Oxford’s Quarry Walk continues to expand
The Quarry Walk is shaping up to be the downtown hub that developers and Oxford officials had hoped.
“Our whole concept of creating a village within a town and constant foot traffic for our tenants and all these services amenities of our customer base is proving out,“said Kathy Ekstrom, development manager for Haynes Development, which is building the $70 million town center project along Route 67.
Haynes is preparing to add another batch of medical and service businesses to its lineup at the 30-acre hub in coming months.
Window Treatments Unlimited and Rydzik and Rydzik CPA will open this month while Rose Insurance Co. and the Wellness Center of Oxford are expected to join in July, Ekstrom said.
“It’s always been our dream to open a behavior health facility in Oxford,” said Michael Allen, CEO of the Wellness Center, which will offer behavior healthbase services, like family, marriage and individual therapy, for clients.
Allen plans to house roughly 20 health care providers in his 2,500 square-foot space across from the Quarry Walk’s 50,000-square-foot medical office space that opened in May.
Sally Orthopedic Special
ist opened as the first tenant in the medical office in the project last month. Griffin Faculty Health, which is connected to Griffin Hospital, will be opening in July.
Several food spots will also be opening this summer, including Sitting Duck Tavern and “Shake This,” a smoothie and juice bar. Seymour-based Tea with Tracy is expected to open another location later this year.
“People now have a place to go to get those services,” Ekstrom said.
Prior to Quarry Walk, Oxford lacked a commercial town center, but town officials said transforming the former stone quarry into the new downtown has breathed new life into the town’s business and community appeal.
“It’s really kind of exciting,”
said Oxford First Selectman George Temple. “I’m happy with the way things are moving forward here.”
Haynes was approved earlier at the start of 2019 to build 150 units of one- and two-bedroom apartments along with purchasable penthouses. The company has started construction of the first building, slated for 78 units of luxury apartments in January.
Apartment rents will range from $1,800 to $2,300 a month; purchase of the penthouse units will cost between $250,000 and $375,000.
Temple said the growing list of stores and restaurants gives residents several reasons to hang out in the Quarry Walk commercial hub. The town center also includes a grocery store and other retailers.
Temple said he hopes the Quarry Walk will kick-start future development throughout the town.
“Once other people see the success that the tenants have down there, they’ll be all over it, and I think that will transfer up Route 67,” he said.