Construction Set To Begin On New East Side Apartment Building

STAMFORD, CT — Last week, officials from the city of Stamford and local developer Wellbuilt Company gathered at 821 E. Main St., to officially break ground on The Lafayette Stamford, an apartment building which will feature 130 units and retail space.

The project has been several years in the making for Wellbuilt Company Managing Partners Mitch Kidd and Scott Lumby, who believe the building will revitalize the area surrounding East Main and North State streets on the city's East Side.

"We've been anticipating starting for the last couple of years, and it's finally coming to fruition where we can break ground. We're very excited," Kidd told Patch this week.

Overall, the building, which drops down from five stories to four, will be 136,660 square feet, with 2,950 square feet dedicated to retail/commercial space on the ground floor. The price tag for the project is around $30 million, Lumby said.

Construction is anticipated to be complete by late 2024.

Building features include a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments; a rooftop garden with green space; child's play area; indoor and outdoor parking; electric vehicle charging stations; a dog run; and community space.

Eighteen of the units will be classified as affordable, since the project will raze 17 existing apartments that are below market rate.

Kidd and Lumby also want to beautify the area behind the building underneath the Interstate-95 overpass, and turn it into perhaps an urban park with benches, lighting, green space and plantings.

Farm stands could be set up there, or artists could showcase their work and hold workshops in the space.

The land is owned by the state and is not part of The Lafayette development, and there would need to be collaboration between the city and the state Department of Transportation.

Plans are currently only in the conceptual stage, but Kidd and Lumby are hopeful there can be some collaboration at all levels to turn the neglected area into an attractive space for the community.

"We want to leave it open as a blank canvas. We're open to community feedback, and we want to get involved with detailing what the community actually wants to see going in that place," Lumby said.

The two also want to tie the space into walkways the city is putting together that connect to Mill River Park.

"We're trying to put an extension on what's already in place that would essentially take a pedestrian/bicycle path all the way down to the Stamford Train Station," Lumby added.

During the approval process, some concerns were raised about flooding in the area of the building, but those issues have been addressed, Kidd and Lumby said.

An on-site drainage system will be installed that will contain surface and impervious runoff. The building will also be elevated on North State Street above the flood elevation, so if any flooding events do occur, impacts will be mitigated.

Kidd hopes that in the future, the building and revitalization will attract grant money to improve infrastructure in the area.

Overall, the residential building and possible revitalization project has received strong support from residents and officials alike.

Stamford Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Heather Cavanagh, who was at the groundbreaking ceremony last week, said she's excited to see construction on The Lafayette Stamford get underway.

"Wellbuilt partners Mitch Kidd and Scott Lumby and their team not only develop properties as their projects but add vibrancy, transform neighborhoods and create a sense of community," Cavanagh told Patch, referencing Wellbuilt's previous Stamford project, The Stillwater, on the West Side.

"We are excited to support a second residential project, The Lafayette, that will definitely transform the east side of the city, while offering affordable, conveniently located and new opportunities for engaging amenities for the residents," Cavanagh added. "We look forward to the completion of the new project as a gateway to the east side of the city."

Mayor Caroline Simmons was also at the groundbreaking ceremony.

"The Lafayette will be a great addition to the East Side neighborhood and we are grateful for the revitalization efforts that will occur, resulting in enhancements in quality of life," she said in a statement.

James Grunberger, co-founder and chair of the Eastside Partnership, spoke in favor of the building and beautification of the area last April when the Stamford Zoning Board was reviewing the proposal.

"Scott and Mitch came to me early on. They asked me what the community needed. They wanted to get people out of their cars, they care about the carbon footprint," Grunberger said at the time. "The fact that they care about these kinds of things means we have the opportunity to usher in young developers that really care about our community."

Kidd and Lumby said they're most excited to see how the building will transform the neighborhood and bring increased foot traffic to nearby businesses.

They said the support from the city has meant a lot.

"We're a local builder and developer, so it's great to have the support. We're also a long-term holder of our buildings, and to have the support from the city and local community is very positive," Kidd said. "It helps us and encourages us to want to do business in the city and continue to do business in the city."

For updates and more information on the project, follow The Lafayette Stamford on Instagram and Facebook.