Liberty At Newtown Seeks More Housing Units

By Andrew Gorosko

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members are considering a proposal from a condominium developer to increase the number of planned units at its age-restricted complex in Hawleyville from 92 to 96.

Ginsburg Development Corporation, Connecticut, LLC, is seeking P&Z approval to increase the number of condos at its Liberty at Newtown complex, which is now under construction on a rugged 40-acre site at 178 Mt Pleasant Road.

Under the proposal, the firm would increase the number of condos in the planned Building 4 and in Building 9 from six units each to eight units each, resulting in a net increase of four units, bringing the planned total at the site to 96 units.

The proposed increase in condo units would not increase the volume of construction at the site, but would reconfigure the internal designs of two buildings on the property.

In seeking to modify its construction plans, Ginsburg is adjusting to real estate market conditions.

In a September 24 letter to the P&Z, Thomas Gissen of the development firm wrote, “These floor plan modifications will enable us to offer smaller dwelling units, which will be more attractive and economical to a broader segment of our customers.”

There was no public comment at an October 16 P&Z public hearing on Ginsburg’s proposed increase in condo units, according to Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker.

The P&Z may act on the proposal on October 30. Ginsburg is seeking an amendment to its special exception to the zoning regulations to increase the number of units at the site.

Besides P&Z approval for the proposed changes, Ginsburg would need approval from the water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) for extending sewer service to four added units. Also, United Water would need to approve extending water service to four more units.

If Ginsburg’s requested changes are approved, the complex would contain 12 residential buildings, each of which would contain eight dwellings. The originally approved plans called for ten buildings with eight units each, and two buildings with six units each.

Construction work on the town’s newest multifamily housing complex, intended for people over age 55, is progressing, with initial occupancy of units at Liberty at Newtown expected by late this year.

Ginsburg describes the project as a “common interest ownership community,” which is similar to a condominium complex.

In August 2002, the P&Z approved Ginsburg’s 92-unit construction proposal. A 1,700-foot-long private road will serve the property. Two spur roads will extend off that road. The site will contain three four-building clusters. Construction is planned in three phases. Completion of the complex is projected for 2005.

Extensive landscaping has been underway at the project’s Mt Pleasant Road entrance for the past several months.

The sale price of condo units is expected to range from the lower $400,000s to the lower $500,000s. Each building will be served by an elevator. The complex will include a clubhouse, outdoor swimming pool, health club, billiard room, and function room, plus a network of sidewalks and trails.

Ginsburg Development Corporation of Hawthorne, N.Y., has done extensive development in Westchester County, including condominiums, cooperative apartments, single-family houses, apartments, and commercial development.

In this area, the firm is the developer of the 252-unit housing complex known as Woodland Hills on Shelter Rock Road in Danbury. It also has developed the 23-house Redding Woods complex in Redding.

In 1999, Avalon Bay Communities had proposed constructing 304 rental apartments at the site where Liberty at Newtown is now under construction. The Avalon Bay proposal had included 76 units designated as affordable housing. Avalon Bay dropped its plans for that project after encountering difficulty in getting town approval for a sanitary sewer connection. At that time, the Mt Pleasant Road sewer line was still in the planning stages.