The River Breeze apartment complex under construction at 223 Canal Street, one of many recent housing developments in Shelton, Conn. on Friday, Jan. 14, 2021.
Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut MediaSHELTON — Revitalization of Canal Street – long a vision of Shelton resident and developer John Guedes — took another step forward Tuesday.
Guedes, owner of Bridgeport-based Primrose Companies, stood alongside Mayor Mark Lauretti, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and state Department of Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno, among others, to formally unveil River Breeze Commons, construction of which began nearly two years ago.
The complex on the shores of the Housatonic River contains a mix of 68 market-rate and affordable units. Though it officially opened this week, units have already begun leasing.
“I'm standing here thinking about many years ago when no one wanted to be here,” said Lauretti, who moments later would cut the ribbon marking the ceremonial opening of the complex.
"This is just what the doctor ordered for our area,” Lauretti added. “In many respects, the affordable housing statute in Connecticut is grossly understood by the public. Employment opportunities are important to people, but also the ability for people to live in an area that they work is equally as good."
This project has been in the works since 2013, when Guedes first proposed it. New Haven-based Mutual Housing Association of South-Central Connecticut took over the project in 2018. Primrose Co. Inc. still served as general contractors for the project.
“First of all, thank you to (Gov. Ned Lamont) and (Bysiewicz) for prioritizing affordable housing ... I think this is a great development for the city of Shelton,” said River Breeze Commons Developer Tom Cruess.
“This used to be a brick factory that had environmental issues that needed to be remediated before this project could go forward, and I want to thank Mayor Lauretti for his help on that,” Cruess added. “This was not an easy project to complete as we were hit with all of the issues that came with COVID-19, but we have made incredible progress, so thank you to everyone who played a hand in that.”
River Breeze was designed as a mixed-income residential development targeting individuals and families earning between 25% of the area median income to market rate.
The development includes the construction of 68 new residential apartments consisting of 22 one-bedroom units, and 46 two-bedroom units, which will range in size from 796 to 1,081 square feet.
Recently, Lamont allocated $13.4 million in grants to seven municipalities for infrastructure upgrades that will modernize and rehabilitate housing for low and moderate-income individuals.
Additionally, $24.6 million in state funding was allocated to local communities help with the costs associated with assessing and remediating 41 blighted parcels of land in 16 towns and cities across Connecticut for the purposes of putting them back in to productive use.
“Governor Lamont and I support projects like these as one of our goals is to increase our state’s affordable housing stock for families and working individuals,” said Bysiewicz.
“People want to live in Connecticut, and we have seen that influx of population with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added. “With vibrant and walkable areas, towns like Shelton are where residents want to call home. With new developments like River Breeze Commons, we are making our communities not only better places to live, but we are making our communities more affordable and more accessible.”
The development site is located between New Haven and Bridgeport, sits near the well-traveled Route 8, within walking distance of railroad service to New York City and various amenities.
“I want to thank Governor Lamont and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz for supporting the resources needed for this development,” said Department of Housing Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno. “A top priority for us is these types of mixed-income, affordable developments. We want to support families and be able to offer them places to live that they can afford and improve their quality of life.”
The rehabilitation of Canal Street was the brainchild of Guedes, who invested more than $33 million for just what is completed or in progress along Canal Street.
Guedes’ vision began to come to life in the mid-2000s, when he joined other developers — including Al da Silva — to rehabilitate one of the old factory buildings into what is now The Birmingham on the River condominium.
In prepping what is now The Birmingham site, the developers realized that the neighboring asphalt plant needed to go, so they purchased it, demolished the structure, environmentally mitigated the site and facilitated its sale to what would be Shelton Avalon, a 250-apartment complex next door.
In the years since, Guedes has completed the Canal Street Lofts, the former Spongex site, with 47 units, and the Riverside Retail Center, formerly the Rolfite site, with first-floor commercial space and second-floor apartments.
He has also received approval for Chromium Commons, with retail space and 30 apartments, as well as Riverview Park Royal, a 92-unit, five-story structure, at property listed as 113-123 Canal St.
brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com