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Commission backs conversion of planned extended‑stay hotel at 2123 Isaac to mixed multifamily with workforce units
Summary
The commission approved a modification to the previously authorized six‑story development at 2123 Isaac Street to reduce extended‑stay rooms and add 100 apartment units (including 10 workforce units); attorneys said the change responds to hotel‑chain recommendations and will not alter the building footprint.
Norwalk — The Norwalk City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a modification to the approved site plan for 2123 Isaac Street that converts much of a proposed extended‑stay hotel into multifamily apartments while retaining the original building footprint.
Adam Blank, counsel for Wall Street Opportunity Fund, told commissioners the original September approval called for a 210‑room extended‑stay hotel with five live‑work units; the revised plan would leave 119 extended‑stay rooms, add 100 traditional multifamily apartments and keep the five live‑work units for a total of 224 units. Blank said a hotel consultant advised a smaller extended‑stay program and the conversion allows space for additional multifamily units. ‘‘We did hire a hotel consultant and a hotel architect to work with us…when working with them, they said 200 rooms for extended stay was gonna be too big for this location,’’ Blank said.
Ray Sullivan, project architect, walked commissioners through floor plans and identified the workforce‑unit distribution: 10 designated workforce units across floors two through six, comprising four two‑bedroom and six one‑bedroom units which match the apartment mix. Sullivan said the rooftop deck and shared ground‑floor amenity spaces will serve all residents.
Commissioners focused questions on whether live/work units count toward workforce‑housing calculations, how workforce units will be marketed and managed, and security/controlled access between the hotel and apartment portions. Blank and staff said the issue of counting live/work units is ambiguous under the new regulations and can be resolved administratively or by the developer paying a 1% fee for fractional workforce‑unit obligations; Blank explained the developer’s options and said the net result for this project would be 10 workforce units plus a 1% fee on any commercial space if certain spaces are classified commercially. ‘‘So under either interpretation for this specific development, you get 10 work force units and a 1% fee on the commercial space…,’’ Blank said.
Commissioner Anna requested that the developer consider clear website information or an application link for workforce units to help applicants find how to apply. Blank said he would raise the suggestion with the client and that the developer expects to use multiple marketing channels, including MLS, to advertise units.
The commission moved to approve the site‑plan modification; a roll‑call vote returned unanimous approval. Staff and the applicant will finalize the affordable‑housing documentation and any administrative interpretations required for live/work counting before permits are issued.
The decision keeps the approved building footprint and exterior unchanged while altering unit types and the internal layout to accommodate market and brand recommendations.
