First Select Woman Lynn Vanderslice It promotes the latest development of Wilton’s identity as a healthcare hub.
Her April update to residents highlighted the following information: 372 Danbury Road.is occupied by stanford healthlooking to convert more office space into medical space and expand an adjacent parking lot 378-380 Danbury Road.
from Hartford Healthcareexpanded presence of 50-60 Danbury Road To progressive diagnosticsscheduled to open at sharp hill square, Wilton’s array of medical facilities on or nearby Danbury Street. It’s growing, including names like Yale New Haven, Nouvance, ONS, HSS, Soundview Medicalmore.
“Danbury Road certainly became the medical corridor we envisioned for 2015/2016,” Vanderslice wrote in an update.
good morning wilton I reached out to Vanderslice and asked about the medical corridor.
What was expected?
Vanderslice is Economic Development Board (EDC) and Planning and Zoning Committee (P&Z) was among other town officials who saw the potential years ago.
Vanderslice said the town’s approval for redevelopment was 249 Danbury Road. Wilton Wellness Centercompleted in 2018) and 211 Danbury Road. (Sunrise Senior Living) was an early milestone in the vision of the medical corridor.
“This could be the start of something,” Vanderslice said at the time. ” [office] Vacancy was really starting…and here we were in between Norwalk Hospital and Danbury Hospitall.
“[Healthcare brands like Hartford Healthcare, Yale and others] Everything grew, but [Wilton] It was the perfect place to make that happen,” continues Vanderslice. “[Wilton] Great spot. ”
wiltons 2019 Conservation Development Plan (POCD) did not seek a ‘medical corridor’ per se, but emphasized Wilton’s unique location and the commercial opportunity created by Danbury Rd. Boulevard.
“Danbury Road is the central artery of the community…Over the next decade, the town aims to develop a corridor that combines the most intensive and diverse uses in the southern part of the corridor.”
POCD will also brand Wilton as the preferred location for businesses within its “target clusters”, including healthcare, as part of its economic development efforts to “strengthen the strength and diversity of the local economy and its ties to the region.” identified a goal.
The town’s economic development efforts have made it clear to commercial developers and building owners that Wilton welcomes developments, particularly for medical use, Vanderslice said.
“That was a big part of trying to get that message out when I first took office,” says Vanderslice. “The message is clear. teeth there. ”
“We all knew what was going on in commercial office buildings,” continues Vanderslice. “We knew things needed to change [and] Encourage what is happening now that commercial office space is being converted for medical use or converted for residential use [use]”
Wilton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Camille Carriero said:also believes that a medical corridor makes sense at Wilton.
“Wilton’s location is a great advantage for satellite offices of medical professionals at Norwalk, Stamford and Danbury hospitals,” she emailed. GMW.
peter deniers, CEO of AdvanceCT — non-profit organizations working with Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Attracting and retaining business across the state called the growing medical corridor a “true triumph” for Wilton.
“Given the trend of working from home, the commercial real estate market is at a major turning point. Being able to repurpose commercial office space to attract new tenants is a real win. GMW“Wilton should be applauded for finding creative ways to expand the Grand List.”
“We were welcomed”
Sean McDonnellworked on the Wilton Wellness Center project as a principal for a commercial real estate firm. Avison Younghighlighted Wilton’s ideal location for medical tenants.
“Basically, all conduits enter this area. [from Ridgefield, Danbury, Weston, New Canaan, Westport and Norwalk]. Being able to come here and access without riding I-95 or Merritt Parkway…that makes Wilton a really integral place,” said McDonnell.
at EDC it works at wilton In a promotional video, McDonnell praised the efforts of town officials to attract projects like the Wilton Wellness Center.
“Investment is important. To get developers and their investors on board and to invest in a town with no history, Wilton’s administration welcomes them, accepts the project, advises us, and allows us to It meant a lot to me to help me get through this problem. Channel,” said McDonnell. “The public hearings we had, the zoning meetings we had were well received…At every meeting we had, we felt welcome.”
Leading Wilton Job Growth
Healthcare jobs stand out among Wilton’s top five employment sectors.
according to CT data linkagecollect data from Connecticut Department of Labor, the number of Wilton jobs in the healthcare sector increased by 10% from 2019 to 2021. This is more than any other top division. (Note: recent adoption by ASML is not reflected in the latest data.)
Finance and insurance remains an important sector for Wilton, but jobs in this sector have declined over the same period.
“Whole benefits” for residents, local staff, and the city
“Having access to quality health care and services within our community is very beneficial for our residents,” said Chamber of Commerce’s Carierro.
Vanderslice also emphasized that point.
“We have a lot [medical] It’s a service you can get in the city of Wilton,” says Vanderslice. “It’s very difficult to travel on merit or 95 right now. I don’t have to go to Stanford for medical care. What a difference that makes.”
But Vanderslice says the medical corridor’s benefits go beyond convenience for residents.
“This makes Wilton more attractive to businesses as well as residents. In a sense, being able to receive this so close to you is like an amenity.”
“We had empty office space that needed to be replaced,” says Vanderslice. “A fully occupied medical building will pay more property taxes than an empty commercial building. There are those benefits everywhere.”
“It’s a big deal for us,” she said.
balance of land use
Vanderslice is happy that the medical corridor is complete, but believes land use balance is still important.
“In a town like Wilton, I think there needs to be a balance.
She pointed to 60 Danbury Rd. (inside Wilton Corporate Park Hartford Healthcare) is an example of an area with good mixing.
Developers — developers currently in development 141 Danbury Road. , the former Melissa and Doug Location — I submitted a pre-application for a multi-family dwelling at 64 Danbury Road,again, Wilton Corporate Park, in blocks of ASML in multiple places. As envisioned by the developers, 64 Danbury will include 116 units with clubhouses and pools.
“You can convert 64 Danbury Rd into apartments, and you’re not disrupting the landscape,” says Vanderslice. If you compare the traffic if they decide to pursue it, it’s an ideal place.If you work in ASML, you can live there, walk to work, walk You can go to medical facilities, there are restaurants…”
As an example, citing more pedestrians throughout the day in the area, Vanderslice said the increase in medical and residential facilities in the area has added a liveliness it didn’t have just a few years ago. thinking about.
“I really think it’s that part of Danbury Road. In South Wilton, it’s developed into its own community,” she said. “You have a different feeling for the communities along Rt. Seven than you used to have.”
what’s next?
The next location in the medical corridor is 88 Danbury Road.
upon April 12, a pre-application was filed with P&Z in an attempt to repurpose the approximately 42,000 square foot site. Existing office building for medical use. was on the agenda of P&Z May 8th meeting. [Editor’s note: GMW will be reporting on the P&Z meeting in a separate story.]
According to the pre-application materials, the building Ortho Connecticut Coastal Orthopedic Surgery,the current, eye park (761 Main Avenue, Norwalk), a short distance to the south. Reimagined spaces include uses such as physical therapy services and MRI machines.
Coastal will immediately occupy 21,000 square feet on the second floor of the building, and will occupy at least another 10,500 square feet when the lease on the space currently occupied by other tenants expires.
The building’s footprint remains unchanged “except for a new elevator at the rear of the building to accommodate stretchers.”
The existing 156 parking spaces (including 66 in the basement of the building) are sufficient for office use, but not for medical use. Applicant is requesting a change to P&Z’s required parking percentage.
“We look forward to conversations and collaborations with [P&Z] We will commission the existing building to be fully usable again,” the applicant wrote in the pre-application letter.