Planning & Zoning Approves Greenwich Plaza Renovation Project

GREENWICH, CT — At long last, Greenwich Plaza will finally get a much-needed facelift.

The Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved plans Tuesday night that will demolish the old 16,349 square-foot Bow Tie Cinemas movie theater on Railroad Avenue and, in its place, construct a new mixed use restaurant and retail space with a pedestrian plaza and better access to the train platform.

The restaurant will measure about 5,000 square feet, and the retail space will be roughly 2,000 square feet.

The project will also include the re-facing of the remaining mixed-use building, and both interior and exterior improvements to the train station.

Sidewalks will be replaced, a crosswalk with bumpouts on either side will be added in front of the plaza, and new plantings and a "green wall" will be installed.

Commissioners approved the plans with a condition that hours of operation at the station be expanded: 4:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Additionally, the Greenwich Tree Warden will be consulted on the replacement of affected trees as a result of construction.

Before the vote to approve, Commissioner Margarita Alban noted when the plaza reopens, if there is a parking issue found by the applicant or the town, the parties involved would work to find solutions that could include a valet parking option.

Plans for a major revitalization project at Greenwich Plaza were abandoned in 2019. That iteration, which was much bigger than the current plan, would have built a new luxury movie theater.

The town of Greenwich and The Ashforth Company, who owns Greenwich Plaza on Railroad Avenue, have held a public-private partnership for over 50 years, ever since the train station, commuter lot and plaza office buildings were built in the 1960’s.

As part of a project to redevelop the plaza in 2019, the town would have sold the air rights over the Greenwich Plaza office buildings at 2 Steamboat Road to Ashforth, but a deal was never struck and the plans fell apart.

The movie theater was already in financial trouble before it closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The building's physical deficiencies have also worsened over the years, thus necessitating a demolition.