Mason Street apartment building plan detailed
GREENWICH — Developers seeking to build a large new residential building on lower Mason Street say it would blend into the site, offer public amenities and serve as a gateway to that part of Greenwich.
Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission, however, want more information about the plan and assurances of how the project would benefit central Greenwich.
The plan calls for construction of a four-story apartment building with about 30 units on the east side of lower Mason Street, which is currently the site of a Honda dealership. The
property is owned by Bruce Park Associates, with Richard Margenot listed as its manager. The development proposal was submitted by Greenwich Capital.
Margenot told the Planning and Zoning Commission at a recent hearing that the property has been in his family for decades. The development team is “trying to see if we can fit something in that would benefit the town” at the site, he said. The dealership has been on the site since 1995.
The proposed apartment building would “meld with the needs of the central business district, the Avenue, perhaps develop a very pedestrian-friendly development, including some housing, some retail — and some workforce housing,” Margenot said.
J.P. Gagne, representing the developers, said the idea behind the concept is to create a “gateway entrance to Greenwich ... something significant.” The building that is proposed for the site would “really create a downtown area that’s vibrant, and that has the housing that’s needed,” Gagne said.
The number of affordable housing units that would be offered in the building has yet to be determined. The project would be allowed to have more units and a denser layout if it provides affordable housing.
The plan development also includes some public recreational space. “Gardens and plantings and benches and outdoor space” would be built over a garage as another amenity, Gagne said.
P&Z Commissioner Peter Levy had some concerns about the design of the proposed small park on the property, which would be bracketed by retaining structures and ledges.
“I don’t how comfortable I would be in that space, with two significant walls . ... It might not be a comfortable space to enjoy and gather outside,” Levy said, suggesting some alternative design ideas for the area.
Commissioners also expressed some hesitation about the size of the proposed project and its bulk.
“We have some concerns just in terms of the topography,” P&Z Commission Chairwoman Margarita Alban said. “And aren’t really sure we were getting a true amenity looking at that layout so at this point ... I don’t feel the park is a major benefit to the town, the way it’s laid out.”
The apartment concept is still in the preliminary stages and will be considered again at a later date.
Residential construction is ramping up in central Greenwich, with preliminary work and demolition commencing on another 30-unit development at 255 Milbank Ave. off Havemeyer Place. Other residential projects on Field Point Road and Sound View Drive have also transformed the neighborhood around Town Hall.
The new residential developments are expected to add more housing opportunities in the community and meet a growing demand.
“There would certainly be a demand for residential housing on the lower end of The Avenue with immediate access to shopping,” Marcia O’Kane, president of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, said in an email about the proposal on Mason. “There is also the need to offer housing to diverse and underserved populations. So it will be interesting to see what finally transpires.”