GGP Breaks Ground On Upscale Retail Center In Norwalk

GGP is moving ahead with the development of SoNo Collection, an upscale property in Norwalk, Conn.

The project includes over 700,000 s/f of retail space including two anchors Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. According to nerej.com, This will be Bloomingdale’s first store in the state and for Nordstrom’s its first in southern Connecticut.

SoNo Collection will involve a range of national, regional and first to market brands, as well as food-and-beverage tenants on 40,000 s/f.  The project is approximately 60% leased and planned to open in October 2019.

Placed in the center of Fairfield County, it is expected to draw regionally.  It will become a fundamental part of Norwalk’s existing downtown which involves the Maritime Aquarium, Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, and Waypointe district.  It is adjacent to the waterfront and a short walk to the famous SoNo area and its existing selection of restaurants and local retailers.

The SoNo Collection has been designed to be a 21st century retail project.  Traditional brick materials found in the local architecture are utilized stylishly to complement rather than mimic or clash with the surrounding buildings.  Transparency is built into the structure with upper-level windows, street storefronts, and multiple on-street entrances used to encourage interaction among the street and the interior of the center.  This design will inspire customers within the center to also explore the surrounding neighborhood and attractions. Added in the building is 85,000 s/f of public realm area including indoor/outdoor sculpture garden, plazas, and rooftop green space. Actual street retail will serve to activate West Ave. and North Water St. and provide a direct link to nearby properties.

#SHOWGALLERY#
The project also has 3,000 parking spaces, and the latest parking technologies will be used. The garage design combines clean ceiling finishes and a 60-foot structural grid to reduce columns that restrict visibility.  GGP has also provided $550,000 towards the establishment of a convenient circulator system that will enable visitors to The SoNo Collection and the surrounding attractions to move around without driving and parking at multiple locations.

“The SoNo Collection’s location and design will not only serve Norwalk’s growing downtown population but also make it a destination and draw people from 10-15 miles away,” stated Doug Adams, senior development at GGP.  Its draw, combined with Norwalk’s existing attractions and assets, will create more business for everyone.