The partnership proposing to replace the commercial block between the Post Road, Corbin Drive and Interstate 95 say on their new website that it should help, not hurt traffic and parking downtown.
David Genovese, president of Baywater Properties (which owns the land, together with developer Penny Glassmeyer’s PG Properties), recently sent a letter to news organizations announcing the new website, www.yourdowntowndarien.com.
A rendering from proposers of a downtown development showing the view from in front of Darien Sport Shop, looking east, down the Post Road (from the new website YourDowntownDarien.com)
“We hope that this site will help residents of Darien get information about our proposal with ease,” Genovese wrote in the letter. “On the site, residents can download our P&Z presentation video, as well as the presentation itself, and many videos and documents which are important to consider as it relates to parking, public space, and pedestrian flows downtown.”
One part of the website has a FAQs (“frequently asked questions”) format discussing concerns about the proposal, such as traffic, parking and other issues. Here are excerpts on some of the points made (see the website for the full statements):
Parking: “We will be increasing the amount of parking significantly through a number of ways. We wanted to be mindful not to be a burden on the surrounding community and to provide more parking than exists today. We plan to significantly increase the onsite parking and increase the street parking available today. On the Boston Post Road, we will remove the existing “back-out” parking and replace it with parallel parking.”
Traffic: “We will be studying the traffic implications of the Project in the months to come, but we believe that with good planning, the traffic situation of downtown Darien may actually improve as a result of the Project. […] New side streets off of the Boston Post Road will serve to take pressure off of the Boston Post Road and should improve the flow of cars through the downtown. […] [A] large number of office employees would be expected to commute to work via Metro North […]”
Impact on Darien schools: “The units are expected to measure 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, and given that there will be no outdoor amenities and that the project is located in downtown Darien, we do not expect young families to purchase or rent the units.” Also, the project is expected to generate significantly more taxes for the town (which spends most of its tax dollars on schools).
Timing: “We hope to receive approval for our project in the early part of 2016, and to start the construction in late 2016 or early 2017.”
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See also these articles on the proposal:
- Two BIG Proposed Projects Would Change the Face of Downtown, Noroton Heights
- Statement by David Genovese on His Post Rd/Corbin Dr Redevelopment Project
- VIDEO: Watch the Full Presentations of the Downtown/Noroton Heights Redevelopment Proposals
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Here’s David Genovese’s letter announcing the new website:
To the editor:
We are pleased to announce the launch of our website for our Darien project, www.yourdowntowndarien.com.
We hope that this site will help residents of Darien get information about our proposal with ease, so that they can read about it, see the images, and study some of the background materials that have formed the basis of our analysis as to why this project as laid out makes sense in Darien.
We have already been flooded with calls for support for the project, and we wanted to give residents the opportunity to really study and understand the project. We hope that this makes it easier for all of you who may be asked about it.
On the site, residents can download our P&Z presentation video, as well as the presentation itself, and many videos and documents which are important to consider as it relates to parking, public space, and pedestrian flows downtown.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or comments, or if you think of any ways in which we might improve the website. Our goal is to encourage the flow of accurate information about our project to the public.
All the best,
David Genovese
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