Dear Editor,
The Glass House would like to provide you with some idea of the impact reduced Metro-North service to New Canaan would have on our operation, and also on other businesses in town.
Our visitor survey reveals the following data:
- 25 percent of our visitors arrive by Metro North
- 50 percent of our visitors eat at restaurants in downtown New Canaan
- 25 percent of our visitors also shopped at New Canaan stores
- 10 percent of our visitors attended other in-town attractions such as Grace Farms, Waveny Park, Carriage Barn Arts Center, Gores Pavilion, and more.
Our Annual Visitation ranges between 12,000 to 13,000 visitors per season (seasons run May 1 through Nov. 30 each year).
Substantially all of our visitors travel to visit the Glass House during “off-peak” hours.
Accordingly, approximately 3,000 visitors per year arrive by train to the Glass House Visitor Center at 199 Elm St., located conveniently across from the train station.
Also, 6,500 visitors per year dine at local restaurants and 3,250 visitors per year shop in downtown New Canaan. Approximately 1,300 visit other local attractions in the area.
In addition, three of our year-round staff and several of our hourly seasonal workers are dependent upon Metro-North to get to and from work.
The proposed reduction in Metro-North service will have a significant negative impact upon the Glass House operation.
We believe it will hurt many other businesses and residents as well.
We appreciate the efforts our Selectmen and representatives make to forestall the service reductions.
Regards
Greg Sages
Executive Director, The Glass House