Development of The Village of Stratford underway
STRATFORD – Work has finally begun on The Village of Stratford apartment development at 2009-2019 Main St., according to Mayor Laura Hoydick and the developer.
On Monday, Dec. 2, the town and representatives from Spirit Investment Partners of Stamford, Kaali-Nagy Properties of Greenwich, Beinfield Architecture of South Norwalk and other partners involved in the 103-unit apartment building had a groundbreaking ceremony. The 93,000-square-foot building will include studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. It is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026, according to David Nachman, partner of Spirit Investment Partners.
“The development is within Stratford’s Historic District and the Town’s transit-oriented development overlay district,” Hoydick said. “It will be on an approximately three-acre site purchased from Christ Episcopal Church and will include a roughly 5,500 square-foot amenity area with 99 apartments.
“In addition to the new development, which will be set back from Main Street, Spirit Investment Partners and Kaali-Nagy Properties and their team, including Beinfield Architecture and N&S Electric, intends to work with the state Historic Preservation Office to ensure the preservation of the architectural significance of the Lillie Devereux Blake house.”
They plan on adding four units within that structure, the mayor said.
“My sincere appreciation to the developers and their partners for understanding the importance of the house, as Lillie Devereux Blake was a known suffragist and writer, as well as a descendant of notable Stratford historical figures, William Samuel Johnson and Rev. Jonathan Edwards,” she added.
The property that is being developed was purchased by Spirit Kaali-Nagy Village Stratford LLC in October 2023. The property at 2009 Main St. was bought from 21 South Ave. LLC for $3.11 million and the property at 2019 Main St. (the Blake House) from 21 South Ave. LLC for $242,000. On June 20, 2024, both properties were transferred for $0 under the state transfer property law.
Nachman said the location in Stratford fits into his company’s model of “creating interesting housing solutions for the middle-income renter.”
“Up and down the Northeast Corridor, there are these expensive projects (to build apartment complexes) that are too high,” he said.
His company makes an effort to provide apartments that are more affordable to middle income families while still taking advantage of the proximity to the Northeast Corridor.
“In the Corridor, you can commute to and from the Stamfords, the New Rochelles, and the Stratfords,” he said. “Stratford is a quaint town. The Village will have one-third the rent of the most expensive high-rise apartment development being built.”
He added that The Village will be close to I-95 and will be a 10-minute walk from the train station.
As for the proposed rent, with some help from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and Build for Connecticut, 21 units at The Village will be rented for 60%-120% of the Average Median Income, Nachman said. Those renters will qualify for low-interest financing.
Nachman estimates studios will go for $1,950 per month while one-bedrooms will fetch $2,200 and two-bedrooms $2,900.
