Corbin District awarded Outstanding Project of the Year
The Connecticut Green Bank named the Corbin District in Darien as its 2024 C-PACE Outstanding Project of the Year, awarding Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy financer CounterpointeSRE.
CounterpointeSRE provided $63 million of financing for the new construction of the Corbin District, a transit-oriented, mixed-use development in downtown Darien from local developer Baywater Properties.
This C-PACE is the largest to date in Connecticut and was awarded the 2024 C-PACE Outstanding Project of the Year award as the first in the state to fund resiliency.
“CounterpointeSRE is thrilled to have partnered with David Genovese and Baywater Properties to bring this visionary project to life,” CounterpointeSRE’s CEO Eric Alini said in a statement. “Our record-breaking C-PACE financing of the Corbin District’s resiliency and sustainability measures will not only serve as a buffer against future energy and water damage costs, but it will also help attract and retain world-class tenants to the property.”
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The Corbin District is the first project in Connecticut to fund stormwater management measures through C-PACE. Incorporating best management practices for stormwater management, one critical installation is 20,000 square feet of porous asphalt and permeable pavers to manage 652,000 gallons of stormwater annually
The project also includes sustainable measures that contribute to the modeled 12.2% decreased energy use over a 2021 International Energy Conservation Code compliant design with utility savings of over $2.13 million. Significant contributors to this savings include heat pumps, air-cooled condensing units, building envelope upgrades, LED lighting and low-flow water fixtures.
These sustainability measures contribute to the project’s carbon reduction goals, estimated at 266.09 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, MTCO2e, of avoided emissions in the first year alone, according to the statement.
“For The Corbin District, Baywater’s most ambitious project to date, we aimed to push sustainability even further,” Baywater Properties CEO David Genovese said in the statement. “By collaborating with CounterPointeSRE and Barings, our team successfully balanced the incorporation of striking architectural design and high quality construction with environmental responsibility, while ensuring the project remained financially viable in today’s capital markets.”
The Corbin District's first half was completed in late 2023, and new businesses are expected to move into the second phase in summer 2026.
Community Fund of Darien honors volunteers
The Community Fund of Darien honored 46 volunteers from more than 35 different nonprofit organizations at its annual volunteer celebration held April 29 at Darien Community Association Meadowlands.
Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodsky gave a proclamation memorializing the Annual Darien Volunteer Recognition Day. The event was sponsored by Bankwell, Brown Harris Stevens, USI Insurance Services and Pure Insurance.
Honorees were awarded in the following categories: Outstanding Adult Volunteer, age 19 to 64; Outstanding Emerging Volunteer, age 18 or younger; Outstanding Senior Volunteer; Outstanding Volunteer Team; Outstanding Volunteer Family; and Outstanding Volunteer Duo.
This year’s Outstanding Adult Volunteers are Francisco Cardona of St. Joseph Parenting Center; Erin Cohen of STAR Inc. Lighting the Way; Henry Decsi of Darien YMCA; Tara Giblin of YWCA Darien/Norwalk; Crystal Hill of Council of Darien School Parents and Darien Soccer Association; Ania Janis of the Mather Homestead; Marie Litchfield of Waveny LifeCare Network; Natalia Mackenzie of Family Centers; Brandi Maniscalco of the Community Fund of Darien; Kirstin Mende of Kids in Crisis; Marcy Minnick of Inspirica Inc.; Ginger Morgan of Youth Community Fund; Laura Mosher of Darien Book Aid; Amy Raskopf of Theatre 308; Meg Ricci of ABC In Darien; Angela Riley of Darien Library and Person to Person; Hilary Thompson of the Darien Foundation; and Matthew J. Vossler of Swim Across America.
This year’s Outstanding Emerging Volunteers are Caitlin Cronin of Grassroots Tennis & Education; Grace Curley of Family & Children’s Agency; Alyssa Medwar of The Tiny Miracles Foundation; Meaghan Moles of The Darien Depot; John Wadleigh of Food Rescue US Fairfield County; and Sophie York of Feeding 500 at OpenDoors.
This year’s Outstanding Senior Volunteers are Murat Akgun of Future 5; Sam Bridges of At Home in Darien; Juliet Cain of Darien Green Wave, Pollinator Pathway and more; Diane Fuller of SimplifyCT; Frank Huck of Liberation Programs; Karen Kreitzberger Polett of Good Wife's River Chapter Inc. National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and Isabel Negron of the Americares Free Clinic of Stamford.
This year’s Outstanding Volunteer Team is Pat Cage, Diane Colechia, Lorraine Collins, Kristine Gould, Chris Hickey, Brigitte Mansourian and Kelly Sapio from Person to Person.
This year’s Outstanding Volunteer Family is David, Geraldine, Julie and Rocco Genovese from Abilis Inc.
The Outstanding Volunteer Duos are Jessie Merrill Glazer and Henrietta Kramer from the Darien Community Association and Sarah Das and Michele Mengwall from the Museum of Darien.
At Home in Darien to host free annual luncheon
At Home In Darien is inviting all town residents who 60 and older to attend its Annual Luncheon on May 29 at the Darien Community Association, 274 Middlesex Road.
It will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The luncheon, co-sponsored by At Home In Darien and the DCA, will feature guest speaker Art Gottlieb, a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist and counselor in his private practice. Gottlieb will speak to the luncheon guests about recognizing, managing and adapting to life's milestones and changes.
Check-in begins at 11 a.m., and a complimentary lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m.
The program is free for all Darien seniors. Free transportation to and from the luncheon is also available. RSVP by calling 203-655-2227 or emailing [email protected].
Space is limited at the event, and it is recommended that those hoping to attend respond early to ensure a seat.
May 8, 2025
Weeklies Editor
Mollie Hersh is the weeklies editor and reporter for the Darien Times and New Canaan Advertiser. She holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When she's not working, you can probably find her at the movies or a Broadway show.