South Norwalk redevelopment plan unveiled.

The Spinnaker Companies, in partnership with Greenfield Summit LLC, have unveiled a comprehensive redevelopment plan for South Norwalk's Reed-Putnam district. The plan will save and renovate the Lock Building, provide commercial loft space for local artisans, create new rental housing, and add much-needed parking for the Maritime Aquarium.

Called Maritime Place, it consists of the following components:

The Lock Art and Technology Center: Rehabilitation of the Lock Building is planned, with approximately 100,000 square feet of work lofts for local artisans, craftsmen and small businesses. The development will also include new street-level retail space along Marshall and North Water streets.

The Maritime Aquarium Garage: In conjunction with the Lock Building rehabilitation will be the construction of an approximately 700-space parking facility directly across from the Maritime Aquarium for use by the Maritime Aquarium and the Lock Building. Also on the site will be the development of 14,000 square feet of retail and commercial space.

Maritime Yards: The final phase of the project will be the construction of Maritime Yards, a low-rise mixed-use project of approximately 200,000 square feet and about 280 spaces of surface parking. Maritime Yards will be built along the newly constructed Riverside Drive and will feature a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom rental apartments along with some street-level commercial and retail space.

Maritime Place is to be built in two phases: Phase 1, to start in late 1999, will include rehabilitating the Lock Building and constructing the Maritime Aquarium parking facility. Phase 2, scheduled to start immediately upon completion of the parking garage, will include the mixed-use Maritime Yards project.

The architect for Maritime Place is Bruce Beinfield of Beinfield Wagner Architects of South Norwalk, CT. The firm has been involved in over 70 projects in Norwalk, including the South Norwalk Railroad Station and the conversion of the former Norwalk City Hall into a Museum for the City of Norwalk. In 1997, Beinfield Wagner Architects received a Special Achievement Award from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for its commitment to the revitalization of South Norwalk.

The architecture of the project will reflect the spirit of South Norwalk and its industrial past. The scale of the new parking facility will complement the Lock Building and the Maritime Aquarium. It will blend into the rich architectural context of South Norwalk's waterfront heritage and factory buildings.

As part of the Maritime Place plan, North Water Street would be widened to create a new pedestrian walkway with coordinated street signs, as well as new street-level shops, that will link the Maritime Aquarium to Washington Street.

"Maritime Place is a comprehensive plan that addresses the needs of this unique and vital community." said Clay Fowler, president of The Spinnaker Companies. "We are very excited about our plans for Maritime Place. We have assembled a great team of professionals with the experience, talent and financial resources to make this project a true asset to the community. We're ready to start today."

"We are very encouraged by this exciting new plan for re-developing the Reed-Putnam district. Maritime Place addresses many of the community's concerns for preserving South Norwalk's historic and artistic character, while providing a stimulus for the local economy with new shops, restaurants and housing," said Edward Musante, executive director of the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency.

"Maritime Place is a thoughtfully designed plan that will tie the Aquarium district together physically, aesthetically and economically," said Paul Jones, chairman of the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency.

Based in Stamford, CT, The Spinnaker Companies is a real estate firm engaged in commercial and residential real estate development and management. Spinnaker has been active in the metropolitan area since 1950, successfully developing thousands of residential units, office buildings and numerous adaptive re-use projects, in South Norwalk, Spinnaker and its partners renovated The Corset Factory Apartments, The Norwalk Museum and 27 Pine Street, all older historic buildings.

Greenfield Summit LLC is a partnership of Greenfield Partners LLC and Summit Development LLC, both of Westport, CT. Greenfield Partners is a privately held investment and asset management organization whose portfolio consists of office, retail, industrial and leisure-related assets. Summit Development develops residential and commercial properties throughout Connecticut.