Situated along a major corridor for commerce and travel in Norwalk, 627 West Ave. was a logical place to put a bank in 1955 when it became the headquarters of the National Norwalk Bank.
Built in the classical Federalist style, the original main entrance of the stately brick building is flanked by the columns now synonymous with bank architecture. Now bank visitors primarily enter from the parking lot at the rear of the building – if they don’t opt for the drive-thru window for service – and what is now Wells Fargo occupies only a portion of the building.
Stamford Health now occupies 24,000 square feet of brand-new medical space spread across the mezzanine level and second floor, while the Wells Fargo branch has reduced its footprint and moved its operations to allow for direct access from West Avenue.
Liz Longmore, the senior vice president and chief operating officer for Stamford Health, said that the staff at the new facility are very happy with it.
“We took a phased approach to opening that facility,” Longmore said. “The services that came online when we opened in the spring of 2022 were primary care, rheumatology, gynecology and lab services. A bit later on towards the summer, we started offering cardiology as well as endocrinology and obstetrical services. “
The location was originally sought out because Stamford Health was outgrowing its former Norwalk offices across the river on East Avenue. Longmore said that move has enabled Stamford Health to provide additional specialized services in Norwalk, particularly a Hospital for Special Surgery Sports Rehab facility on the first floor offering physical therapy and outpatient rehabilitation services.
“We found that our primary care physicians over on East Avenue, the practice had grown to the extent that we were just offering primary care and OB-GYN,” Longmore explained. “And yet there was continued demand for our physicians and for practice to the extent where we needed to add more positions. We were looking for location where we could specifically expand those offerings over time, and that’s what the location at 637 West Ave. provides for us, and aside from that West Avenue is a great location from a convenience standpoint, from a parking standpoint, and for the ease of getting to that particular location while serving lots of patients in the Norwalk area.”
A Wells Fargo spokesperson characterized the consolidated footprint within the building as allowing the bank to better serve its customers.
“We modernized the look and feel of the branch and made exterior and interior updates, including fresh paint, new flooring, furniture, and signage,” said the spokesperson. “The branch was designed to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold standards and includes more space for conversation and consultation, an ATM in the vestibule and an assisted-service ATM and a drive-up ATM, both available to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Stanley M. Seligson, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Seligson Properties, said his company owned the building for around 20 years and originally acquired along with several other properties along West Avenue in anticipation of fully connecting the Waypointe District his company constructed with the area around Wall Street, which has been slower to develop.
“Medical has mushroomed in the area,” Seligson explained. “We saw an opportunity where West Avenue was under-covered medically despite being close to Norwalk Hospital.”
Seligson Properties, itself based on West Avenue, has recently expanded its portfolio of medically oriented properties, including a new Hartford HealthCare facility in the former Lilian August outlet store in Norwalk.
Seligson held up the 627 West Ave. location as an example of how to balance adapting to the city’s changing needs and preserving its heritage. He mentioned that early in the planning process a glass front for the building was considered but rejected as being too out of place without adding significantly to the usability of the space.
“We really did something in keeping the historic nature of the building and made it something that is really brand new,” Seligson said. “It really is kind of a gem of a building in the middle of downtown Norwalk.”
