Norwalk Bank Building Transformed Into $20M Health, Retail Center

Information via Seligson Properties

NORWALK, CT — Seligson Properties recently completed renovations transforming and modernizing a historic bank building located at 637 West Avenue in Norwalk into a new state-of-the-art medical facility for Stamford Health and a fully revamped branch office for Wells Fargo Bank.

According to a news release provided by Seligson Properties, the comprehensive $20 millionrenovation was designed to reposition the existing three-story, 27,000-square-foot building, built in 1955, into 24,000 square feet of signature medical office space for multi-specialty care and physical therapy on the lower, ground, mezzanine and second levels, as well as a completely updated retail bank branch occupying 3,000 square feet on the ground level.

"Norwalk residents benefit from having a wide variety of local top-tier healthcare options," Mayor Harry Rilling said in a news release. "I want to thank Norwalk-based Seligson Properties, a highly respected developer, for their contributions to our community over the years."

According to the real estate firm, a key challenge of the project entailed protecting the building's distinguished features while equipping it to meet the needs of a modern healthcare facility and banking center, as well as phasing construction to allow continuous operation for Wells Fargo and Stamford Health until their new quarters were completed.

"We are thrilled to support Stamford Health’s exciting expansion and maintain a vital location for Wells Fargo Bank in Norwalk through the innovative repurposing of 637 West Avenue," Seligson Properties CEO Stanley Seligson said in a news release. "Creating state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and ensuring a vibrant retail environment for Norwalk’s business community and residents has long been a key strength of our firm, and we’re proud to expand on our growing track record."

The complete gut-renovation features all new exteriors, including roofing, windows, doors, and lighting designed to enhance the building’s prominent column-lined entranceway and brick façade, a new covered exterior entrance leading to a reimagined common lobby, updated interiors, safe and accessible parking areas for 120 vehicles, a network of continuous pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, decorative landscaping, outdoor lighting and a new drive-thru banking facility, according to the real estate firm.

The property is located at the corner of West Avenue and Chapel Street in the West Avenue corridor of downtown Norwalk.

The 1.64-acre site is situated amid a dense and active regional medical corridor. Norwalk Hospital’s main campus is less than a half-mile from 637 West Avenue, and its close proximity, coupled with immediate access to major roadways, has attracted numerous medical offices in the area including Norwalk Hospital Sleep Disorders Center and Rehabilitation Services, Yale New Haven Hospital Pediatric Specialty Center, The Center for Advanced Pediatrics, Westmed Medical Group, Hartford Health Care Medical Group (St. Vincent’s Medical Center), and Davita Health Center, according to the real estate firm.

At 637 West Avenue, Stamford Health provides primary care, cardiology, endocrinology, OB-GYN, rheumatology and lab services, as well as sports rehabilitation and physical therapy services through HSS Sports Rehab. Providers for all services are accepting new patients, according to the real estate firm.

"Stamford Health is deeply committed to the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve in lower Fairfield County and beyond," Stamford Health COO Liz Longmore said in a news release. "The work completed by Seligson Properties and the enhanced services we provide at 637 West Avenue will expand access to expert, compassionate and high-quality health care for our patients in a state-of-the-art facility, closer to home."

The project architect and consulting team at 637 West Avenue include Pustola & Associates, Long Consulting, Redniss & Mead, Eric Rains Landscape Architecture, and the SLAM Collaborative.

Financing for the project was provided by Liberty Bank, Seligson Properties' longtime lending partner.

"Responding to evolving market conditions, we identified a smart opportunity to better serve the needs of existing tenants at 637 West Avenue by repurposing the historic building into a state-of-the-art healthcare facility for Stamford Health, while devoting a portion for active retail banking that revitalized Wells Fargo’s existing branch," Seligson Properties COO Michael Serrao said in a news release. "This exciting project speaks to the extraordinary partnerships we've established with Stamford Health and sustained with Wells Fargo Bank, as well as the great work done by our project design team, and the support the project has received from the community and city of Norwalk."