Shelton and Ansonia continue to see a surge of large-scale construction projects, with apartment developments and mixed-use investments dominating planning and development activity across both communities.
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In Shelton, the focus of growth has shifted away from Canal Street and toward Bridgeport Avenue and River Road, where multiple residential, commercial, and hospitality projects are underway or nearing completion.
At Fountain Square on Bridgeport Avenue, nearly all commercial space within the expansive development is now occupied, highlighted by the opening of Trader Joe’s in early December. The next phase includes construction of a 100-unit apartment building, following a revised agreement between developers and city officials that scaled back an earlier 145-unit proposal.
Nearby, Crown Point Associates, owned by the Botti family, has begun development on a highly visible site at the corner of Bridgeport Avenue and Long Hill Cross Road. The approved project will be anchored by a 123-room Woodspring Suites hotel, along with Texas Roadhouse and a Dairy Queen featuring a drive-thru. Plans also call for 640 parking spaces and multiple access points off Bridgeport Avenue. While the project initially faced scrutiny over unapproved work, city officials lifted a cease-and-desist order, allowing construction to move forward.
Additional residential growth is evident at 1001 and 1055 Bridgeport Avenue, where more than 150 apartment units have come online. This includes Avanti Apartments, a newly constructed building offering 55 units, and Shelton Grove, a former Residence Inn hotel converted into 96 apartments, with 19 designated as affordable housing.
River Road has also become a hotspot for development. Construction continues on a 152-unit apartment complex at 453 River Road, approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2023. The four-building project includes a 5,500-square-foot clubhouse and multiple access points from both River Road and Coram Road. Each building will house 38 “luxury” apartments.
Further south, plans for the Great River Water Club envision an “upscale” marina and residential destination along the Housatonic River. The long-planned project includes 35 condominiums, 110 apartments, a restaurant, boat storage, and a racquet facility that will be open to the public. Developers recently submitted revised plans to eliminate medical office space and add 10,000 square feet for a new “court concept.”
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Development along Canal Street remains active as well. Work is expected to wrap up next year on Cedar Village at the Locks, a four-story building at 287 Canal Street featuring 129 apartments and ground-floor retail space. Plans also include completing the Riverwalk and creating a public seating area overlooking the Shelton canal locks and the Housatonic River.
In Ansonia, redevelopment efforts are centered on large former industrial sites. The nearly 60-acre Ansonia Copper & Brass property is undergoing remediation backed by approximately $40 million in state and federal funding. The city has already begun work on adjacent land to support a 3.9-megawatt fuel cell project, which officials say will generate enough electricity to meet the city’s needs while producing nearly $2 million in recurring annual revenue.
City leaders believe the downtown energy hub could help attract new uses — including data centers — to the remediated site, supporting long-term economic development and infrastructure investment.
Elsewhere in Ansonia, long-stalled plans at the Olson Drive property are advancing. Primrose Companies has approvals for a turf soccer field and two large structures originally intended for indoor sports. Revised plans now call for a yogurt manufacturing facility in a 55,000-square-foot building, a project expected to bring 200 jobs to the city. A second 40,000-square-foot building is proposed as a mixed-use development with commercial and residential space.
Additional housing is proposed at 501 East Main Street, where Shaw Growth Ventures has filed plans to convert a vacant industrial building into Bella Vista Apartments. The four-story project would include 105 residential units, 15,000 square feet of retail space, structured parking, and a central courtyard.
Together, these projects underscore a broader development push in both Shelton and Ansonia, as former industrial corridors and underused properties are transformed into residential, commercial, and mixed-use destinations aimed at meeting housing demand and stimulating local economies.
Originally reported by Brian Gioiele, Staff Writer in CT Insider.
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