FEATURE ARTICLE, DECEMBER 2005

REDEFINING REVITALIZATION
Naugatuck Renaissance Place is more than just another mixed-use project — the development is one of the first focusing on true revitalization by emphasizing environmentally friendly design.
Lara Fuller

Naugatuck Renaissance Place is an energy-efficient and environmentally conscious 60-acre mixed-use project that will be the new downtown destination in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

Finding the Right Location

Before Conroy Development could implement its ideas for an environmentally conscious project, it had to find not only the right location, but also gain support from local government, businesses and residents. Conroy had long been looking for the perfect place to develop a different kind of project. He wanted great highway exposure, waterfront accessibility and a large site available for development. After finding the 60-acre Naugatuck, Connecticut, site, he knew it was the right place. “It has in place a classic New England town green, as well as approximately a half-dozen major civic buildings that are architecturally important and provide a historic framework for the downtown,” says Conroy. “The borough is also directly accessible off Highway 8 and is in close proximity to Interstate 84, Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway. There is a Metro North station on the site, and there is an opportunity to connect to the riverfront of a revitalized Naugatuck River.” In addition to a good physical site, the area residents were an added benefit. “Naugatuck had citizens who were very involved in the community and wanted to enhance their environment on a long-term basis, and provide a new downtown to replace the industrial space that had been demolished,” says Conroy. “The government officials were very open-minded and Mayor Ron San Angelo provided the leadership necessary to move the project forward.”

The next step in the project was finding the right design team. Conroy Development soon brought on New York-based FXFOWLE ARCHITECTS, as the companies had worked together for more than 15 years. In addition to its extensive experience, FXFOWLE is also well-known for its environmentally sensitive approach to design. “Long before the term ‘green' entered the popular lexicon, FXFOWLE actively sought to incorporate energy conservation measures, maximize natural light and maintain clear air environments in its projects by responding to the local environment,” says Mark Strauss, principal and director of planning with FXFOWLE. “We maintain a commitment to the principles of sustainable architecture, planning and economic development throughout our entire body of work.”            

Energy and the Environment

Renaissance Place incorporates a wide range of elements to make the project as environmentally friendly as possible. The 3 million-square-foot development is designed to be very pedestrian-friendly. This is achieved by placing sidewalks throughout the development, providing easy access to public transportation and reducing the reliance on automobiles. Roadways will have traffic calming devices and low speed limits; fully enclosed bicycle parking areas will be located throughout the development; and a car-sharing program is planned for the community. In addition, all the hybrid and alternative energy vehicles used in the construction process will be available to residents after the project is completed. “The plan capitalizes on the area's adjacency to the Metro North Rail Station, creating a transit- and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with density concentrated at the transit nodes and a new main corridor,” says Strauss.

One of the unique components of Renaissance Place is its plan for energy independence. The development will employ a range of renewable energy sources and sustainable design strategies. Buildings throughout the development will be constructed to take advantage of natural light. This design will help minimize the energy used in the summer. In the winter, the solar heat will also help keep heating costs down. In addition, many of the buildings will have ‘green roofs' to help handle storm water runoff, cool the environment and reduce energy use.

“The team has set a net zero energy goal for the development,” says Strauss. “A technology center will focus on the development, implementation and showcasing of energy-independent technology, bringing a hot new industry to downtown Naugatuck. Other strategies include integrated photovoltaic for capturing solar energy, turbines for harnessing wind energy, bioswales, green roofs, porous paving to minimize stormwater runoff, and many more.”            

A New Downtown Core

In addition to all of the energy-efficient and environmentally conscious elements, Renaissance Place will offer Naugatuck residents a range of retail, entertainment, residential and cultural uses. When completed, Renaissance Place will include 1,600 to 1,800 residential units; a hotel with 250 to 500 rooms; 500,000 square feet of retail, entertainment and restaurant space; cultural and educational facilities; green space; 100,000 square feet of office space; and 300,000 square feet of tech/flex space. “Renaissance Place will be the new downtown for Naugatuck,” says Conroy. “The master plan that has been approved by the borough weaves new development into existing landmarks, and allows for a logical step-by-step process to be undertaken to recreate the downtown. The people in the community have expressed an interest in living downtown as well as having opportunities to shop, eat and be entertained. Renaissance Place will provide all those things.”

Conroy Development and FXFOWLE both hope that the Naugatuck Renaissance Place project will serve as an example of how a development can be profitable and environmentally sensitive at the same time. “Renaissance Place is not only an antidote to Naugatuck's waning downtown, it is a model for all downtown revitalization efforts to follow for a socially, environmentally and economically vital future,” says Strauss. The development will truly revitalize the Naugatuck community, generating jobs and creating a healthy environment for the future. “The reason this project will be successful is that Conroy Development and the borough of Naugatuck took the long view and didn't settle for a short-term solution to the community's economic challenge, such as a big box retailer or other quick fixes,” says Strauss. “Instead of a piecemeal approach, the borough is getting a redevelopment plan that, when implemented, will make the new development feel like a natural extension of the historic downtown. The plan will also reinvigorate the community by providing a mix of residential, commercial, cultural and recreational uses.”


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