Conversations on Stonington site set
Apartment project seen as key to Pawcatuck revitalization effort
— The Economic Development Commission has scheduled a virtual and in person “community conversation” on Wednesday, July 29, to discuss a plan to construct a $30 million mixed-income apartment building on the former Campbell Grain site.
The project is seen as crucial to the ongoing revitalization effort in downtown Pawcatuck.
The virtual presentation will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Links and call-in numbers can be found on the town website, stonington-ct.gov.
Anyone who wishes to submit questions in advance can send them to commission Chairman Dave Hammond at davehammond0203@ gmail.com. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions online once the formal presentation concludes.
An in-person question and answer session will be held after the virtual presentation, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Pawcatuck Fire House truck bays with doors open. Masks must be worn at all times and social distancing practices must be adhered to.
The event is not a formal public hearing. That will be held later this year when the developer, WinnCompanies of Boston, plans to submit its application to the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval.
Anyone with questions or who needs special accommodation for the two community conversations
can contact the Department of Planning at (860) 535-5095 or dop@stonington-ct.gov.
On Monday, officials from WinnCompanies of Boston outlined its plans to the Economic Development Commission.
Those plans call for a four-story building over a garage with open space along the Pawcatuck River. The building would include a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Rents will range from market rate such as $1,800 a month for a two-bedroom unit to lesser monthly rents for tenants earning 30%, 50% and 80% of the area household median income, which is $92,000 for a three-person household.
Winn’s attorney for the project, Bill Sweeney of New London, said this week the project would require the town to grant about a half-dozen variances and waivers of requirements such as those governing height, density and a project with all multifamily residential use. He also indicated Winn would be taking advantage of state affordable housing law that allows such projects to be built without meeting all zoning requirements.
Winn’s plan is to seek local zoning approval this summer and fall, in November apply for financing from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and Department of Housing, and begin construction in November 2021. The project would be complete in April of 2023.