5-Story Apartment Building Planned For Downtown Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — The view of Fairfield from a passing train could be about to change, as a five-story affordable apartment building is planned for a site near the downtown station.

Developer Fairfield Station Lofts LLC on Tuesday presented its proposal for apartments at 78 Unquowa Place to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission.

“We anticipate that all these units, be they affordable or market rate, are going to be very, very attractive,” said attorney John Fallon, who represented the developer during the hearing, held via teleconference.

The proposed project, called Fairfield Station Lofts, would include a 31,298-square-foot building with 26 apartments on the 0.32-acre triangular lot, currently occupied by a single-family home built in 1884. The site neighbors the train tracks and downtown station, as well as a pediatric health center. The planned approximately 65-foot building would have a ground-floor parking structure with 27 spaces, and four stories of apartments.

The units would range from one bedroom to three bedrooms, and would vary in size from about 800 square feet to about 2,200 square feet. Four apartments would be designated for people earning less than 60 percent the statewide median income and four would be for those earning less than 80 percent of the statewide median income, according to Fallon.

“I don’t have to belabor the need for affordable housing,” he said.

The zoning application for Fairfield Station Lofts was made under state law Section 8-30g, which dictates the only way the commission could deny the proposal is by proving it poses a threat to public health, welfare and safety that outweighs Fairfield's need for affordable housing. Section 8-30g applies to towns where less than 10 percent of housing stock meets state criteria to be recognized as affordable. According to Fallon, 2.6 percent of Fairfield housing stock is affordable.

The town’s Affordable Housing Committee had a favorable response to the project after a presentation in December, Fallon said, adding the building is intended to attract young adults, empty nesters and commuters.

Architect Rich Granoff told the zoning commission Tuesday that the building will have a light gray brick facade with metal paneling, oversized closets in the apartments, and a roof deck with dining areas, a fire pit and grilling stations.

“The views from the rooftop here are really spectacular,” he said.

The principle on the project is Matt Finkle, who is also involved in the development of another downtown apartment building, a 13-unit complex at 1675 Post Road, which is already under construction.

Commission members asked the presenters about the project’s construction process, the building design, the landscaping, emergency vehicle access, parking and traffic.

During public comment, nearby property owner Carey Mercurio expressed concern that parking from the apartment building would overflow into his lot.

Finkle responded that because the development plans to target commuters and empty nesters, he didn’t think it would be an issue.

“It’s a manageable situation,” Finkle said. “… This is a transit-oriented property.”