Westport-based Save the Children today announced it will relocate its headquarters and almost 300 employees to Fairfield.
Save the Children’s new home is at Riverview Park, 501 Kings Highway East, Fairfield. It is owned by Fischel Properties, headed by Westporter Harold Fischel. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
The global relief and development organization sold its nearly 60,000 square-foot Wilton Road headquarters on Nov. 26 to STC Green LLC of Westport for $11.9 million, and has signed a contract with Rooster River Plaza LLC to lease office space at Riverview Office Park, located at 501 Kings Highway East in Fairfield, an announcement said.
Save the Children President and CEO Carolyn Miles said the move positions the global nonprofit for future growth.
“When we first moved into our Westport headquarters in 1974, we had 75 employees. Today, we have approximately 900 employees across the U.S., with nearly 300 based in Westport,” she said.
“While we have planned for growth in our agency, we always knew that the Wilton Road headquarters might not be able to accommodate our increasing size and needs. For years, we have discussed that one of our options would be to sell the building and lease office space elsewhere.”
Miles said Save the Children has a history of support in Fairfield County and wanted to ensure that history continues.
Save the Children said 290 employees will relocate from its current Wilton Road headquarers in Westport to Fairfield next year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“We have been a part of Fairfield County for nearly 40 years. We deeply value the tremendous backing we’ve received here during that time, and made a point to keep Fairfield County as our home,” she said. “We are also excited about our new location, and the opportunity to engage with the community of Fairfield.”
The transition to the new space is expected to be made final in the spring of 2014, the announcement said.
I am sure I do not have the details, but I have to ask—with Bridegwater leaving Westport, why did we let Save the Children find space in Fairfield and not Westport? I hope there is a good answer as we know we have lots of office space to fill.
Unlike Bridgewater employees who hole up in their discreet locations, many transported to and from work in company buses, the Save the Children’s 300 employees contribute to our downtown health and their loss will be felt, unless David Waldman is planning to bring in a like number to shop, eat and go to the Westport Library.
This is not a David Waldman issue. Whatever he does with the buidlings and land will be better for Westport. The result of buying the buildings from Save the Children ‘should’ provide Westport more tax revenue as I believe Save the Children paid no taxes.
But my issue is we knew Bridgewater was leaving and we knew Save the Children was leaving. What did we do to keep Save the Chidlren in Westport and absorb some of the space that will be left when Bridgewater leaves? It would keep 300 people working in Westport spending money on our shops, restaurants, etc. As we know, once Bridgewater leaves, we will lose that juch desired revenue for our stores, etc.
Anyone know if anything was tried? This is now 2 huge ‘companies’ leaving Westport and both leaving will hurt businesses, etc.
David Waldman was never an “issue”….he is part of the solution. A better, present-tense question: Is anything being tried?
Dick—the article says they ‘signed a contract’. This is all sad and very disappiointing if there is no good reason for them to be in Fairfield versus staing in Westport. Our town officials have known for almost a year—since early January 2013 they wanted to sell their building. Dan Woog had it on his blog back January 6, 2013.
I have contacted our First and Second Selectman (the new ones) to see if anything can be done. Being tried as you say. Lets hope, but hope is not a strategy.
Would like to know if there is a reason we let this go? I will also continue to find out if we can do something to keep them.
Dick and residents of Westport—it appears nothing was done by Gordon Joseloff, once he knew Save the Children was selling their buidling, to try and keep them in Westport. I could be wrong, but so far nothing has been told to me that will dispute this. He had a year of warning but it appears he did nothing to try and keep the 300 employees in Westport.
When Bridgewater made the deal to leave Westport and go to Stamford, Joseloff complained he was never told by the Governor. Well what is the excuse now?
I do not want this to be a politcal discussion. Not at all. But unless more comes out, Gordon Josleoff lost another 300 people to work in Westport that would utilize our town, businesses, restaurants, etc. Could be very disappointing.