A New DowntownFirst Look at Concept DrawingsPresented in March, 2003
Click on images for larger pictures Starwood Ceruzzi gave city residents a first look at a first concept for a new south side of downtown in March, 2003. The concept includes approximately 270 "market price" apartments composed mostly of one and two bedroom units and a 125,000 sq. ft. "big box" retail store. The retail store would be located across the street from Home Depot where Life Touch Studios and Housatonic Lumber are currently located. Existing businesses in the area would be relocated to a 27 acre tract of land along the flood control walls on the Naugatuck River. The south side of Main Street from the retail store up to the old Howard & Barber's would be torn down and replaced with apartment houses fronting directly on Main Street. Other apartments would be constructed between Main Street and the flood control walls along the Housatonic. The city is also currently moving through the permit process for a Greenway that will run along the both the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers on top of the flood control walls and across O'Sullivan's Island. Click here to learn more about the Greenway. The current concept does not include touching the old Vonetes, Howard & Barbers or Hubbell shoes, but the concept is not final and the project is likely to change significantly before construction actually begins. (Vonetes and Howard and Barber were torn down at the end of 2003 and Hubbell's is being relocated to Pershing Drive.) For even larger (and slower loading) pictures of the plan click on the following links: Click here for a recent story (May, 2004) about downtown from the Connecticut Post. |