If the Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission approves a reduction in parking, Avalon Bay could start work on a 250-apartment development on Canal Street as soon as this summer.
The company is ready to go, but wants to reduce the number of parking spots at the site in order to save money constructing the parking garage, according to John Guedes, president of Primrose Companies, which is overseeing the redevelopment of Canal Street downtown.
Guedes said the company wants 375 parking spots, instead of the 445 parking spots that was approved by the Planning and Zoning commission back in 2008.
The commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1 at Shelton City Hall.
“What transpired was, with the economics of it, it doesn’t work for them to build more parking spaces than they need,” Guedes said. “They’re committed to move forward. They want to begin construction in July.”
“I can’t speak for them,” Guedes said, “but my perception on it is that if the economics of it won’t work, they will not build.”
The plans call for 136 one-bedroom units, and 114 two-bedroom units in five apartment buildings built in a circle around a parking garage. The development, called “Radcliff Park,” is proposed for the site of the former Beard Asphalt plant on Canal Street, to the north of Bridge Street.
That garage was originally slated to have five levels, but if a parking reduction is approved, it would be four levels.
The original plan would have 1.8 spots per unit. The proposed changes would mean 1.5 parking spots per unit.
Other Avalon Bay complexes in Milford, Hamden, Orange, Danbury and Stamford have about 1.25 parking spaces for each unit, Guedes said. Avalon believes it will need a similar ratio in Shelton, and that the top floor of the garage would not be used by the residents if built, Guedes said.
Bigger Picture
The apartments were put on hold when the economy tanked.
But things have started to pick back up in Shelton, Guedes said.
The city is moving forward with plans to extend its Riverwalk. Road repairs on Canal Street are underway.
Guedes said once the apartment construction is complete, the new residents will draw more business to the rest of Canal Street, which is slated for a makeover under his development plans.
Guedes said eventually restaurants and shops will want to move into the other buildings and spots on Canal Street — but that they need the upscale apartment tenants to attract them.
“As the author of the master plan of development, for me it’s imperative that we get Avalon Bay commencing,” Guedes said. “Once we do, everything else will follow.”
Derby’s redevelopment zone is directly across the Housatonic River from downtown Shelton. Eclipse Development of California has until September to line up retailers for a project proposed there.
