A new application has been submitted to the Greenwich Planning & Zoning commission to build six condominiums in a three story building where today there is a surface parking lot adjacent to the historic Armory and drill shed on Mason Street.
The property features three adjacent parcels: 230 Mason Street, 226 Mason Street and 16 Havemeyer Place.
While the units would be built over the existing surface parking lot, some surface parking would remain, and the remainder would be relocated below grade with access via Mason Street.
A new elevator at the rear of the Armory would connect the parking levels. The proposed development would be approximately 27,836 sq ft.
The developers and owner of the property Helen Nitkin are seeking a Historic Overlay that would change in the CGB zone to CGB-HO.
The site features the historic Armory and drill shed, where soldiers were trained and prepared to fight in World War I and World War II.
There is a lease arrangement for 91 parking spaces for the Greenwich Financial Center on Fawcett, which the applicant also owns.
There is a long history of applications to develop the property including a 2007 P&Z approval for a 9-unit development that did not include full restoration of the Armory. In fact, a demolition sign was posted on the building, but the recession hit and the development never happened.
Ah, but that was a different group of commissioners.
In recent years the commission has urged that both historic buildings be preserved as part of any redevelopment.
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[caption id="attachment_109590" align="alignnone" width="1756"]![]()
Built in 1911, the Armory building at the corner of Mason Street and Havemeyer contains 24,000 sq ft. It remained an active military facility until 1971 before it was decommissioned. In 2012, HB Nitkin Group moved its headquarters to the Armory. Photo: Leslie Yager[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_109592" align="alignnone" width="1766"]![]()
Behind the Armory is the historic drill shed. Photo: Leslie Yager[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_109600" align="alignnone" width="1686"]![]()
Rendering of proposed synagogue for Chabad Lubavitch at corner of Mason St and Havemeyer. (Note Public Safety Complex to the right, and Armory in distance).[/caption]
In 2021 there was a proposal to make the site home to Chabad Lubavitch for a synagogue, but that would have only preserved the front portion of the Armory and demolish the drill shed. They had sought a .9 FAR in exchange for the HO, even though they did not plan to preserve the entire structure. A vote for a .7 FAR passed, (but not the requested .9 FAR). Ultimately, Chabad purchased the former Lutheran Church at 38 Field Point Rd for their new home.
In 2022, the applicant offered a plan that would have created a “ghost structure” of the drill shed by removing its roof and sides, exposing its trusses, and using the area for more parking, but veterans said it brought back memories of bombed out buildings during war time and the commission was sour on the idea.
[caption id="attachment_182049" align="alignnone" width="771"]![]()
Rendering of the trusses of the historic drill shed illuminated at night. The applicant proposes to create a "ghost structure" by removing its roof and sides and exposing its trusses.[/caption]
Today, the new application would preserve the Armory and keep the existing view of the drill shed from Fawcett Place. They propose to open the westerly and northern walls of the drill shed to create a car port structure achieved by utilizing a "perforated metal panels" to avoid exposing an interior stairway to the elements. That would otherwise have presented both a safety and building code issue.
The application narrative said the Historic District Commission had approved the modification and they had also worked with the Architectural Review Committee and the tree warden and incorporated their feedback.
The application has yet to be scheduled for a P&Z meeting agenda. Stay tuned.
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[caption id="attachment_220607" align="alignnone" width="1920"]![]()
View of 6-unit condo building from Mason St with Armory at left and public safety building at right.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_220608" align="alignnone" width="1920"]![]()
View from Havemeyer of the 6 unit condo building.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_109590" align="alignnone" width="1756"]
Built in 1911, the Armory building at the corner of Mason Street and Havemeyer contains 24,000 sq ft. It remained an active military facility until 1971 before it was decommissioned. In 2012, HB Nitkin Group moved its headquarters to the Armory. Photo: Leslie Yager[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_109592" align="alignnone" width="1766"]
Behind the Armory is the historic drill shed. Photo: Leslie Yager[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_109600" align="alignnone" width="1686"]
Rendering of proposed synagogue for Chabad Lubavitch at corner of Mason St and Havemeyer. (Note Public Safety Complex to the right, and Armory in distance).[/caption]
In 2021 there was a proposal to make the site home to Chabad Lubavitch for a synagogue, but that would have only preserved the front portion of the Armory and demolish the drill shed. They had sought a .9 FAR in exchange for the HO, even though they did not plan to preserve the entire structure. A vote for a .7 FAR passed, (but not the requested .9 FAR). Ultimately, Chabad purchased the former Lutheran Church at 38 Field Point Rd for their new home.
In 2022, the applicant offered a plan that would have created a “ghost structure” of the drill shed by removing its roof and sides, exposing its trusses, and using the area for more parking, but veterans said it brought back memories of bombed out buildings during war time and the commission was sour on the idea.
[caption id="attachment_182049" align="alignnone" width="771"]
Rendering of the trusses of the historic drill shed illuminated at night. The applicant proposes to create a "ghost structure" by removing its roof and sides and exposing its trusses.[/caption]
Today, the new application would preserve the Armory and keep the existing view of the drill shed from Fawcett Place. They propose to open the westerly and northern walls of the drill shed to create a car port structure achieved by utilizing a "perforated metal panels" to avoid exposing an interior stairway to the elements. That would otherwise have presented both a safety and building code issue.
The application narrative said the Historic District Commission had approved the modification and they had also worked with the Architectural Review Committee and the tree warden and incorporated their feedback.
The application has yet to be scheduled for a P&Z meeting agenda. Stay tuned.
[caption id="attachment_220607" align="alignnone" width="1920"]
View of 6-unit condo building from Mason St with Armory at left and public safety building at right.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_220608" align="alignnone" width="1920"]
View from Havemeyer of the 6 unit condo building.[/caption]