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NORWALK, Conn. Walls were turned to rubble Tuesday on Connecticut Avenue, where a Norwalk business reluctantly let part of its building go in the name of progress. The land made vacant by the demolition will be used for a much-needed sidewalk near Taylor Avenue and a left-turn lane, part of the Connecticut Department of Transportation's project to widen Interstate 95 and improve roads.
"The state of Connecticut has worked it out with the city of Norwalk to widen the road here," said Stephanie Mark of Stamford, an architect watching the demolition. "In the process, my client because he owns this land, he was the one who the state first approached about this he said, 'Look, you know, as long as I can operate my business you can take what you need.'"
The work was done on the northbound side of Connecticut Avenue, between John's Auto Center and REI. Pedestrians heading north proceed along a sidewalk but find a stone wall in that spot. To continue walking, it's necessary to step into the road.
That will change. Richard Linnartz, an engineer in the city's Department of Public Works, said in an email that the work will include widening I-95 from the Route 7 onramp to Exit 14, as well as making improvements to Connecticut Avenue from Exit 14 to Fairfield Avenue. That will include new sidewalks, traffic signals and left-turns lanes.
He didn't know when the work would begin, and a DOT spokesman did not return a phone call. State Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, didn't know, either, but said the I-95 widening is scheduled to begin in the late spring.
The owner of the building, who declined to be identified, was not enthusiastic about the project. He lost the front of his building by eminent domain as well as five apartments that had been upstairs. He needed the space for his business, and the tenants were displaced.
Mark was much more upbeat about "getting a little safety."
"The city of Norwalk has been really terrific getting this project figured out," she said. "I've dealt with a lot of town halls, and Norwalk was like the best. First of all, the best parking; the nicest building; the nicest people; the most organized. You can actually talk to these people; you can actually reason with them. ... I definitely give thumbs up to the city of Norwalk, I'm serious."
She promised the building would look better soon. The front will match the work done upstairs, and landscaping will be done. Mark said, "When this comes down, then we're going finish this side of the building. It's going to look very nice."
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