Large Upscale Apartment Building Proposed For Downtown Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — An upscale seven-story, 192-unit residential building is being proposed just north of East Putnam Avenue between Church Street and Sherwood Place in downtown Greenwich.

There would be 288 parking spaces, with the ground floor and sub surface dedicated to parking and the six floors above to rental residences and amenities.

Last fall, New York City-based real estate developer, SJP Properties, and a local developer, Eagle Ventures, submitted a pre-application to the Planning & Zoning Commission. The formal application is now listed as pending on the P&Z website, and has not been scheduled to go before the commission yet.

"This application signifies the next step in our efforts to bring an upscale, contextual residential development to downtown Greenwich, while also helping the Town to increase its stock of new, best-in-class community housing," the project's development team said in a news release.

"Given the limited housing options available to the town’s residents, as well as those who provide much-needed services to the community, but do not have access to housing here, this development will provide a unique opportunity for those seeking rental housing to reside in Greenwich without compromising on amenities, finishes or location."

The project was filed under 8-30g, Connecticut's affordable housing statute. The statute stipulates that each town in the state must have 10 percent of housing units be designated as affordable. Greenwich has yet to meet the mandate at around 5.3 percent.

Town officials and lawmakers in Greenwich have opposed 8-30g, because they say developers can come into towns that aren't in compliance and ignore local planning and zoning regulations and build large developments, as long as 30 percent of units are affordable.

This in turn takes local control away from planning and zoning, and damages the architectural character of the town with large buildings that aren't necessarily wanted, town officials say.

The development team said the building "features a contextual inspired architectural design intended to blend in with the various historic buildings surrounding the property, will also include a collection of lifestyle amenities and offer views of the Long Island Sound."

Developers said in a news release the project would "invigorate the Greenwich rental market" and allow Greenwich’s public sector workers and first responders — including teachers, police officers, hospital staff and others — to live and work in town.

"This significant infusion of new housing options is expected to fulfill an urgent need among Greenwich’s existing workforce, many of whom have been priced out of the market due to the lack of affordable housing and a near-absence of available rentals in the area," developers said in a news release, adding that the housing would also benefit neighboring businesses.

They also said the project would incorporate design features to reduce traffic and enhance pedestrian safety, while providing greenspace.

SJP Properties has been owning and developing luxury residential and Class A commercial properties in the New York Metropolitan area for 40 years. Real estate developer Eagle Ventures was founded by James P. Cabrera, a Greenwich native, in 2010.

Earlier this month, Greenwich's delegation to Hartford said they would be introducing legislation aimed at reforming 8-30g. Lawmakers said there are ways to address affordable housing at the local level, such as the town's affordable housing trust fund.

First Selectman Fred Camillo recently that Greenwich has seen more 8-30g applications for developments in the last year than in the previous few decades. 8-30g was implemented in 1989.

Late last month, a proposal for a six-story residential apartment building containing 110 units on Benedict Place and Benedict Court near Greenwich Avenue was submitted to Planning & Zoning.

The proposal was also filed under 8-30g.