The Architectural Review Board took another look at Spinnaker’s plan for 175 apartments — and one retail space — last night.
In a low-key, collaborative Town Hall session, members discussed the developer’s pre-application for 606 Riverside Avenue. The property is bordered by Charles Street and Railroad Place. It currently includes Minute Man Cleaners, a parking lot, locksmith and a white residential building.
The ARB is not the Planning & Zoning Commission, chair Ward French noted. His board’s job is to consider aesthetics, not regulations.
Representatives from Spinnaker and Beinfield Architecture explained changes from their previous ARB meeting. The top (6th) floor now consists of lofts for apartments on the floor beneath it, rather than more residences. The building’s 2 garage levels have been lowered by 2 feet each. Setbacks are deeper. And the Riverside Avenue façade has been softened, in response to concerns about its look.
Sketch of the view from Riverside Avenue. Steam Coffee Bar is at left. The existing white residential building (behind Steam) would be retained, Spinnaker says, and possibly moved back from its current site on Riverside Avenue.
Discussion centered on how the buildings would appear from not only street level, but when coming off the train and I-95 exit 17, and driving past on the highway itself.
Questions were raised about its similarity to the Corbin District — 7 acres of 116 apartments, plus retail, restaurants, fitness studios and offices off I-95 Exit 11 in Darien.
Beinfield managing partner Seelan Pather referenced 95, noting that architects cannot design buildings that accommodate every view.
Pre-app discussion also included the Charles Street building, next to the current 4-story office building and across from Zucca Gastrobar. Its “factory aesthetic” design — a nod to Saugatuck’s heritage — would include 3 different brick styles, to break up its bulk.
View from the corner of Riverside Avenue (left) and Charles Street (right). The current 21 Charles Street office building is at far right. The higher new apartments would be set back from the street.
Suggestions were made to change part of the façade to clapboard siding from brick, to fit better with nearby structures.
French said, “I think we’re headed in the right direction, given the alternatives. I’m fearful of what Darien might look like here. This has more resonance.”
Before Saugatuck, the ARB looked at plans for 1460 Post Road East. Sprouts — the Phoenix-based “farmers’ market” chain — will move into the space now occupied by BevMax (and previously, Pier 1, Barnes & Noble, and Westport Lanes bowling alley).
The liquor store will move to the lower level. Julian’s will be relocated to the far eastern end of the shopping plaza.
Board members asked for changes to the side of the building facing the Post Road, citing its length and height.
Proposed entrance to Sprouts, facing the large parking lot to the west of 1460 Post Road East. Concerns were raised about the bulk of the façade to the left of this rendering, fronting Post Road East.
I’m glad folks see the Corbin District as something to avoid, not emulate — it’s quite literally a Potemkin Village, and looks like one. But these renderings still look monolithic. You can’t create the impression of multiple buildings while just changing the siding while keeping the massing and height the same. Corbin proves that.
Spinnaker continues to be outdone by the Hamlet, a far superior project that would have provided for amazing public amenities that are missing from this project.
It’s good to see some discussion of aesthetics that considers the area and present structures.
Every time I drive by the new Riverhouse development it astounds me that such a structure was approved next to the historic Lincoln Street District.
Where was the Architectural Board when those plans were being discussed?
I was playing tennis with Michael when he took that beautiful photo of a raptor. This was at the town farms courts not Longshore. This was a magnificent bird and seemed to enjoy our tennis game very much.