Long before the phrase “smart growth” was coined, development strategies and incentives that promote intelligent and common-sense growth were in place in the city of Danbury.
Since its rebuilding after the British burning and looting in 1777, the Hat City has transformed and sustained itself. Currently ranked the seventh-largest city in Connecticut, it boasts a great location, about an hour from New York City, with attributes, transportation access, and quality of life characteristics that continue to make it a desirable place to live, work and play.
From its hatting factory heyday at the turn of the 20th century to now, Danbury has maintained a diversified economy. Its landscape is dotted with parks, lakes, trails and a variety of recreational opportunities. Housing is available and economical, providing an alternative to higher- priced locales in southern Fairfield County. Government policies, including those of current Mayor Mark D. Boughton, support growing smart and the city has reaped the benefits of this on its west side and downtown.
Development on the west side of Danbury has continued at a feverish pace. Toll Brothers is developing various housing types within The Reserve with more than 600 units approved and under construction, Building Land & Technology”™s 470-unit Abbey Woods apartments are fully leased, The Matrix, the largest office building in Connecticut at almost 1.3 million square feet, is seeking to reinvent itself. Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut has constructed a new facility. A new boutique hotel is under construction by RMS Companies within The Reserve to complement its 70 townhouse units located on border with Ridgefield, and Belimo Air Controls recently opened its 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Roadways and utilities continue to be upgraded to support development efforts. Larger than a traditional neighborhood, but thoughtfully planned nonetheless, the west side has been the focus of significant growth over the last decade.
Meanwhile, within downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods many investments have been or are being made. Cumulatively, these add critical mass needed to support a compact urban center containing a mix of land uses, transportation options, a walkable environment, and public and private activities that promote public health and preserve cultural resources.
- Danbury Hospital completed a $124 million upgrade to its campus, including a new emergency department and tower building.
- An existing building on Main Street is being retrofitted for Naugatuck Valley Community College as classroom space for more than 1,000 students.
- Western Connecticut State University continues to improve its downtown campus to accommodate an increasing enrollment.
- Greystar is constructing 374 units of market-rate housing on a former brownfield site.
- The Connecticut Institute for Communities is constructing a new 46,000-square-foot medical facility on Main Street.
- The Danbury Ice Arena and Danbury Titans hockey team has a new local owner and is a continued draw downtown.
- The unique Octagon House, a National Register of Historic Places property purchased by the City, will undergo study and renovation for public use.
- The historic Palace Theater continues to provide entertainment in a unique venue.
- Millions of dollars have been spent on public streetscape projects and parking garages.
- CityCenter Danbury, the downtown special services district, has a renewed focus on economic development with a new leader.
Incentives are in place to encourage and promote development downtown, from tax deferrals to reduced permit fees and utility connection fees to a new facade improvement program. The city continues to work with property owners of old and new to maintain and improve the downtown to become the focus of city life.
Growth continues in Danbury and the City of Danbury is committed to making sure it occurs smartly.
Sharon B. Calitro is director of planning for the city of Danbury”™s Department of Planning and Zoning.
This is one in a series of reports on smart growth development in the region. The series will culminate in a March 24 panel discussion on smart growth trends hosted by Westfair Communications and Pace University Land Use Law Center at Pace Law School.
