Down Goes the Luxe
Unlike a number of construction projects in limbo around town, you can put the Luxe officially in the dead pile. After toying with a downsized version of it, the building is officially off the FD Rich website and no longer in development.
The intended lot on the corner of Main & Greyrock is nestled in by the L of the AT&T building and is surrounded by a rather pedestrian unfriendly streetscape that is framed by several poor examples of urban planning, from the Mall's dead wall, to "the hole's" crappy... hole. While it is probably one of the less significant of Stamford's missing teeth, this forgotten corner of downtown could have used a vibrant new building.
14 comments :
What is up with all the RMS consurtuction?
-The ex-retail are next to the Classic is now going resi?
-Couple of jobs on Prospect
-The YMCA
At least this project died before it could leave yet another blighted scar in Stamford. The economy is in the tank right now, but even historically, what is it with developers around here? Why does Stamford have so many unfinished and announced-but-never-started projects?
My advice to the city would be to have all developers take out "non-completion" insurance policies that pay the city a buttload in lost tax revenue if their projects don't come to fruition.
Cue LVTFan to come in and make his case for land value taxation...
The more I read about it the more I think he is right. If you tax land high instead of building it covers off on a few angles.
1. Landlords are not incentivized to sit on undeveloped land for decades.
2. More development on the market creates more competition and creates more natural affordable housing than the 10% CTW mandate.
3. Developers are encouraged to create high quality buildings since they are punished for doing so with higher taxes.
4. Density is controlled in a more natural way. A developer wouldn't be forced to build to the max since completed projects are so few and far between. At the same time they could not afford to waste a plot with a single use piece of crap like a fast food joint swimming in a sea of parking.
Any word on whether the crap-cicle economy will tank the Mill River project?
And who is going to buy these new condos next to The Classic if there's no retail to explore? Shoulda been a grocery store.
(hey that rhymes)
maybe Zoning will lighten up in relation to the current economy...or am I totally off base?
Mill River Park project will go on. It is already funded and the first phase - taking down the dam and the concrete walls and restoring a more "natural" riverbed - has already been bid.
Re the condos next to the Classic: I guess you mean where the Baby/Kid Store was?
I walked by there today. The sign says something like *coming soon, lofts above with retail on the ground floor*.
Is the grocery store still in the works for that ground floor spot?
It's kinda sketchy to me to live above a "food" establishment, which makes me think the grocery store is nixed?
oh the "condos by the Classic" you mean Highgrove...yeah I agree with you there!
Don't you kids read my blog?
http://www.blogstamford.com/2008/06/where-will-i-buy-my-kiddie-dressers.html
They are looking for a restaurant to fill the spot.
The DSSD should make it a #1 goal to establish a high end mini mart downtown that residents can walk to. The empty storefront on the corner across from McDonalds under Landmark would be perfect.
Thanks for the link JT.
Yeah a mini mart with *fresh produce* is key in downtown proper. I miss the Korean market on Bedford...Mrs. Koo had a vision way back when :(
we also need a bakery downtown, just sayin.
Matthews Bakery on West Broad is small but outstanding - just past Adams Ave going toward the hospital. Admittedly this is slightly outside of the real downtown. Would be nice if there was one in one of the empty retail spots on Bedford.
a Stationery shop would work on Bedford too I think. Also a tiny Hardware store. and a Bike shop (go green).
while I'm on a roll, how about a SWEET clothing and accessory unique boutique :) I know I'd pay a little higher price rather than going to the mall...
YES to a bakery on Bedford! What's a girl gotta do to get a bagel shop around here - and anybody who counts Dunkin Donuts can suck it.
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