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Owner of 145 Water Street told to show substantial progress by Dec. 17 amid fire, permit and FEMA concerns
Summary
Officials said the property on Water Street has unpermitted renovations, a tenant vacancy, outstanding fire marshal issues and sits in a FEMA flood zone; the owner was given until Dec. 17 to show a documented plan with a contingent $25,000 fine for insufficient progress.
Norwalk zoning staff and the property owner’s attorney told the Sept. 17 hearing that 145 Water Street has multiple outstanding issues — unpermitted renovations, a possibly unpermitted tenant, outstanding life-safety concerns raised by the fire marshal and the building’s location entirely inside a FEMA flood zone, which may trigger a ‘‘substantial improvement’’ calculation if permits are sought.
Attorney Chris Russo and counsel for the owner described recent developments: one large tenant (Manus Health, roughly 3,000 square feet) has vacated; an artist’s studio occupying about 800 square feet remains; the owner has retained Beinfeld Architecture to produce conceptual redevelopment plans and has been discussing standards — particularly parking — with zoning staff. Staff noted the property currently has a zoning approval for the artist studio but that the tenant has not pulled the required building permit and that the building has unresolved fire marshal sign-off.
Zoning staff cautioned that if unpermitted renovations are permitted retroactively and the cost pushes the property above FEMA’s substantial improvement threshold, the entire building may need to be raised or otherwise made flood-compliant — a process that could be extensive. The property’s attorney said the owner intends to pursue redevelopment rather than spending extensive time bringing the current structure up to FEMA compliance and has retained architects to prepare concept plans; the owner is waiting on more detailed application-level plans.
The hearing officer continued the matter to Dec. 17 and required substantial progress documentation by then. He said he would not impose a fine now but set a contingent fine of $25,000 if the owner fails to show satisfactory progress by the next hearing date.
Speakers included the hearing officer, Deputy Zoning Inspector John Hayducki, attorney Chris Russo for Alco Development LLC, the property’s counsel and the artist-tenant Tanya Anderson, who testified during public comment about efforts to obtain final occupancy permits. The hearing record notes coordination is needed among zoning, the building department and the fire marshal before occupancy and redevelopment applications proceed.
