Eyesore no more: After 8 years, construction resumes on Norwalk building
Wall Street Place, mired in legal and financing fights for almost a decade, will finally open late next year.
Norwalk’s Wall Street Place development has sat wrapped in construction insulation for so long, neighbors call it the “Tyvek Temple." But after years of legal battles and financing challenges, construction has finally resumed on what city leaders hope will be a transformational project.
“A lot of time with various attorneys, officials at the state and local levels, to really help bring this to fruition,” said developer Todd McClutchey, president of JHM Group. “There were many areas that had to be replaced due to just the elements and water infiltration, and now we're able to enclose those items.”
Wall Street Place will now include 155 apartments at all income levels, as well as new stores at street level. Almost a third of it is paid for with public dollars.
Gov. Ned Lamont said it’s a smart investment.
“A lot of it's related to housing,” he said. “You hear it from all your friends, don't you? ‘I can’t find a place to live.’”
Norwalk’s Wall Street is having a renaissance after decades of neglect.
“This area has been suffering for a very, very long time,” said Mayor Harry Rilling.
Now, the last piece of the puzzle is coming into place.
“It has too long been an embarrassment for the city of Norwalk, and will go from one of our greatest embarrassments to one of our greatest treasures,” said state Sen. Bob Duff (D-Norwalk).
Developers have an aggressive timeline for this project. The first 100 residents should move in here within a year, with the remaining 55 units opening six months later.
