The Darien Times

July 29, 2006
Darien's business district is banking on financial HQ, large retailer to revive area
By Richard Lee
Assistant Business Editor

The face of Darien's downtown business district may be changing again with construction of a permanent headquarters for fledgling Darien Rowayton Bank and neighboring retail space for a leading national clothier.

Darien Rowayton Bank, along with developers Daniel and Phillip Dolcetti, are awaiting a decision by the Darien Planning and Zoning Commission on a joint plan to raze three buildings east of Day Street and on the north side of the Post Road.

They will replace the old structures with a two-story building housing the bank and retail space, and a separate building housing Brooks Brothers clothiers.

The plan calls for razing a rear building that houses T Party Antiques, and constructing an 11,592-square-foot retail building and a nearby 4,500-square-foot structure that would house more retail space and a restaurant.

Also planned is the refacing of a building that houses Dolly's Cleaners and the former Dolcetti's Ristorante, which is being converted into Ching's restaurant. The rear parking lot would be reconstructed and landscaped with sidewalks, and Grove Street would be extended into the site.

A public hearing on the plan was held this week.

"We hope it will be the anchor of a redevelopment of the central business district," said John Bowes, president and chief executive officer of the bank, which opened its temporary headquarters in April at 979 and 993 Post Road. "It's 43,000 square feet of new development."

Scheduled to open by the end of next year, the 13,000-square-foot bank would share its building with 2,000 square feet of retail space. Construction would start in the fall or early next year.

Brooks Brothers, which has signed a letter of intent to come to the site, is in negotiations to occupy the proposed 10,000-square-foot, two-story building next door, said Phillip Dolcetti, an investor in the bank with his brother, Daniel.

"They have the vision. They looked at Darien as an opportunity where they would be core store," Phillip Dolcetti said. The clothing chain wants to be in its new building by next summer.

Brooks Brothers was one of several retailers the Dolcettis contacted, and the first to express an interest, said Phillip Dolcetti. He predicted that an upscale anchor store will pique the interest of other retailers in the project.

Designed by Neil Hauck Architects in Darien, the development is aimed at attracting commuters using the Darien train station. The 4,500-square-foot building planned for the rear of the property, to house a restaurant and shops, would incorporate the look of a Victorian-era railway depot.

Bowes and Phillip Dolcetti were reluctant to state the cost of the project, saying only that it would be "in the millions."

When scouting locations for the headquarters, bank organizers knew they wanted a site in downtown Darien, but initially envisioned a plan involving only the bank, Bowes said.

"It's a town bank, and we want to be in the center of town," he said.

The project evolved into a joint effort when the organizers learned that the Dolcettis had development ideas for their property.

"It's going to revolutionize Darien. It's going to be gorgeous and pedestrian friendly," Daniel Dolcetti said.

"Pedestrian friendly" is crucial, said Carol Wilder-Tamme, executive director of the Darien Chamber of Commerce, who wants a project that will generate foot traffic benefiting retailers in the area.

She said it is important that new retail space be clearly visible from Post Road and expressed excitement about the district's prospects if the commission approves the plans.

"This place is going to rock. It's going to be great," she said.

Darien Rowayton Bank, which raised $13 million in capital from 300 area investors, plans next month to open a Rowayton office of 4,000 square feet on two floors.

Copyright (c) 2006, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.