Framing for Saugatuck Center’s Phase I Completed

Framing for Saugatuck Center’s Phase I Completed

(Appeared on 

Westport.Patch.com 10/25)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2010. All Rights Reserved.

10/25/10

Westport, CT – The sound of nailguns, generators, cement mixers and circular saws was the backdrop for a gathering of developers, builders and town officials who came together midday Monday at the new Saugatuck Center complex on Riverside Avenue to mark the completion of Phase I framing. American flags affixed to the peaks of each structure, considered good luck according to lore, signaled the milestone.

Phase I consists of two buildings, the “Tide” and “Marsh”, each just under 10,000 square feet, with a common zone between them alongside the Saugatuck River between Bridge Street and the I-95 overpass. Each building will feature 2,500 square feet of commercial office space, 2,200 square feet of retail space and three luxury residential units ranging in size from 1,200 to 1,900 square feet. There will also be a 500-foot long boardwalk at the rear of the complex, with access points for visiting boaters. May 1 is the target date for Phase I completion.

Phase II will add 5 more buildings in a horseshoe shape and 21 additional residential units directly across the road where Westport Florist and Doc’s Café are currently located. A final Phase III will add 27 more residential units on the hillside up behind Doc’s Café. All Phase I and Phase II units will be rentals. Phase III units will be condominiums for sale.

“This stage has been four or five years in the making,” said Sam Gault, whose family owns the heating oil company of the same name and Hamilton Development, the developers on the project. “The goal all along has been to bring a neighborhood back to Saugatuck. My father and grandfather said that before the I-95 bridge came through, there were a lot of homes here. Those went away. We’re bringing them back now with this project.”

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff echoed Gault’s comments. “This is great for Westport, and especially great for Saugatuck. It will revitalize the area and bring a neighborhood feel back. We have high hopes and expectations for the development.”

Yvonne Daugherty, owner of Doc’s Café, which will be demolished to make way for Phase II, holds no grudge against the developers and hoped to find a new, more appropriate space that will bring more business. “I took this spot with no lease and the full understanding that they planned to redevelop it. I was given two years and a favorable rent. That was 6 ½ years ago. Given the situation, I don’t have a complaint with the Gault’s.”

What Daugherty did have issue with was the disruption from the construction. As a result, her business is down 30%. But she admitted that all the area business owners affected have the same issue and seemed resigned to the fact.

Daugherty’s understanding is that demolition won’t go forward until the riverside development is fully leased. To that regard, she said, “I just ordered $10,000 worth of cups as I don’t see Doc’s going out of business any time soon.”

Doc’s patron and Westport resident John Casey, 44, said he’d be sad to see Doc’s go. “It’s a focal point and regular stop for everybody in Saugatuck. If Yvonne can negotiate a good deal and continue the business elsewhere that would be great.”

Casey added, “The Saugatuck area needed the development to revitalize business here. It’s been dead and tired. Sometimes business is just business.” 

Demolition of Penfield I Pavilion Begins

Demolition of Penfield I Pavilion Begins

(Appeared on Fairfield.Patch.com 10/25)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2010. All Rights Reserved.

10/25/10

Fairfield, CT – With each scoop of the excavator, another memory was removed as demolition began on Penfield I Pavilion at Penfield Beach.

The process was initiated at 7:30am on Monday, October 25, and by late afternoon, the section of the pavilion from the lifeguard lounge through to the snack bar had been removed. All that remained of the structure there was a large heap of twisted and crumpled wood and metal. Signage showing ice cream bar options still remained on an exterior wall at the point where the excavator ceased operations for the day.

A chain link fence surrounded the whole site and blocked access to one half of the main parking lot. The toll booth at the lot’s main entrance had also been moved to one side to allow heavy equipment and flatbed truck access.

The excavator operator said the Town of Fairfield was handling the work itself and expected the tear-down, up to the newly replaced section of the pavilion, to be completed by week’s end.

“There were people here first thing gathering up change from where the boardwalk had been by the snack bar,” said the operator, who didn’t want to give his name. “We had to chase them out.” He referred to all the coins that had fallen down through the floorboards over the years.

A long-time town employee, the operator recalled working on the structure back in 1976. “I had to clear sand out from under the building. At the time, I wondered ‘What the heck am I doing here?’” he mused.

One would imagine such a momentous event in the beach area would gather a crowd of onlookers, but there were only a couple of bystanders who hovered briefly, took a photograph and moved on. Other beachgoers remained seated in their beach chairs on this unseasonably warm late October afternoon and carried on as if this was any other beach day.

Catherine Street resident Janet Souza, a frequent visitor with her family to the beach, said, “I’ll miss the old structure and memories of sharing a locker space with a friend and the kids squealing in the showers. And the snack bar had great food. The kids could order on a tab, which made them feel empowered. I do look forward to something newer though. It’ll be nice to see what they come up with.”

Beachgoer and Fairfield resident Pam Ortiz said the old building had a lot of history and that the town probably could have repaired it. “I’m not sure it was necessary to tear it down and build a new building. It seems excessive. We’ve already spent a lot on other projects, like the new train station.”

The biggest audience overseeing the demolition was the flock of seagulls that had taken their usual rooftop post on the highest point of the pavilion and they no doubt were hoping that food scraps or other salvageable goods would be turned up.

The operator said he would have been able to accomplish his work in a day but that there were other workers in the remaining section of the building conducting lead paint and asbestos removal. He said the building was shaking as he began the demolition and now he must wait until they complete their work.