Make way for The Lafayette Stamford

STAMFORD – A once dilapidated building on East Main Street behind the highway overpass has made its grand entrance to the rejuvenated East Side section of the city.

Known as The Lafayette Stamford, the 130-unit apartment building was unveiled to VIPs and the media Tuesday, Oct. 22 by Mayor Caroline Simmons and the developer Wellbuilt Co. of Greenwich. The apartment building’s opening gives this part of the city a second chance. One where it will now be directly accessible to downtown.

“This is a huge moment for us,” said James Grunberger, co-founder and chair of East Side Partnership at Tuesday’s press conference. “Twenty five years ago, we started the Eastside Partnership. This neighborhood was not like this at all.

“At this very spot, we had people arrested for making machine guns out of hand guns. A lot of terrible things were happening behind this building. There was so much graffiti on the side of this building that when I showed up with students to paint over it, I never carry a knife. But at that time I carried two knives – one in each pocket for my own personal protection.”

Then came along Mitch Kidd and Scott Lumby of Greenwich-based Wellbuilt, a service-oriented firm that has specialized in real estate development, construction and asset management since 2009.

“When I first met Mitch and Scott, I was amazed how they asked what our group did and how they could help,” Grunberger said. “They were asking me about different modes of transportation. They were interested in creating a walkway behind this building that leads into downtown.

“I showed them a plan that I had shown to the Yale School of Architecture on Lockwood Avenue when Domus Kids was there to create a public place making project under a bridge using light-based art. They ran with the idea and applied for and got a $75,000 state grant to do a feasibility study.”

Of the 130 units, The Lafayette offers 66 studios. The rest are 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments. There is also a rooftop garden and recreation area for kids and adults, a gymnasium, dog wash. Each apartment includes smart building access, central air and heating, in-unit washer and dryer, a smart thermostat, oversized windows, USB outlets, and walk-in closets.

The rent is $2,150-$2,275 for a studio, $2,650-$2,825 for a 1 bedroom, and $3,125-$3,425 for a 2 bedroom.

When it was appraised in 2023 to reflect all the work that had been done, the City of Stamford valued it at $7.9 million. That takes into account $6.7 million in improvements.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Mayor Simmons. “We are so lucky to have this building right here in the heart of the East Side of Stamford. It’s such a vibrant community.”

As part of the partnership with the City of Stamford and the East Side Partnership, Wellbuilt added 18 below-market rate units to this building, which is offering families making 50% of area median income an affordable place to live near the downtown transit center, Simmons said.

“You also have amazing amenities,” she added. “We appreciate the sidewalk improvements. The greenwalls and the beautiful murals behind the building. It’s absolutely beautified this area of the East Side. We are very grateful for that.”

Simmons told the Fairfield County Business Journal how this project, just like that of The Glenview and East Side Common, aligns with all of the city’s goals.

“They’ve improved our infrastructure. They’ve added sidewalks. They made it more accessible and pedestrian-friendly. They’ve added affordable housing for families in our workforce with is necessary in our city right now,” she said.

Simmons shared that the building is already getting a lot interest for tenants and leasing activity. “We can’t wait to see more buildings with you and this partnership,” she said.

Kidd, who hails from Australia along with Lumby, hopes to fulfill that wish and is already working on another project for an extended stay hotel in the area.

But for now he is happy to bask in the glow of The Layfayette and all it means for the East Side of Stamford.

“I know with the finished product, the disruptions were worth it,” Kidd said. “Thank you to our financial partners, First County Bank. You’ve been (vital) to seeing our vision come to fruition. And we foolhardily appreciate your belief in us and the project. We’re very proud of this project.”