Developers Seek To Demolish Darien Office Park, Build 175 Apartments
DARIEN, CT — Developers are seeking to redevelop the Thorndal Circle Office Park into an apartment complex with 175 residential units.
The Trammell Crow Company, a global real estate development firm, is the contract purchaser of the property that’s currently owned by the Nielsen Company.
Officials appeared before the Darien Planning & Zoning Commission on July 9 for a public hearing on a request for a zone map amendment to rezone about 8.7 acres from the Designed Office Zone to the Designed Office Multifamily Residential Overlay Zone (DOMR), and a zoning regulation amendment. The meeting was broadcast on Darien TV79 and is available for on-demand viewing.
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A few residents spoke about traffic concerns related to plans for a new curb cut on Hecker Avenue.
The commission did not take any action but signaled support for the requests. Commissioners did acknowledge a big hurdle for the project will be satisfying people on Hecker. A vote on the amendment requests is expected by July 30.
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According to a brief presentation before the public hearing, the apartment complex would be three stories and feature outdoor amenity areas. About 2.4 acres would be left as undeveloped open space.
“The property is really centrally located. One of the biggest amenities I see… is the proximity to the library, and of course, being close to downtown and other shops and restaurants nearby, said the applicant’s attorney Jason Klein, of Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP. “It’s this central location combined with the demand for housing and different housing options that make this property uniquely suited to help the town meet its housing goals as enunciated in the plan of conservation and development.”
The POCD labeled the Thorndal property as part of a possible development opportunity area, Klein added.
Senior Vice President for Trammell Crow Company Michael Adamo said Darien has a lot to offer between its parks, beaches, access to transit, retail and restaurants.
“We were introduced to the site and thought it would be a really unique opportunity for multifamily development,” he told the commission. “We’re really trying to build the apartment community as a neighborhood. We’re trying to spread out the buildings, the parking, the programs and the indoor and outdoor space in a way that makes it feel as though it would be a new neighborhood in Darien.”
Resident Rolf Obin said granting the amendment requests now would be “putting the cart before the horse.” He expressed concern about the proposed curb cut and traffic impact from the project.
“If you’ve ever tried to turn off of Fitch Avenue onto Hecker heading towards Noroton Avenue, that is a white knuckle experience because of the way people come around that corner,” Obin said. “To add more traffic onto Hecker Avenue with a new curb cut from this development, I don’t care what analysis has been put together, there is going to be more traffic on Hecker Avenue.”
Klein said if the project moves forward, the applicant will file a subsequent site plan and special permit application. During those meetings, Klein said there will be opportunities to “dive into the details of the traffic impact, or lack thereof, associated with the redevelopment of this property.”
Jerry Nielsen, president of The Nielsen Company, talked about the genesis of the project.
“Looking at the office market for the past 15 years, there’s been a decline. We decided it’s time to redevelop,” he said, praising what David Genovese has done with the Corbin District project.
“We need more diverse housing in this town. I’ve grown up here and I’ve seen people go from empty nesters to New Canaan, or to other towns because they don’t have the type of housing they need,” he said.
Genovese spoke briefly and praised Trammell Crow Company for their work.
“They are locally sensitive, they build quality projects and they manage them really well,” Genovese said. “We’ve got people who are longtime residents who want to stay and downsize and have a simpler life, or people who are moving here to be near grandchildren. I see this as a great opportunity for Darien.”
Commissioner Amy Barsanti said it “makes sense to have this project redeveloped.”
“I do appreciate the level of interest you’ve had already from our commission and the public. I like what I’m hearing so far with regards to your engagement and your ability to listen,” she said.
Fellow Commissioner Michael Nedder said he hoped to see “walkability” incorporated into the project.
“We want to see this as part of an integrated part of downtown and this part of Darien. You talk about making it a community, really build it into the community. I think it’s going to be a great project for the town,” Nedder said.
The project previously received approvals from the Darien Sewer Commission and Environmental Protection Commission.
Those meetings, and the July 9 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, can be viewed on Darien TV79.
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