stratfield four corners project to start soon in fairfield
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By Josh LaBella | Published on August 19, 2022
FAIRFIELD — Stratfield is undergoing some big developments, with its latest Four Corners project expected to start soon.
Mark Barnhart, director of the Office of Community and Economic Development, said the town is reviewing three bids for the project, which aims to beautify the area and make it safer for pedestrians and bikers. The town plans to make a decision within a couple weeks. He said all of the bids were over the project’s budget, so that is factoring into the review process, adding the Board of Selectmen will ultimately decide.
“We still hope to begin work this fall and complete by this time next year,” he said.
Stratfield Village Association Co-president Dylan O’Connor said it is exciting for the plan to finally be coming to fruition after about four years of work between the SVA, the town and various partners.
“People in the neighborhood have been hearing about it for a long time, so this is going to be huge step because it’s everybody seeing what everybody has been talking about and donating their money to,” he said. “It’s a huge step for our community. It’s going to really improve the look of the four corners down there.”
The Four Corners Project, named after the intersection of Fairfield Woods and Stratfield roads, includes larger brick sidewalks, which will also increase outdoor dining space for the restaurants already there. It would add gas lamps similar to those on Post Road, and plant trees that would ideally flower in the spring and could be decorated with lights around the holidays. Plans also call for adding sidewalks in the parking lot and better marked bike paths.
BL Companies was hired by the town to design the project, and the state approved those plans.
O’Connor said the project should make the area more walkable and bicycle friendly, as well as increase real-estate values there.
He said the original quote for the cost of the project was between $600,000 and $1 million, and so the association aimed to raise the latter. In early 2021, he said about $900,000 had already been raised, largely because of a $650,000 state grant secured by the town’s state delegation.
The town itself has also contributed $100,000 toward the project, as has Sacred Heart University. O’Connor said the project is now largely where it needs to be in terms of funding, although he is still trying to make inroads with M&T Bank, which acquired People’s United Bank earlier this year and has a location in Stratfield, to see if they would be willing to donate.
The SVA also raised money on its own through community events and fundraisers. One program raised more than $30,000 by encouraging residents, businesses and organizations to buy an engraved brick that will be incorporated into the Four Corners design.
Jamie McCusker, the other SVA co-president, said it has been a long journey and the neighborhood has been very patient.
“I’m sure there are a lot of people waiting and wondering if this is ever going to happen,” he said. “So, for us to get close to the finish line, is a real big deal for us.”
McCusker said the project is getting underway as a lot of developments are happening in Stratfield. He said the state recently gave the town money to improve Church Hill Road, the local bank is changing ownership, the gas station is getting improved and the Sacred Heart University’s Martire Family Arena will soon be completed.
“There’s a lot going on with the neighborhood right now,” he said.
O’Connor said he hopes to be able to sit down with the contractor within the next few weeks to discuss what the project will look like and how it will impact the community.
“We’re in a good spot,” he said, adding that is in large part to the SVA’s partners in town hall and the state legislature.
O’Connor said in 2021 said the entire project should take four to six months once it breaks ground.
While it is the organization’s flagship project, McCusker said last year the SVA would still have work to do even when Four Corners is completed. The SVA has also started neighborhood events, such as Lincoln Parkapalooza in September and a holiday party.
O’Connor and McCusker have said they function as a mouth piece for the residents of the neighborhood, and so when the Four Corners Project is near completion, the SVA will have another meeting to see what they want next.
They plan to update the neighborhood on the project at Lincoln Parkapalooza on Sept. 10, where they expect have about 1,000 people in attendance. The fundraiser will have 15 bands, food trucks and a kid zone.
“We want to get up there and update the neighborhood on what is transpiring, and the first thing is going to be the Four Corners project,” O’Connor said.