Filling the gaps on Federal Road
Developments aim to keep traffic moving north toward Four Corners
Federal Road has long been a hotbed of retail and service businesses.
From the string of auto dealerships on the southern end of the road in Danbury to the up-andcoming Four Corners area of Brookfield, the road offers an endless array of big box and small businesses. National chains and mom-and-pop shops thrive side by side, taking advantage of the traffic pouring off I-84 and Route 7.
Now, a lesser known and lesser traveled area of Federal Road is expanding its offerings and will help to link the busy retail corridor with the budding Four Corners area. The western side of Federal Road (Route 202), from Junction Road north to the Route 7 intersection, is coming to life with new housing and retail.
Two new shopping centers and housing developments complement the stretch’s existing plazas and businesses. One of the new centers, at 540 Federal Road, is open for business and four of the six storefronts are leased. The plaza sits at the entrance of Oak Meadows, a 125unit housing development.
While 540 Federal Road is a small center at 6,000 square feet, just to the south a much larger plaza is taking shape at 450 Federal Road. It will be 36,000 square feet with a drive-through capability and the builder, Minino Homes, has approvals for two additional buildings — 15,000 and 20,000 square feet — on the lot.
Minino Homes also built Oak Meadows and the plaza at 450 Federal Road.
Scott Lavelle, a broker with Re/Max in Brookfield, represents the developer on the commercial and residential end.
“Federal Road to the south has always been prime real estate because of the traffic. We’re trying to pull traffic to northern Federal Road,” Lavelle said. “They are doing that with the Four Corners and 540 and 450 Federal Road. Also, the Steiners have plans for the cornfield. There’s so much activity on this road. I think this is the future development of Brookfield. That’s what the developers are banking on.”
More growth
The Steiner family, which has for years allowed Brookfield to utilize part of its cornfield as a
soccer and lacrosse field, has an approved master plan to build a mixed-use development on the property. Construction on a medical building at 401 Federal Road is expected to start within the year.
Across the street from the cornfield, Danbury-based BRT Cos. completed within the last two years Barnbeck Place, a 165-unit residential development.
“The economy is starting to ramp up so it allows people to take these chances,” Brookfield First Selectman Steve Dunn said. “That’s where we want the development, on either side of Federal Road.”
Betsy Paynter, economic and community development manager in Brookfield, added: “It’s creating retail and services north of Costco. There’s such an opportunity for growth there. It’s a whole new tax generator and service provider for the community.”
Dunn said he is confident the development projects on that stretch of Federal Road will be successful.
“They are businesspeople. They don’t build these things for nothing,” he said. “They are smart guys.”
Confidence booster
The success of Brookfield Village, a multi-use development at Brookfield Town Center (Four Corners), is bolstering Dunn’s resolution about the new developments. With phase I of Brookfield Village only recently completed, few residential or commercial availabilities remain.
“Would people come in and rent there? That was the question because people weren’t used to coming there,” Dunn said. “It’s more than 90 percent rented. It’s looking really good.”
In addition to 540 Federal Road landing a martial arts academy, nutrition store, catering business and nail salon, 450 Federal Road has already lined up three small tenants of 2,000 to 3,000 square feet.
Lavelle is hoping to sign a restaurant and other bigger tenants as construction continues.
“It’s a great location and beautiful building. It will be one of the nicer buildings on Federal Road,” he said. “It also sits above the road and will be great exposure for the tenants.”
Congestions: Embrace it or avoid it
Lavelle said another advantage of the developments is that customers have a choice of highway exits to use. Exit 11 off Route 7 will take drivers down a busy stretch of Federal Road past Kohl’s, Costco, ShopRite and hundreds of other businesses, including doz- ens of food options. The busy stretch of Federal Road can also be bypassed by using Exit 12, allowing quicker access to the new plazas.
“There’s so much less congestion,” Lavelle said. “That will help attract tenants to the area.”
So will the pricing. Lease rates are more competitive on the 400 and 500 blocks of Federal Road as they are not in the middle of the main retail areas.
“We saw this place and liked it a lot. It’s not far from a lot of gyms and it’s a nice spot,” said Erik Padilla, who recently opened Foundation Rx, a vitamin and nutrition shop, at 540 Federal Road. “The rent is pretty good, too, comparatively. We just fell in love with it.”