virus peaked in April. In Fairfield, there have been 655 total known coronavirus cases, 143 virus-associated deaths and 430 patient recoveries, according to town data. New cases largely leveled off in early June in town, and have increased very gradually since then. Over 90 percent of the Fairfield patients who died were connected to an eldercare facility in town.

Kupchick emphasized Monday that residents should remain vigilant about social distancing and avoiding large groups. She also noted that Fairfield’s town offices fully reopened about a week ago, after months of staff working remotely, although members of the public are still required to make an appointment for town business.