Darien Seeks To Purchase Private Parking Lot For $5.1 Million

DARIEN, CT — Darien is seeking to purchase the property and parking lot at 37 West Ave., also known as the Koons Lot, which is next to the train station, to both prevent a third-party from purchasing and developing the land, and to benefit residents and visitors of the town for years to come.

The Board of Selectmen on Monday voted to authorize the purchase of the property, as well as an appropriation and bonding resolution to meet the negotiated purchase price of $5,130,000.

The meeting was broadcast on Darien TV29, and is available to watch on demand here.

A "mandatory referral" was made to the town's Planning & Zoning Commission so they can determine whether the purchase meets the requirements of the Plan of Conservation and development, and it was also passed on to the Board of Finance, which is expected to consider the purchase during its Oct. 21 meeting.

If approved by the Board of Finance, the Representative Town Meeting will weigh in, likely on Oct. 27. Assuming a positive outcome from the town's legislative body, a public hearing on the purchase would then take place before the Board of Selectmen, possibly on Oct. 30.

The property at 37 West Ave. is currently owned by West Avenue Parking LLC, the principals of which are members of the Koons family.

First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky said he started discussions in March of this year with Kip Koons, who let him know the family was interested in selling the property, specifically to the town.

The property was appraised "at the highest and best use valuation," Zagrodzky said.

"In talking with everyone, we have felt that this is a good property for the town to own. And if we were to in fact acquire the property at a price the Koons family and the LLC that owns this would be willing to accept, that it would have to be based on an appraisal at that highest and best use standard, and that's really what properties like this are going to sell for on the open market," Zagrodzky explained.

Zagrodzky went on to say that long-term, "we believe it's in the town's interest to own this property."

He mentioned long-term options for the property, including continuing to operate it as a surface parking lot, as it has been for decades; building a parking garage to accommodate commuters and downtown retail employees, which could then free-up parking in the downtown business district; or even building transit-oriented multifamily housing, an important initiative for the state.

"I don't know where we're going with any of those options. This board, with the advice of a lot of others, needs to give that some serious thought," Zagrodzky added. While Monday was the first time the potential purchase was discussed publicly, the selectmen had deliberated previously in Executive Session.

"There's no urgency, but the main reason for acquiring this property is that the town gets to decide, because we control the outcome, as opposed to, say, a third party buying this property and deciding what to do without town input," Zagrodzky said.

Beyond the strategic rationale, Zagrodzky said the town has looked at the revenue and parking volume at the lot, dating back a number of years.

The parking lot, which contains around 300 parking spaces, saw around 50,000 cars per year prior to the pandemic. Currently, there's a volume of about 34,000 cars per year, and at a daily rate of $10, the owners are figuring to rake in $300,000 for 2025, Zagrodzky said.

Zagrodzky recommended to continue to operate the lot as is through the end of the year, but monthly and quarterly pass sales would be suspended. The current parking lot attendant has agreed to stay on board.

Town Administrator Jennifer Charneski said that in order for the lot to be incorporated into the town's lot inventory, a public hearing is necessary after the RTM meets to vote on the purchase and set the initial daily rate.

The board expressed support for the purchase.

"This has been a topic of considerable investigation by this board," Selectman Michael Burke said.

"I'm still for this purchase, I think it's the smart thing to do. I'm glad to know we are not going to rush into any kind of consideration of capital improvements for this property. I know our townspeople are aware of the debt we've been taking on lately. If it were not for the fact that this could be very self-sustaining and very much in our citizens' interest, it would be easy to pass this opportunity up. But the way it came to us and the way it can help this town really merits the purchase of this property."

The other selectmen agreed with Burke's comments.

Zagrodzky said the name of the lot would be changed, and floated calling it "Leroy North."

"I very much appreciate the family coming to the town to offer this property for sale. It is quite the unique acquisition. It's literally perfectly located for parking, for housing, for everything, and it gives us control of a piece of property where we can make the decision that's best for our residents on what to do with it," Zagrdozky said.

"I think economically it's certainly going to be something that could support the debt and that we have to take on in order to own the property, but I believe in the long-term that it will be very beneficial for us to have this property and we'll do our absolute best to manage it in such a way that the economics are as optimal as possible."

Watch Monday's full Board of Selectmen meeting on demand on Darien TV79.