SOUTHINGTON— More housing and retail will be added to the town’s portfolio with a new mixed-use development project in the Milldale Section.
The property at 1608 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike will soon be transformed into an 11,460-square-foot, two-story, colonial-style structure with a restaurant, retail stores and apartments, according to the site plan.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the new mixed-use development project in two separate unanimous votes last month: one for the plan itself and to rezone the site for a floating "special design mixed use zone" and another for the special permit to build it.
Peter DiClementi, who is the listed applicant for the project and vice president of Beacon Electric, said they are trying to create something that complements what's happening around them with the recent developments at Stone Bridge.
“We're trying to do kind of a village effect for the area and bring in some new views of Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike,” he added.
The restaurant space located on the first floor is anticipated to be about 1,936 square feet and includes a little patio. The entry would be in front of the building on the Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike roadside.
While there isn't a potential tenant yet for the space, DiClementi said they were thinking about something like deli or a coffee shop, but they are leaving it open. Site plan details also show the possibility for two other retail tenants on the first floor.
The apartments would be on the second floor, but not directly over the restaurant, DiClementi said.
There will be eight units, including two that are “restricted workforce affordable housing,” applicant representative Severino Bovino, vice president of Southington-based Kratzer, Jones & Associates engineers, said at the July 15 meeting. Six of the units will be one-bedroom apartments and the two affordable units will be studio apartments. Residents will enter the building in the back via the stairs and elevator.
There will also be a new garage built on the site.
"It's going to look really nice, a lot better than what's up there," PZC member Kat Caird said at the meeting.
DiClementi said they are going through the demolition process for the existing buildings along with the building department for the structural drawings. They are hoping to break ground or see some development on the grounds next spring.
“I'm excited about this one," Chairman Robert Hammersley said in an interview. "The property has sat vacant for a while and it's somewhat of an eyesore out there so I'm excited to see development happening here."
Hammersley said the commission approved site plan applications for the property a couple of times for different uses including a gas station/convenience store several years ago, but nothing came of it.
Ciara Hooks is a reporter with the Record-Journal. She has been with Hearst Connecticut Media Group since 2024. When not working, she can be found trying out the many great restaurants in the state, shopping, listening to music and spending time with family.