Redevelopment of West Avenue Wasteland Inches Forward

The 12-acre wasteland on West Avenue just south of I-95—once a neighborhood of Mom and Pop shops and frame houses—is getting a new look.

Last week, the Planning & Zoning Commission approved the first phase of the “District 95/7 SoNo” project, which includes 232 luxury apartments above ground-level retail space in two five-story buildings that will reflect the character of Norwalk historical architecture. Back in June, the Common Council .

Spinnaker Real Estate Partners LLC, the project developer, is bullish on the real estate market in Norwalk, but it’s deferring plans to build out a high-rise office building and hotel on the site.

It seems West Avenue is becoming the new go-to destination for luxury apartment construction in Norwalk.

On July 20, the Commission approved a mixed use just north of I-95 on West Avenue (the Orchard-to-Merwin streets block) with 325 apartment units in addition to restaurant and retail space. In that case, the developer, Belpointe Capital LLC, has the task of evicting tenants first.

In contrast, south of I-95, the great swath of dirt was created in the 1990s when successive demolitions cleared the area, leaving it construction-ready.

The two new buildings are designed to look like traditional city blocks comprised of separate buildings in slightly different styles and building materials to create visual interest. Retail shops will occupy the ground-floor level.

The low scale of the development is a boon for the , which until recently occupied the yellow-brick 1897 landmark just to the south on West Avenue.

The church has been shuttered for several years and is for sale.

Among its distinctions are stained glass windows, including the “Jesus Christ” window facing directly north to the development, said Ray Rumer, a former member, who’s grateful that a skyscraper won’t be going up to obscure the light.

“True north light is the most natural light of the four directions,” he said. “It’s a spiritual thing.”

Although the new building directly to the north will be five stories high, its recreation plaza with swimming pool will be at second-floor level, allowing for sunlight to continue to flood the stained glass window.

Whether that’s by design or serendipity couldn’t be immediately determined as the firm’s principal, Clayton Fowler, was traveling and unavailable to comment.

The two buildings will have a combined 16,500 square feet of retail space and two levels of underground garage. Twenty-four apartment units will be reserved for affordable housing occupants, defined as households earning no more than 80 per cent of the state’s median income.

Beinfield Architecture, PC, of 1 Marshall St. in SoNo, is the project’s architect. Spinnaker is affiliated with 95-7 Ventures LLC, located at 20 Marshall St.

Spinnaker’s next step is to prepare detailed construction plans which have to go through the building department approval process. Construction is scheduled to get underway early in 2012.