Stratford Patch reports a development has been proposed to the Town Council for the former Center School property of over 100 apartments. It would include 100 residential apartments including a 4- and 5-story building. https://patch.com/connecticut/stratford/over-100-apartments-proposed-center-school-site-stratford
Previous discussion with town citizens seemed to indicate that the town would be looking for mixed-use occupancy and a max. height of 3 stories. However, with the lack of developers interested in submitting bids on those specifications the Town Council seems more open to projects that didn’t fit with the ideal usage.
The property neighbors our business and while the construction will be a major disruption to us we’re hoping for a positive development. The property is in the Transit Oriented District and within walking distance to the train station and Stratford Center businesses.
The obvious wrongs of the Stratford Walk project, ie, $1 for 3 acres of prime real estate, 5 story apartments, residents of 132 apartments pouring out onto Sutton Place, a 17 year tax abatement, are not my only objection to this project. TOD has been in planning and working for the past many years, but Covid-19 has altered business and our lives now and for the future. With many people working from home there will be many fewer commuters. I repeat, many fewer commuters, especially using trains. Stratford’s need for more commuter apartments is no longer viable.
Hi Mitzi!
I participated in some of the steering committee meetings on this project and this is not what was envisioned by the many residents that came out to have their say. I don’t think anyone I talked to wanted or promoted a project this size. You make a number of valid points and it is not my ideal use of the property, either. It is being promoted as being to commuters, but I don’t even think that this is targeting commuters as 80% of the project (I think I remember seeing that but I didn’t go dig it up right now) will be affordable housing at around $1200 / mo. “Commuters” with jobs in Stamford and NYC are looking for something a little more upscale than affordable housing, so that doesn’t fit in my opinion.
Thanks for your input and hope you are well!
Kyle