A prominent local builder on Wednesday said he’s willing to work with the town to create housing for seniors on a 3-acre residential lot at the edge of downtown New Canaan.
Representing a partnership that owns the property at Elm and Weed Streets, Arnold Karp of Karp Associates told members of the Town Council during their regular meeting that there’s been “some discussion about active adult senior housing and there are lots of committees who are discussing if it is a need in town.”
“This may be a once in 50- or 100-year opportunity to have a private developer work with the town and Waveny [LifeCare Network] and come up with additional senior housing choices,” Karp said during the meeting, held at Town Hall. “If it is the town’s will that they don’t want that, we are happy to do something else with the property. I bought it. I’ve owned it for four years. It’s currently rented. On the other hand, the discussion about what we do with seniors and where they are positioned and what the future needs of the town are.”
Karp and his partners purchased 751 Weed St. in March 2017 for $3,975,000, tax records show. At the moment it includes a 10,000-square-foot home that dates to 1928. It sits in the 1-acre zone. A Greenwich attorney is listed as owner as trustee.
His comments before the town’s legislative body came during a general update on various projects in New Canaan, including the former Talbot house at God’s Acre, the former Red Cross building, also in the Historic District and Merritt Village, a 110-unit complex at Park and Mead Streets that’s drawn some negative attention recently due to a retaining wall.
Regarding the possibility of a senior housing development at Weed and Elm, Karp told the Council: “I am happy to work with the town if it is something that the town and the town bodies and the residents want. If they turn and say, ‘Geez, active senior-built housing and a collaboration with Waveny doesn’t work for us, we will come up with a different plan.”
If this senior active adult housing is built, has a managing company been chosen? What amenities are proposed? Estimated cost for a resident?
It is very inappropriate to put high density housing in a historic, beautiful part of town with one acre zoning.
There will be 118 apartments with elevators in the heart of town for sale and rent being built now which should satisfy the needs of many seniors.
The corner of Elm and Weed is certainly NOT a historic part of Town. Instead of making negative comments … think for a moment about seniors like myself (age 79) who have lived in NC for decades and would like to live out their lives here including walking to town, Irwin Park, train, library, Mead Park, Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee etc, etc. … and their are no places to choose …. even with Merritt Village … thanks Jane!