For months, Westporters have watched as Turner Construction dug and built a foundation for Bedford Square. There was not a lot to see.
Now — every day — there’s something new at the project that promises to dramatically change downtown Westport.
The view from Elm Street. A parking garage — with room for 100 vehicles — is in the center.
David Waldman — 1 of 4 partners — says the bulk of construction will be completed by January. Then comes interior work.
He anticipates all tenants will move in by April. That’s 2 years after work began — right on schedule.
Anthropologie has already leased the YMCA’s original Bedford building, and the old firehouse.
Another 30,000 square feet will include retailers like restaurants and entertainment.
The 24 rental units — 4 of them listed as affordable, under state guidelines — will be marketed soon. (Serena & Lily, across the street, is furnishing the model unit.)
The other day, David took me on a tour. He’s proud of the big, dramatic way that Bedford Square will unify and tie together downtown, from Church Lane and Elm Street through to the Post Road and Main Street.
He’s also proud of small details. For example, the Flemish bond “will be here forever.” And the relief of little children is an exact negative of the fascia boards that graced — often unnoticed — the old YMCA.
David Waldman, with Flemish bond and the “little children playing” relief behind him.
Interior space is important too. A public plaza will be open to businesses — restaurants, a chocolate shop, a juice bar — while residents can gaze down on it below. David likens it to a larger version of the one between Saugatuck Sweets and the Whelk.
This is the plaza. The photo shows the back of the old YMCA — soon to be the site of a full-service Anthropologie store. Terrain — owned by Anthropologie — is designing a garden.
To the right of the photo above is the old Bobby Q’s restaurant. It’s not part of Bedford Square. But the owner will turn it into rental space — with the 2nd floor extending onto the plaza.
There’s a lot going on inside too, including new supports, windows, skylights — and 100% flood-proofing. The old Y gym (shown below) is 4 feet higher than before.
The rental units range from 700 square feet to 2,200. Some are duplexes. Most have balconies. This one (below) has a killer view of Christ & Holy Trinity Church:
Bedford Square offers many ways in and out of the rest of downtown. The archway below fronts Main Street:
Around the corner the outside of the Y’s 1923 Bedford building remains the same:
In front, however, improvements are made (photo below). Bricks will match the new sidewalk on the rest of Main Street. The extended sidewalk will ease the merge from Church Lane onto the Post Road — and make crossing the Post Road easier for pedestrians too. The dedicated turning lane onto Main Street remains.
(For more information on Bedford Square, click here.)
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