The Newtown Economic Development Commission celebrated the ribbon cuttings with three businesses that opened in Newtown this fall. The three new facilities are in separate areas of Newtown and follow several other new business openings that occurred during this year. Caraluzzi's Market held a ribbon cutting for their new supermarket at Eton Center in the borough of Newtown. The new market is the third for the Caraluzzi family who began with their first business in Bethel. The market brings new life to the center where the former Grand Union was located. This independent and growing family business will specialize in locally grown and seasonal products that will set them apart from their competitors.
The Newtown Youth Academy (Academy) opened their doors to the public with a large ribbon cutting ceremony and activities to welcome the whole community to the first completed project on the Fairfield Hills Campus. The Academy is the dream of a local resident and business man who recognized the need in Newtown for a multifunctional sports and fitness complex. The 86,000 s/f sports and fitness center contains two wings off a central activity area. The complex has a year round field house with three multi-sport courts surrounded by a four lane track and the indoor turf permits field sports such as soccer, lacrosse, football and baseball. The 8,000 s/f fitness center provides many features and programs for members to work out and train for a variety of interests. The facility is a benefit to the town and will be a great amenity for other businesses that relocate and expand to the 185 acre multi use campus.
TNT Partners held a ribbon cutting to celebrate their newly constructed 25,000 s/f headquarters in the Curtis Corporate Park in Sandy Hook. TNT Ptrs. is a telecom management company that originally started off in the owner's Newtown home several years ago. TNT Partners moved into their new headquarters from a smaller facility near by and is looking forward to their continued growth.
The Curtis Corporate Park has been a boon to Newtown's economic expansion as several new businesses have constructed new facilities and moved in over the past five years. Two new building lots have recently been put on the market and the final 16,000 s/f industrial space in a multiple tenant complex may be occupied before the end of the year by a new manufacturing company that is considering relocation from New York.
Commercial projects under development on South Main St. (Rte. 25) include two shopping centers and a few smaller commercial projects. Plaza South will contain 70,000 s/f of space and Highland Plaza involves the conversion of the former Fireside Inn and the construction of two new buildings. Together, the two shopping centers will add 126,000 s/f of new retail space to the corridor. Two reuse projects involving renovations to former homes are underway. One property will also contain a new office building that will be the future home of a publishing company. The village overlay zone along the Rte. 25 corridor permits the conversion of existing residential homes into office use which has much interest for smaller businesses who seek to occupy space along this highly traveled corridor.
While the Newtown Youth Academy was the first to open on the Fairfield Hills Campus, progress on the redevelopment continues to be made. The Hawley Construction Company has an executed lease for Newtown Hall which will be renovated into 16,000 s/f of medical offices. Conversion of Bridgeport Hall into a municipal office building, the demolition of Greenwich Hall for parking and the planning for a new senior center and municipal parks and recreation facility is underway. Negotiations for Woodbury Hall are in process and a cleanup of Stratford Hall is under review. Opportunities for private development upon the campus are available. Redevelopment pads and building reuse options are available. The Fairfield Hills Authority is actively working on promoting the campus for commercial redevelopment opportunities.
Newtown's Economic Development Commission is ready to assist its businesses to grow locally and provides assistance to new companies to help get their business up and running in their Newtown location.
Elizabeth Stocker, AICP, is the director of planning and community development for the town of Newtown, Conn.