Danbury Officials Highlight $100 Million In Downtown Development Projects

DANBURY, CT — City officials say more than $100 million in public and private investments are reshaping downtown Danbury, with new housing, business expansions, and infrastructure projects underway.

Mayor Roberto Alves and his administration are pointing to a slate of initiatives intended to create what they describe as a more vibrant, walkable city center.

“Improving Danbury’s downtown has been a talking point for years,” said Farley Santos, the mayor’s economic and community development adviser. “Our focus is building a downtown where people want to be — a place where people can live, work, shop, eat, and play.”

Several projects target housing needs, including market-rate, workforce, and senior housing. Catholic Charities is developing 20 workforce units at 68 Main Street, while the Connecticut Institute for Communities received approval for 79 senior units on Boughton Street. Another senior project is planned across from City Hall, designed to preserve the historic First Congregational Church.

A larger proposal under consideration would convert an office building at 30 Main Street into 48 apartments while keeping a bank on the ground floor, alongside a new 160-unit building.

City leaders also announced progress on the stalled Ives Bank development, a $24.5 million project that will add office space for about 100 professionals on Main Street. Designed to resemble the former Feinson’s Clothier, the building is slated to open in summer 2026.

New businesses have opened downtown, including Blend and Brew coffee bar and D’Roy’s Chicken. Entertainment venues are also expanding, with Escapology opening "escape rooms" and the Danbury Ice Arena hosting hockey, soccer, and indoor football.

The city is also maintaining cultural institutions such as the former Fairfield County Courthouse, which will be repurposed for public use, and the Old Library, which houses the Music Centre and Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut.

Danbury is moving forward with a $9 million state-funded Streetscape Renaissance Project, which will add fiber optics, underground utilities, and pedestrian-friendly enhancements. Officials say the improvements are meant to modernize downtown infrastructure and support sustainable growth.

Hat City has also joined the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority, which provides gap financing to help advance key projects. City leaders say the move will help attract private investment and keep redevelopment efforts on pace.

“Our goal is to create a place where people want to live, work, and spend time with their families — and where businesses want to invest,” Santos said.