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.
The Architectural Review Board gets its first look at the proposed development of 606 Riverside Avenue — the Minute Man Dry Cleaners property — next Tuesday (May 26, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall, Room 307/309).
Spinnaker Real Estate recently bought the parcel — and a nearby parking lot where boats are now stored — following the Planning & Zoning Commission’s rejection of the Hamlet at Saugatuck project.
Among the computer-generated designs to be considered:
The ARB will also discuss proposed façade modifications, solar panels and lighting at 520 Post Road East — the former nail salon next to Five Guys (and before that, a pancake house). The new proposed use is a Pilates studio.
Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein won the Democratic Party endorsement for State Representative of the 136th District last night.
She beat Representative Town Meeting member Matthew Mandell, 38 votes to 10. The two Westporters vied to replace Jonathan Steinberg, who is retiring.
The process allows for a primary. Mandell heads to Town Hall today, to pick up petitions.
Goldstein vowed to fight for and represent “this vibrant community we love, and for a Connecticut that remains dynamic, compassionate, and full of opportunity.”
She said she will work to protect and strengthen public schools, invest in infrastructure, preserve the environment, and ensure the state budget reflects the values and pressures facing Connecticut residents and towns.
Goldstein highlighted the increasing importance of fighting for reproductive rights, gun control, and civil liberties, saying, “At a time of federal hostility, we will defend our fundamental rights, safety, and freedoms.”
Lee Goldstein and Matthew Mandell
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A Cross Highway construction project will restrict access to residents only, beginning next month.
The small bridge near Wakeman Town Farm and the Wakeman athletic fields will be replaced. Cross Highway will be closed between North Avenue and Bayberry Lane, after students’ last day of school on June 18.
Local residents can access their roads. But through traffic will not be allowed.
The project will last 6 to 8 weeks. The road is planned to reopen by the end of August, before school starts.
The contractor, FGB Construction, has already put up signs announcing the work. Electronic signs will be placed there too.
Access to Wakeman Town Farm and the Wakeman fields is available, as always, through Bedford Middle School on North Avenue.
Questions? Contact town engineer Keith Wilberg: 203-341-1128; kwilberg@westportct.gov.
Cross Highway bridge. (Photo courtesy of Google Street View)
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You never know what kind of art you’ll see at the Westport Library.
And this spring, Artists Collective of Westport members didn’t know what they were creating, either.
48 artists received a printout of a single 12″ x 12″ section of a much larger, 6-foot high by 8-foot high work, and a blank panel. Each reimagined it, in his or her own way, using any medium they chose.
The result is “Piece by Piece” — a “vibrant and often surprising mosaic of styles, perspectives, and artistic voices … a playful yet powerful celebration of community, creativity, and collaboration. As the individual pieces come together, the larger image is gradually revealed, reminding viewers that every contribution plays a role in the creation of something greater than itself.”
It’s one of 2 Artists Collective exhibits opening at the Library on June 4 (6 to 8 p.m.). “Piece by Piece” will be unveiled at 7.
“Piece by Piece”
The other exhibit is “American Journeys,” an all-member exhibition inspired by America’s 250th birthday. The title reflects the idea that there is no single American journey, but rather a tapestry of countless personal paths, experiences, struggles and triumphs that together define the American story.
75 Collective members contributed works. All are available for purchase.
Speaking of the Library: A quarter century of “Shrek” came to life last night there.
Roger Schulman — co-writer of the iconic animated fantasy comedy — spoke with Sacred Hart University professor of communication, media and the arts Todd Barnes.
Schulmanl discussed his journey from journalism to Hollywood — and took the audience behind the Shrek scenes.
Roger Schulman (right), Professor Todd Barnes, and the Shrek franchise. (Photo/Susan Garment)
Speaking of entertainment: As the Westport Pops Concert nears — it’s June 5 (7 p.m., Levitt Pavilion) — the Staples Music Parents Associates announces a partnership with Romanacci’s.
Meals are available by pre-order only (click here). A portion of the meal price supports Staples Music. The deadline is May 29.
There are no food trucks in the Levitt Pavilion parking lot. However, the Oggi gelato cart will be on site.
The lawn opens at 6 p.m. (BYO lawn chair). Pre-show groups begin performing at 6. The main show starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are free, though a suggested donation of $15 per ticket helps offset production costs. Donations in lieu of tickets can be made at the same (new) Stpales Music website — click here.
Compo Beach got a “C” grade, while Burying Hill Beach and Sherwood Island both earned “B”s, in Save the Sound’s analysis of water samples during the 2025 swimming season.
55 of 72 public and private Long Island Sound beaches in Connecticut (76%) received an A or B.
Last summer, water quality samples at Compo Beach failed 9% of the time. The rates for Burying Hill and Sherwood Island were 7 and 3%, respectively.
Burying Hill Beach closure last summer. (Photo/Seth Schachter)
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Mark Shapiro is buying a stake in another pro team.
This time it’s in the NFL.
The Westporter will join with his sports and entertainment industry partner Ari Emanuel in a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. The deal is expected to close this month. The current ownership group includes Michael Dell and Tom Brady.
Shapiro’s NFL ties run deep. In 2005 he acquired Monday Night Football while running programming and production at ESPN. He later created the NFL Honors.
Shapiro also led Endeavor Group Holdings’ acquisition of On Location, the NFL’s exclusive hospitality provider. Shapiro is also a minority owner of MLS soccer team Los Angeles FC.
Emanuel and Shapiro are longtime business partners. Shapiro is now president and COO of TKO (comprising UFC, WWE, PBR, On Location and IMG), president and managing partner of WME Group, principal investor and board member of MARI (owner of the Miami Open, Madrid Open, Frieze and TodayTix), and is involved with WME Basketball.
Mark Shapiro — StartUp Westport’s 2025 Innovator of the Year — was interviewed at the Westport Library by Sara Eisen of CNBC.
The Bedford Middle School 6th grader placed first — and won $600 — in the World of 8 Billion International Student Video Contest. The event, sponsored by Population Connection, drew thousands of entries from teens in 63 countries around the world.
Her 60-second video, “Hanging by a Thread,”tackles environmental challenges created by fast fashion, and proposes the use of biodegradable fabrics in clothing production as a key to a more sustainable future.
This year’s contest challenged students to explore how population growth intersects with three critical global issues: wetlands, energy and economics.
Contest officials said, “Katherine Rose’s entry stood out for its smart analysis of fast fashion as well as its colorful animation.”
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