Town officials on Tuesday night heard the pre-application presentation for a proposed new hotel on Locust Avenue, asking questions ranging from room pricing to the potential impact on traffic flow.
Founder and president of New Canaan-based Windward Development, Inc. Elliot Siderides presented the plans for the hotel on behalf of Two Corners LLC., which Siderides called the “contract purchaser” of 49-51 and 39 Locust. Siderides presented to members of the Planning & Zoning Commission during their regular meeting alongside his two sons, John Siderides, Windward’s in-house architect, and Andrew Siderides, Windward’s head of development and construction management.
Commissioner John Kriz voiced concerns about the potential impact of the hotel on the streetscape. He listed “issues with loom” and problems if a “building dominates the skyline.” Kriz requested “visuals of the as-built structure from various prominent places in town.”
Elliot Siderides responded to a Kriz question about parking by citing the 115 available spaces throughout the complex.
“The requirement for a hotel is one [parking space] per room, so 40 of the spaces have to be for the hotel,” he said. The other spots are for commercial office space, retail space, the extended-stay sector, and the restaurant.
The complex would need about 98 required spaces under the Zoning Regulations, according to Elliot Siderides.
The food and beverage outlet at the hotel will be open to the public, operating in the morning and evening, and will serve as a bar, Elliot Siderides said. However, in response to a question about noise levels of this outlet, Elliot Siderides said that they are “not interested in having a sports bar or outdoor events.”
Kriz also asked if Two Corners LLC. was planning to “flag” the hotel, or affiliate it with a major brand.
Andrew Siderides responded: “No, we don’t see it as a location where travelers will be using it Monday to Thursday. We also don’t think that would be the right thing for this town. We understand the character of [New Canaan].”
Asked about the vision of the extended-stay portion of the hotel, Elliot Siderides said Windward’s plans are based on the firm’s understanding of the local market.
“The extended stay will be for people who are visiting their elders at Waveny for a week…people who want their own place, coming back to visit their kids for a month… business owners who may come into town for a week because of remote capabilities,” he said. “The typical room has two bedrooms with a kitchen and a living room and/or flex rooms that can create a more expanded living situation.”
Commissioner Eric Knowles requested that a traffic engineer analyze the impact the hotel would have on traffic flow.
“We need to understand the traffic patterns…possibly add more crosswalks,” he said. Knowles pointed to existing traffic problems on Forest Street, emphasizing that the hotel shouldn’t exacerbate them.
Chair Daniel Radman asked for a thorough market demand study at the next presentation to validate the need for such a building in town.
The commissioners ended the presentation with questions surrounding the overall character that the hotel would bring to the town. Andrew Siderides said that they had looked at many nearby hotels and wanted to create something similar to the boutique Delamar hotels in Greenwich and Southport.
“They’ve done a nice job of trying to fit an independent boutique hotel into sensitive, smaller towns in Connecticut,” he said.
Hotel rooms will cost anywhere from $200 on low-season weekdays to $300 or $400 on summer and spring weekends, according to Andrew Siderides.
The next regular meeting of P&Z is scheduled for June 24.
Great idea, we need something like this in town!
I absolutely love this use on Locust. It’s perfect for visitors with the train station/restaurants etc all within easy walking distance.
I grew up in New Canaan but moved after college to the Boston area. I then moved back here last Fall.
This developer obviously knows his market. If you come to visit with people in New Canaan, the default hotel for some, has always been the Hilton Garden Inn /Norwalk. This “in town” property is a much more attractive option.
My only question – How soon can they get up and running !
This is a truly awful idea, like The Vue, only in the middle of town. The “loom” factor is an understatement, and the effect on already congested traffic would be horrific. The premise seems to be, “Let’s make a space for people to visit lovely, historic New Canaan by destroying lovely, historic New Canaan.”
“Loom factor” is a made up thing by people who want to say no to everything. There are *maybe* two places you could see this building from in town if you weren’t next to it. You can’t see the Vue from anywhere other than the train station parking lot (hot tourist and family hangout /s) or the top of Richmond Hill Road which is not a walking route.
Explain what buildings make up ‘lovely, historic New Canaan.’ Is it 8-10 nail salons? A dentist office on South Ave that needs protecting? A car dealership on a narrow street across from a vacant building, liquor store, and grocery?
This is a great idea. It is unique to the area, increases commercial opportunities, and will improve an otherwise totally unremarkable and forgettable office complex.
We could fill it with each Caffeine & Carburetor event.
I see a lot of value to our town here. I love Roger Sherman Inn, yet it has a small capacity. GrayBarns doesn’t allow anyone under 18. And tbh, I don’t want out of town guests to always shack up with us. This is a welcomed addition and it appears the Development group are approaching it with taste and thoughtfulness.
The new hotel will be a great complement to the new Playhouse, The Glass House, sporting events and programs that bring guest speakers to the town. These activities all generate visitors to the town who sometimes travel long distances and need accommodations close to in town venues. The new hotel fits well with a lot of featured town activities. The hotel will be a catalytic asset for the town.
The Roger Sherman Inn has been hanging on by a nail. This would be the final blow to our lovely Inn. We’ve already fought against a previous plan for overdevelopment of the Inn’s site. I’m not against this new project, but please acknowledge it’s full impact. Do we really need another restaurant? Do the restaurants need more competition?
Absolutely not! I live on Locust Avenue, I have no idea how a structure of this size could possibly be reasonable or safe on this very small residential street. As it is, the traffic coming down the street is horrific, I almost get killed every time I go on the crosswalk, I can’t imagine adding more. If you want hotels, invest in Roger Sherman.