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WESTPORT, Conn. An outdoor patio is one of the features planned for a new commercial building slated for construction at 100 Post Road E. in downtown Westport. The Planning and Zoning Commission last week unanimously approved a site plan for the new building, proposed by Old Westport Town Hall LLC.
The 4,200-square-foot-building will replace the vacant drive-up bank kiosk on the property, said Robert Haroun, principal of Old Westport Town Hall LLC and founder of Westport-based SIR Development.
This is an exciting project, Haroun said Tuesday afternoon. Its my understanding at least in doing research that this will be the first new commercial building built in downtown in about 40 years. There have been many renovations, but no new buildings in 40 years, so this is great.
In 2010, Harouns company purchased the property along with 90 Post Road E., the site of Westports Old Town Hall. That building now houses Spruce Home & Garden on the first level, and a restaurant is planned to move into the bottom floor this year. These two properties were once occupied by a TD Bank.
The proposed one-level building, not including the basement, will feature 16-foot ceilings and an outdoor plaza, complete with seating areas.
Although he received many inquiries about a fast-food restaurant, Haroun said he wants to avoid leasing the space as a restaurant because its not the right use for that spot or the building. Ideally, he'd like a clothing store to move in and said hes talking with a dozen or so retailers that have expressed interest.
The addition of a new retailer in that location will extend the walking path along that stretch of the Post Road and boost foot traffic, Haroun said.
All the municipal parking behind 90 and 100 Post Road E. is sort of underutilized, he said. Hopefully, this will draw more people to park there and start their journey through downtown on that side, rather than starting at Parker Harding.
Construction on the new building should begin within the next two to three weeks and take about six months, Haroun said. The goal, he added, is to have a retailer up and running by Christmas.
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