After much debate, the Danbury City Council agreed to front some money for an engineering study of Hearthstone Castle.  The city is also seeking a matching grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation to determine what needs to be done to stabilize what's left of the castle to raze it. 

Councilman Mike Haddad questioned Planning Director Dennis Elpern about the chances of receiving grant funding.  Elpern said if the grant is not approved, the City is basically dead in the water unless the Council approved the full $45,000 for the engineering plans.  But he says he's optimistic because the Trust has been very interested in the future of the Castle, which is on the National Register of Historic Structures. 

Councilman Warren Levy says he is concerned because of lack of parking, handicap accessibility and security.  He said documents comparing Hearthstone Castle to Gillette Castle weren't very helpful because that's in a state park where 200,000 visitors pass through each year.  He also noted a trust by the Gillette family to maintain Gillette Castle.

A previous study was done that took into account Tarrywile Park deed restrictions, on what uses there would be for the Castle.  It ranged from a school to an observation deck.  Mayor Mark Boughton says a lot of the recommendations are cost prohibitive and are no feasible, but even if the decision is to take the castle down and make a picnic area, an engineering plan needs to be done.

The castle could collapse because a retaining wall is in danger of falling.