Greenwich OKs razing Garden Catering to put 4-story, 10-unit apartment building in its place

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GREENWICH — Plans to demolish the Garden Catering site on Hamilton Avenue and build a 10-unit residence have been approved.

The Planning & Zoning Commission gave site-plan and special-permit approval Tuesday to a proposal to demolish the building at 177 Hamilton Ave., currently occupied by the restaurant, and an existing two-family home on Grand Street.

The new structure approved at the site would be a 10-unit residential building. 

The developers would set aside three of the 10 units as affordable under the state’s 8-30g regulations. The affordable housing statute makes it easier for developers to build projects that provide housing for middle-income earners, giving local planning agencies little flexibility or discretion in the approval process.

The proposal is being brought forward by 177 Hamilton Ave. LLC, and the Pecora Brothers construction and development company. The property was sold to the new owners in February for $1,250,000, according to town records. It was owned for many years by the Pastore family until the sale this year. The home was built in 1946.

The P&Z Commission had earlier discussed an alternate plan that would have included a retail and commercial component to the building. But that plan was discarded in favor of the all-residential proposal. Commissioner Nick Macri noted that there was “not enough information” submitted by the developers for the version that included retail.

Chairwoman Margarita Alban said developers had to “complete necessary off-site sewer rehabilitation work” so as not to over-burden the sewer system, and that requirement was part of the conditions of the approval. The proposal was also directed to the Architectural Review Committee for some more visual enhancements to the exterior.  

The structure will be four stories tall and have 11 parking spaces.

The vote was unanimous. 

“There is a demand for such housing in the town of Greenwich,” said Chris Smith, the attorney representing the development team.

Garden Catering has a number of other outlets around the region.

 

 

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