Vision for Church Lane in Westport

If developers get their way, Church Lane in downtown Westport will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly stretch of brick buildings with a mix of residences, shops and commercial offices.

The proposed Bedford Square would put to new use the signature downtown building the Westport Weston Family Y has long occupied, with the organization planning to relocate to a new facility planned for its Camp Mahackeno property on Sunny Lane just off the Merritt Parkway.

The redevelopment proposal is led by Bedford Square Associates, which initially requested a zoning change to accommodate larger buildings, encountering some community resistance last year. Designed by Centerbrook Architects, the re-imagined development would take its name and visual cues from the Tudor-design Bedford mansion, with wide walkways and other measures to emphasize a village setting.