Major Redevelopment Possible At Prominent Greenwich Avenue Location: Planning & Zoning Docs

GREENWICH, CT — A major redevelopment could be coming to the top of Greenwich Avenue and the corner of West Putnam Avenue.

A pre-application review is being requested by Greenwich Avenue Properties LLC & MBMB Greenwich LLC, the owner of 2 Greenwich Ave., 10 Greenwich Ave., and 10-12 W. Putnam Ave.

Pre-application reviews allow applicants to receive initial comments from the commission before submitting a formal application.

Plans call for the demolition of the three existing structures at those addresses, the consolidation of the three contiguous parcels into one unified site totaling 5,267 square feet, and the construction of a new, four-story mixed-use building containing ground-floor (2,283 square feet) and below-grade (4,276 square feet) retail spaces, along with 14 residential apartments and a rooftop deck with a 975-square-foot outdoor terrace and a 913-square-foot amenity space.

The building at 2 Greenwich Ave., which is listed as a contributing structure in the Greenwich Avenue Historic District, would be reconstructed in the spirit of its Tudor Revival character, according to materials associated with the application.

The new "complementary construction" at 10 Greenwich Ave. and around the corner at 10-12 W. Putnam Ave. would be contemporary in quality and designed to blend in with the neighborhood.

The 14 residential units - 10 one-bedroom units, two two-bedroom units, and two studio apartments - would be spread across floors two to four, the plans note.

"At the corner where Greenwich Avenue meets West Putnam Avenue stands one of the most recognizable structures in downtown Greenwich: the Tudor-Revival corner building at 2 Greenwich Avenue," the project narrative says.

"For well over a century, this building has served as a landmark, a gathering place, and a living record of the community's commercial and architectural evolution. Today, its owner brings forward a proposal that honors that legacy while securing it for the next hundred years and beyond."

Submitted documents note the Greenwich Avenue corner building has been "subjected to decades of structural compromise."

Due to multiple renovations and alterations over more than a century, a rehabilitation is "impractical and inadequate for long-term durability," making a full rebuild the only option, the project narrative says.

The result will not be a facsimile, according to the narrative.

"It will be a restoration of intent: the same Tudor massing, the same distinctive gable, the same brick-and half-timber expression that has defined this corner for generations — rebuilt to stand for another century or more."

The architect of the project is listed as New York City-based GKV Architects.

The new construction at 10 Greenwich Ave. and around the corner at 10-12 W. Putnam Ave. will be designed to "flank" the reconstructed corner building.

Inspiration for the design comes from the nearby Lafayette Court Condominiums at 4 Lafayette Court.

According to the plans, the building height would increase from around 40 feet to a proposed parapet height of approximately 52 feet to 53 feet.

"The applicant notes that the proposed increase in height and density is modest when viewed in the context of the surrounding built environment," submitted documents say. "The existing buildings on the site are already multistory. The proposed building's fourth level is set back substantially from the street, minimizing its visual impact on the streetscape."

Submitted documents say the project would benefit Greenwich by preserving a historic site, creating new residential units downtown within walking distance of the train station, and adding new retail space to increase street-level activity.

The documents also state that replacing more than 4,100 square feet of office space with a mixed-use retail and residential development would reduce parking demand because office uses generate higher peak-hour traffic.

In addition, the proposal is described as reinforcing the character of the surrounding neighborhood through a design inspired by the nearby Lafayette Court condominiums while replacing aging buildings.

The plans also outline how the project is consistent with the town's Plan of Conservation and Development, in that it would contribute to a vital downtown economy, feature sustainability, provide housing diversity, contribute open space, preserve a National Register historic structure, bring community character, and provide economic vitality.

The applicant has been advised to consult with Greenwich Historic District Commission Secretary Andrew Melillo.

The pre-application review is expected to go before the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission in the coming weeks.