Windsor officials are set to hear proposals from developers seeking to transform dormant office buildings, hotels and even a vacant convent into apartments.
Proposals supporting various conversions are on the Town Planning and Zoning Commission agenda for Tuesday.
The one likely to have the greatest potential impact is a proposal by Manchester, New Hampshire-based apartment builder Brady Sullivan Properties to expand zoning adopted last year to facilitate conversions of specific office properties. The change would apply the zoning more broadly to the Day Hill Corporate Area.
This would facilitate Brady Sullivan’s plans to convert two 67,242-square-foot office buildings at 4 and 8 Griffin Road North. Brady Sullivan is under contract to buy the two roughly 45-year-old office buildings, according to its application.
The properties are currently owned by Sachem Capital Corp., of Branford. Sachem foreclosed on mortgages for both buildings in 2024, which had been held by two limited liability companies that purchased the properties in 2022. Those buyers both listed Cheskel Meisels as their principal.
Last year, the new adaptive reuse zoning was aimed at specific office properties deemed suitable for adaptive reuse, including 1 and 3 Waterside Crossing, as well as 1 Griffin Road North. Brady Sullivan had those properties under contract.
In October, the Planning and Zoning Commission signed off on the New Hampshire developer’s plans to convert the properties into 171 apartments in a development with extensive amenities. That approval was subject to further staff review of lighting, landscaping, signage and amenities.
Windsor Town Planner Todd Sealy, on Friday, said staff are working with the developer to finalize a few site plan details, focused on pedestrian amenities. Once these are finalized, plans will be approved and building permits can be sought, he said.
Hotel conversions
Bluevale Capital LLC, of New Haven, is seeking adoption of new zoning that would allow town staff to sign off on the conversion of hotels in the “Highway Transitional Development District” into affordable multifamily housing, provided the conversions require only minor modifications.
Bluevale’s proposal is focused on facilitating a conversion of the Residence Inn at 100 Dunfey Lane, according to Sealy. The motel has 96 rooms in 13 buildings on 7 acres.
Separately, Windsor-based CT Anchor Equity LLC – which paid $1.1 million for a 27-room hotel built in 1965 at 19 Maple Ave. last year – is seeking adoption of zoning that would allow conversion of older hotels in the B-2 Business Zone within Windsor Center into small apartments. According to an application submitted by attorney Evan J. Seeman, of Robinson + Cole, the plan is to create 27 apartments.
The proposal would require applicants to obtain a special use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. To qualify, hotels would have to be within one-quarter mile of a bus or train station; near shopping and community facilities and have been built before 1970. Hotels using the proposed zoning would have to convert to no more than 30 units, with each unit no larger than 350 square feet.
Convent conversion
Windsor-based developer Grava Properties, applying on behalf of BeCon Ventures, is seeking a special use permit to convert a “long-vacant” convent at 65 Bloomfield Ave. into seven apartments.
BeCon – whose principals are Louis Beck, of Manhattan, and Richard Conner, of Glastonbury – bought the 1930-vintage, 10,656-square-foot building from the St. Damien of Molokai Parish Corp. for $480,000 in a deed recorded last June.
The conversion would involve “minimal” changes to the building exterior, apart from the addition of dormers to allow more natural light into the third floor, according to Grava’s application.
The proposal would bring the building up to code, create high-quality housing and add to the town’s tax base, Grava said.
