Project Pitched For Duckpin Bowling Alley Goes Before Milford Board

MILFORD, CT — A proposal calls for the former Devon Duckpin Bowling Lanes to be demolished and replaced with six townhouses. The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved the project at 551 Naugatuck Ave. at its Sept. 2 meeting.

Two of the units will be set aside as affordable, which is in compliance with the state 's 8-30g regulations on affordable housing. One of the affordable units will be priced at 60 percent of the average median income and the other at 80 percent.

The project will include 10 garage parking spaces at ground level with the units on the second and third floors. The building will be 5,500 square feet in size and 40 feet high.

The plans were submitted last year.

The duckpin bowling alley at 551 Naugatuck Ave. has not been in full service for years. It closed in June.

Attorney Stephen Bellis, a representative for the project, said that a report to the state legislature found that Connecticut is tied with Rhode Island for having the most constrained housing supply in the nation with a 7 percent vacancy rate.

While he said this small project won't solve that problem, his view is that "every little bit helps."

He said these affordable units will be indistinguishable from their market-rate counterparts.

Board member Etan Hirsch called the project "extremely reasonable," adding "I look forward to voting for it."

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