First County Bank opens mid-May at its new location, 1135 Post Road East, at the intersection of Morningside Drive North, according to Coastal Construction Project Manager Brian Steinhauer. The bank, currently at 1260 Post Road East, at the intersection of Turkey Hill Road South, will relocate to the first floor of the building facing Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
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CT Unemployment Rate Rose Slightly in March
By Keith M. Phaneuf
Connecticut’s unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point in March, climbing to 5.7 percent, as job growth essentially remained flat, the state Department of Labor reported today.
The state has added 5,600 jobs since the start of 2016, but still has not fully recovered from The Great Recession. Through the most recent report, Connecticut has regained 91,400, or 76.7 percent, of the 119,100 jobs it lost during the last economic downturn.
“Although the rise in the unemployment rate this month was unexpected, there are some positive aspects to the move,” said Andy Condon, director of the Office of Research for the Labor Depatment. “The rise in unemployment occurred in a growing labor force, meaning it was driven by more people entering the labor market looking for work rather than a decrease in the number of employed. Job growth is occurring, but not fast enough to employ all of those recently entering the market.”
Six of the state’s 10 major industry super-sectors sdded jobs in March led by trade, transportation and utilities, which gained 1,300 positions. Gains also were recorded in: leisure and hospitality, government, professional and business, information, and education and health services.
WSJ Spotlights Westport Ice Cream Truck
Today’s Wall Street Journal features a story about Westport’s Phil & Tom Ice Cream and how Tom Topalian, 29, a nurse and co-owner of the business, operates it with his family’s 1967 Good Humor truck. After recounting the history of the truck and the business, which he began with his older brother Phil, he said: “These days, my brother is serving in the Marines in Japan, and I have a full-time job, so my parents help out. They couldn’t be happier. The truck is one of the family now. It’s like a third brother.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jess Neider for The Wall Street Journal
Comings & Goings: Alegre Opens
Alegre, described by store manager Grace Brescia, as “trendy, chic clothes for smart shoppers,” has opened at 180 Post Road East, next to the AT&T store at the corner of Post Road East and Bay Street. According to Sheryl Blit, co-owner with her husband Eli, the store introduces “a new concept in women’s trendy apparel.” Pictured are Brescia (l) and Mia Lupo. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Hiawatha Lane Project Not 8-30-g
By James Lomuscio
Developer Felix T. Charney, who wants to build 155 rental units on Hiawatha Lane off Exit 17 in Saugatuck, got support at Thursday night’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) pre-application hearing from an unexpected source—the Westport Housing Authority (WHA).
Felix T. Charney: developer is 1972 Staples grad and former P&Z commissioner. File photo
It has also been learned that the development proposed this time around will not be an 8-30g project, a state affordable housing law initiative that allows a developer to skirt local zoning laws.
Carol Martin, WHA’s executive director, gave her nod to the Summit Saugatuck plan becuase it includes a separate development that will offer 70 affordable units.
Because it is a separate development, Planning and Zoning Director Steven Palmer pointed out that 8-30g, which allows a developer to override local zoning laws if a municipality does not have 10 percent of its housing stock deemed affordable, cannot be used with this application.
Promoting Tourism to Westport Area
About 50 persons from the Westport area today attended a Town Hall event to promote tourism in the area. It was sponsored by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and featured a Connecticut Office of Tourism officicial to explain the COT’s revised website intended to attract greater tourism to the state. First Selectman Jim Marpe welcomed the guests and showed off the plaque when Westport won the 2014 Fan Favorite award for its tourism documentary. With him were Matthew Mandell, the Chamber executive director, and Westporter Felicia Lindau, marketing consultant for Connecticut Tourism, whose daughter Sutton was one of three sixth grade girls who created the award-winning Fan Favorite documentary. (See WestportNow Sept. 2, 2014) She outlined how the new website was designed and how businesses can participate and take advantage of it. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Getting Ready for Opening at New Location
The Brownstone Boutique celebrates its grand opening Thursday at its new location, 142 Main St., second floor. (See WestportNow March 17, 2016) Owner Victoria Schallert (r) invites the public to a celebration reception 6 to 8 p.m. which follows normal shopping hours. Pictured with her is co-manager Mariana Hurtado. The Brownstone is one of three ground floor businesses -– the others are Shoe-Inn and Bobby Q’s Restaurant -– which have relocated following sale of the 36-42 Main St. building in November 2014 for $9.2 million by Drew Friedman, who died in February. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Another 8-30g Proposal, This Time a ‘Green’ One
By James Lomuscio
Another planned, multi-unit housing development that aims to skirt the town’s zoning regulations via the state’s affordable housing statute 8-30g is in the works, its developers announced today. This time it’s at 1177 Post Road East.
Plans call for construction of a new four-story building in the existing parking lot adjacent to the current 1175 Post Road East office building. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The proposed 94-unit, four-story, 42,000-square-foot building proposed for the 1.96-acre parcel is planned as a green, adaptive reuse of a commercial office building for the local workforce, say principals of 1177 PRE Associates, LLC.
The announcement says plans have been submitted to both the Conservation and Planning and Zoning departments.
The development company is a joint venture of local real estate developers Phil Craft and Stephen Lawrence. They said that 30 percent of the studio, one-bedroom and two bedroom units would be listed as affordable.
‘Scout & Molly’s Cuts the Ribbon
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Scout & Molly’s, the new apparel boutique for women at Playhouse Square, celebrated its grand opening today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. (See WestportNow March 16, 2016) Participants (l-r) Matthew Mandell, executive director, Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, First Selectman Jim Marpe, owners Genevieve Bouchard and her husband Brian, and Bouchard daughters, Katy, 9, (l) and Solenne, 7. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Comings & Goings: Steam Closes at Saugatuck, Still Open at GF
By Dave Matlow
The coffee, bakery and sandwich shop Steam, located at the refurbished stationhouse on the eastbound side of Metro-North’s Westport station in Saugatuck, has closed.
Bob Glaser is still operating the Steam shop at the Green’s Farms station and hopes to continue. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The closure comes less than a year after its revival last June when loyal customers rallied additional support to keep the business running. (See WestportNow, June 28, 2015)
Meanwhile, the Steam shop at the Green’s Farms train station remains open under an agreement between the owner, Chef Briana, LLC , and Bob Glaser who, with a partner, assumed the rights to operate Steam at both locations, according to Glaser.
“There’s been a huge outpouring of support from customers of the Green’s Farms location to keep it open,” he said. “They’re saying ‘please stay here.’ ”
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