This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
10/01/2022 01:14 PMSeveral buildings are nearing completion, including those fronting East Main Street, where a “Coming Soon" message is shared on Metro Star’s sign promoting the new Branford luxury apartments and commercial complex.
Metro Star Executive Managing Director and Founder Robert Smith told Zip06/The Sound that the first phase of the development will be open for leasing mid-October.
Landscaping in place and several newly constructed, New England-style buildings, clad in white, are creating a new “gateway” to Branford along this area of East Main Street, especially for those entering town from I-95's Exit 55, said First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove.
Cosgrove told Zip06/The Sound he felt the new development, given its location and proximity to the highway exit, has done much to “...establish a favorable gateway for people coming into town.”
Metro Star’s new complex at 367,373-375, 377 and 383 East Main St. includes a large parcel formerly occupied by the aging Days Inn, which was demolished to make way for the development.
Cosgrove said the impressive new complex is serving to redevelop a site that “...was certainly in need,” of an upgrade, while also “...filling a need” for Branford.
The finished development will hold a total of 6 new multi-story buildings, as well as a stand-alone club house building for residents. As part of Metro Star’s agreement with the Town, the complex will include a mix of 188 residential dwelling units, with 11 designated to qualify as affordable housing.
Based in Milford, Metro Star Properties has developed several successful communities welcomed by the municipalities they enhance (learn more at metrostarcompanies.com).
“It’s great to see the level of commitment that Robert Smith and Metro Star has to each development, and to our town, in terms of everything they’ve done,” said Cosgrove. “It’s really tremendous. I think this is, overall, a positive for the town of Branford.”
For Branford and shoreline community residents who may not be familiar with Metro Star's other projects, Smith shared what the complex’s "Star Deluxe" classification entails.
“Metro Star has a reputation for high quality developments in central urban locations with transit-oriented influences. The Star Deluxe product offers high quality architecture and landscape in mature inner ring suburban areas. Our locations typically offer convenient access to major highways near targeted employment centers,” Smith said.
Asked for any news on merchants or businesses coming into the commercial areas in the development, Smith answered, “...at this stage of the project, the commercial spaces have not yet been offered for lease.”