Downtown Stamford, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Downtown Stamford is the central business district
of the city of Stamford, Connecticut
, USA. It is an economically thriving area of the city, with major retail establishments, a shopping mall
, a university
campus, the headquarters of major corporations and fortune 500 companies, as well as other retail businesses, hotels, restaurants, offices, and entertainment venues. In recent years more housing has been built in the neighborhood, and more is planned. Also, because of its recent boom in high-rise buildings, Downtown is known locally as "Little Manhattan
", or "Little New York
".
With transportation widely seen as one of the biggest challenges facing the Economy of Stamford
, Downtown has become an important transportation hub, as well as a business hub for lower Fairfield County
. For example, it is an area within walking distance of the Metro-North train station, which is one of the busiest on the New Haven Railroad Line.
The Downtown area has been the heart of Stamford
, Connecticut
since colonial times. Much of the history of Stamford
took place there. Most of the southern and central portions of Downtown have been designated as historic districts, listed as the Downtown Stamford Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
.
In recent years, new development has consumed much of the Downtown area, with the additions of new high-rise buildings and office towers such as the new 35-story Trump
Parc Stamford, parks such as the new Mill River Park development project, and housing such as the new 17-story Highgrove Condominium Residences. Other development projects include new student housing at the UCONN
Stamford branch, residential housing, and the massive planned Ritz-Carlton
Stamford development, which will include two 39-story hotel/condominium towers. The project is currently on hold due to the economic downturn in 2008. The city also plans to make improvements to the Atlantic Street underpass beneath the New Haven Line railroad tracks just east of the Stamford Transportation Center
in order to alleviate a traffic bottleneck. The improvements are also meant to allow quicker evacuation of areas of the South End
if disaster strikes. The project received a $245,000 earmark in the federal budget passed in December 2007.
In relation to other neighborhoods in Stamford, the Downtown is east of the West Side (separated by the Mill River), north of the South End
(separated by Interstate 95 and the Metro-North Railroad tracks) and Shippan
(also separated by the highway and railroad), west of the East Side
and Glenbrook
, and south of Newfield, Belltown, High Ridge and Turn of River. Bull's Head, the mostly commercial area at the intersection of High Ridge Road and Long Ridge Road, is immediately north of the Downtown.
The Downtown Stamford Historic District is a historic district
that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983. The originally listed area included part or all of Atlantic, Main, Bank, and Bedford Streets, and examples of Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian, and Commercial Vernacular architecture. Its boundaries were increased in 1985 to include an area bounded by Atlantic, Main, Bank, Bedford, Summer between Broad and Main Sts. and Summer Pl. The 1985 boundary increase captured the only surviving area in downtown of lower-rent commercial structures such as warehouses, laundries, and stables. Its boundaries were further increased in 2002 to include an area including Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals and Modern Movement architecture, roughly, Bedford Street between Broad and Forest Streets. The 2002 increase added the 1939-built Avon Theatre and other buildings, adding Late Gothic Revival and Art Deco architectural styles not included in the first and second areas. The current boundaries of the historic district now encompass most of the southern half of Downtown.
.)
, an indoor shopping mall in the heart of the Downtown.
The project plans call for narrowing the width of the river to less than half of its current expanse, which would expand the park's area and provide space for more amenities. The master plan provides for a carousel, fountain, ice rink and network of trails connecting a greenway with the Kosciuszko, Southfield and Scalzi parks. Removing the dam will also allow fish to swim up from Long Island Sound. As of 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had spent $800,000 on preliminary studies, planning and design.
The cherry trees in Mill River Park were presented to the city on April 27, 1957 by Junzo Nojima, a native of Japan who had settled in the city in 1926 and in 1932 became the first Japanese man to own a restaurant in the state (K&J Three Decker Restaurant on Atlantic Street). Nojima gave the city 120 trees, and for three years he watered each one until they took root. He gave the city instructions on how to care for them, but when they were overlooked, he began tending the trees himself. On Arbor Day, April 27, 2007, the city celebrated the 50th anniversary of the gift with a ceremony at the park.
The Downtown Special Services District sponsors "Alive@Five" concerts in Columbus Park in the summer, as well as an annual Thanksgiving Day parade with large balloons. Both events bring thousands of people into the Downtown.
Department's Fire Station's # 1 and 5 serve the neighborhood. Fire Headquarters, or Fire Station # 1 is located on Main Street, in the heart of Downtown, while Fire Station # 5 is located on Washington Boulevard, in the Woodside neighborhood, just north of Downtown.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of the city of Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, USA. It is an economically thriving area of the city, with major retail establishments, a shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
, a university
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
campus, the headquarters of major corporations and fortune 500 companies, as well as other retail businesses, hotels, restaurants, offices, and entertainment venues. In recent years more housing has been built in the neighborhood, and more is planned. Also, because of its recent boom in high-rise buildings, Downtown is known locally as "Little Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
", or "Little New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
".
Economy of Stamford, Connecticut
The economy of Stamford, Connecticut is unusual for having a cluster of corporate headquarters ....
, Downtown has become an important transportation hub, as well as a business hub for lower Fairfield County
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
. For example, it is an area within walking distance of the Metro-North train station, which is one of the busiest on the New Haven Railroad Line.
The Downtown area has been the heart of Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
since colonial times. Much of the history of Stamford
History of Stamford, Connecticut
The history of Stamford, Connecticut-Early history:Stamford was known as Rippowam by the Native American inhabitants to the region, and the very first European settlers to the area also referred to it that way. The name was later changed to Stamford after a town in Lincolnshire, England...
took place there. Most of the southern and central portions of Downtown have been designated as historic districts, listed as the Downtown Stamford Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
In recent years, new development has consumed much of the Downtown area, with the additions of new high-rise buildings and office towers such as the new 35-story Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
Parc Stamford, parks such as the new Mill River Park development project, and housing such as the new 17-story Highgrove Condominium Residences. Other development projects include new student housing at the UCONN
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
Stamford branch, residential housing, and the massive planned Ritz-Carlton
Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton is a brand of luxury hotels and resorts with 75 properties located in major cities and resorts in 24 countries worldwide...
Stamford development, which will include two 39-story hotel/condominium towers. The project is currently on hold due to the economic downturn in 2008. The city also plans to make improvements to the Atlantic Street underpass beneath the New Haven Line railroad tracks just east of the Stamford Transportation Center
Stamford (Metro-North station)
The Stamford Metro-North Railroad station, officially known as the Stamford Transportation Center serves commuters both leaving and entering Stamford, Connecticut via the New Haven Line. Some Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains also stop at Stamford....
in order to alleviate a traffic bottleneck. The improvements are also meant to allow quicker evacuation of areas of the South End
South End of Stamford
The South End of Stamford, Connecticut is a rapidly growing neighborhood located at the southern end of the city, just south of the Downtown neighborhood. It is expected to be greatly changed with redevelopment over the next decade...
if disaster strikes. The project received a $245,000 earmark in the federal budget passed in December 2007.
Location
South End of Stamford
The South End of Stamford, Connecticut is a rapidly growing neighborhood located at the southern end of the city, just south of the Downtown neighborhood. It is expected to be greatly changed with redevelopment over the next decade...
(separated by Interstate 95 and the Metro-North Railroad tracks) and Shippan
Shippan, Connecticut
Shippan is a section of the city of Stamford, Connecticut.The Shippan section borders several other neighborhoods: to the south is Shippan Point, to the west is the South End, to the north is Downtown, to the northeast is the East Side, and to the east is The Cove...
(also separated by the highway and railroad), west of the East Side
East Side of Stamford, Connecticut
The East Side of Stamford, Connecticut is a neighborhood of mostly modest homes in southern part of the city.The East Side is southeast of Downtown, north of Shippan, and northwest of The Cove and south of Glenbrook. It is mostly to the south of Interstate 95 but covers both sides of East Main Street...
and Glenbrook
Glenbrook, Connecticut
Glenbrook is a section of the city of Stamford, Connecticut. It is located on the eastern side of the city, east of Downtown, north of the East Side and the Cove sections and south of the Springdale section. To the west is Downtown Stamford and to the northwest is Belltown. To the east is...
, and south of Newfield, Belltown, High Ridge and Turn of River. Bull's Head, the mostly commercial area at the intersection of High Ridge Road and Long Ridge Road, is immediately north of the Downtown.
Historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983. The originally listed area included part or all of Atlantic, Main, Bank, and Bedford Streets, and examples of Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian, and Commercial Vernacular architecture. Its boundaries were increased in 1985 to include an area bounded by Atlantic, Main, Bank, Bedford, Summer between Broad and Main Sts. and Summer Pl. The 1985 boundary increase captured the only surviving area in downtown of lower-rent commercial structures such as warehouses, laundries, and stables. Its boundaries were further increased in 2002 to include an area including Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals and Modern Movement architecture, roughly, Bedford Street between Broad and Forest Streets. The 2002 increase added the 1939-built Avon Theatre and other buildings, adding Late Gothic Revival and Art Deco architectural styles not included in the first and second areas. The current boundaries of the historic district now encompass most of the southern half of Downtown.
Distinctive Architecture
High Rises
Recently, Downtown Stamford has experienced a boom in high-rise building construction.- Trump Parc Stamford -- Finished in 2008, the 35-story condominium tower is currently the tallest building, office and residential, in Stamford and the second tallest building in the state, after the 38-story City Place ICity Place ICity Place I is a highrise skyscraper located at 185 Asylum Street in Hartford, Connecticut. At it is the tallest building in Hartford and in the state of Connecticut. It is only three meters taller than the Travelers Tower, built in 1919. City Place I was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill,...
in HartfordHartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. The building currently features 170 condominium units and a 6-story parking podium. - One Landmark Square -- Completed in 1973 at a cost of $35 million, the skyscraper became the tallest building between New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and New Haven between 1973 and 2008. The "Landmark" in its name is no exaggeration. When it was built, the 21-story office building towered over a much lower skyline, and it remains the second-tallest building in the city, and the tallest office high-rise, as well as one of the most distinctive buildings in Downtown Stamford. Five smaller buildings designed by Moshe Safdie, such as the Biltmore Apartments, were later built around the tower. - Highgrove Condominium Residences -- Finished in 2009, the 17-story condominium tower is currently the third-tallest building in Stamford and the second-tallest residential high-rise.
Victor Bisharat's Buildings
Many of the most distinctive buildings in Downtown Stamford were designed by the late Victor Bisharat, a Jordanian who received his education at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon and at the University of California at Berkeley. His Stamford buildings were designed for F.D. Rich Co. (For information on Bisharat's buildings on High Ridge Road, see Arts and culture in Stamford, ConnecticutArts and culture in Stamford, Connecticut
Arts and culture in Stamford, Connecticut Stamford, Connecticut.-Theater:Starting in the 1870s a theater operated from the third floor of the old Town Hall until the building was burned down in 1904. Edwin Booth, a Cos Cob, Connecticut resident, is said to have acted in that theater...
.)
- St. John's Towers -- The three cylindrical, 17-story towers were finished in 1971.
- One Stamford Forum -- Looking like an upside-down ziggurat above its three-story parking garage, the building has an enclosed arboretum rising from the ninth floor to the penthouse roof, which is covered by 76 acrylic glassAcrylic glassPoly is a transparent thermoplastic, often used as a light or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It is sometimes called acrylic glass. Chemically, it is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate...
domes. Formerly the "GTE building" named after a former tenant, the 13-floor structure is 196 feet (60 m) high. GTE used to show off the building in numerous magazine advertisements. In the 1990s, the Tresser Boulevard entrance to the building was changed (in a design by Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum) from a "formidably stark concrete wall of a parking garage" to "a more inviting entrance ... clad in blue-gray ceramic tiles, with a lobby, canopy, colonnade and small garden."
Other Buildings
- One Atlantic Street -- Art Deco interiors, with murals in the ground-floor bank, and Art Deco exterior details as well. The red-brick/white marble building at the corner of Broad and Atlantic streets was finished in 1931 and for a long time was the tallest in Stamford.
- University of Connecticut Campus -- The 225000 square feet (20,903.2 m²) building with the vast, green glass facade at the corner of Washington and Broad streets was designed by Perkins EastmanPerkins EastmanPerkins Eastman is an international architecture, interior design, urban design, planning, landscape architecture, graphic design, and project management firm. Headquartered in New York, New York, the firm is led by founding Principals Bradford Perkins and Mary-Jean Eastman, along with the firm's...
. - Old Town HallOld Town Hall (Stamford, Connecticut)The Old Town Hall is located in the Downtown section of Stamford, Connecticut. The building was built in 1905 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 1972....
— The Beaux Arts building was built from 1905 to 1907 and served as the seat of local government until the early 1960s. The building opened for business on March 20, 1907. The last mayor to work there was J. Walter Kennedy, who moved to the Municipal Office Building that was on Atlantic Street (now torn down) in about 1961. The Old Town Hall held offices for the city government until all city offices were moved to 888 Washington Blvd. in 1987. - The "Fish Church," or the First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, was designed by Wallace K. Harrison, the chief architect of the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
buildings in New York City, and opened in 1958. The fish shape is obvious to anyone who drives by, but the floor plan is also fish-shaped. The stained glass windows in the sanctuary contain more than 20,000 pieces of faceted glass. They depict the story of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. The 32 feet (9.8 m)-high cross is faced with wood from Canterbury CathedralCanterbury CathedralCanterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
. "Brilliant blues, reds and yellows make up the walls -- and seem to fill the air. 'It really is like being inside a jewel,' says Reverend David R. Van Dyke, a co-pastor. 'When I bring people who haven't been here before, there's an audible gasp.'" (Life Magazine, April 14, 2005) In March 1958, the $1.5 million church was dedicated with capacity crowds filling it for three services.
Buildings Under Construction, Proposed, or Approved
- Ritz-Carlton Stamford -- The Ritz-Carlton is a planned hotel and condominium complex for Downtown Stamford. The project will include two 39-story hotel/condominium towers, as well as 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) of retail space. Once completed, the two buildings will become the tallest in the city. The project is currently on hold due to the 2008 economic crisis.
Shopping
By city ordinance, all large stores in Stamford must be located within the Downtown Special Services District, unless special waivers are given. The area includes the Stamford Town CenterStamford Town Center
Stamford Town Center is an urban shopping mall in Downtown Stamford, Connecticut. The mall is the eighth largest in Connecticut, with space for about 130 stores and restaurants. It includes a Macy's and a Saks Fifth Avenue as anchors. The 1991 picture, Scenes from a Mall, was partially filmed...
, an indoor shopping mall in the heart of the Downtown.
Entertainment
Most of Stamford's larger entertainment venues are located in the Downtown. These include the Palace Theatre, Rich Forum, as well as various movie other theaters. The area around Columbus Park has become a center for bars, clubs, and restaurants, although all three can be found elsewhere Downtown and around the city.Mill River Park
Mill River Park, which separates Downtown from the West Side, is to be expanded in an $8.5 million project, including $4 million in federal funding earmarked in 2007, with the city government financing the rest of the cost. The federal funding is to pay for removing the Mill River dam and dredging. That part of the project is the first step in the long-planned renovation of the park.The project plans call for narrowing the width of the river to less than half of its current expanse, which would expand the park's area and provide space for more amenities. The master plan provides for a carousel, fountain, ice rink and network of trails connecting a greenway with the Kosciuszko, Southfield and Scalzi parks. Removing the dam will also allow fish to swim up from Long Island Sound. As of 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had spent $800,000 on preliminary studies, planning and design.
The cherry trees in Mill River Park were presented to the city on April 27, 1957 by Junzo Nojima, a native of Japan who had settled in the city in 1926 and in 1932 became the first Japanese man to own a restaurant in the state (K&J Three Decker Restaurant on Atlantic Street). Nojima gave the city 120 trees, and for three years he watered each one until they took root. He gave the city instructions on how to care for them, but when they were overlooked, he began tending the trees himself. On Arbor Day, April 27, 2007, the city celebrated the 50th anniversary of the gift with a ceremony at the park.
Events
Fire Department
The Stamford Fire RescueStamford Fire Rescue
The Stamford Fire and Rescue Department provides fire suppression and rescue, as well as first-responder emergency medical services alongside five volunteer fire departments to the City of Stamford, Connecticut.-Personnel profile:...
Department's Fire Station's # 1 and 5 serve the neighborhood. Fire Headquarters, or Fire Station # 1 is located on Main Street, in the heart of Downtown, while Fire Station # 5 is located on Washington Boulevard, in the Woodside neighborhood, just north of Downtown.
Filming locations
- Almost all of Elia Kazan'sElia KazanElia Kazan was an American director and actor, described by the New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history". Born in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, to Greek parents originally from Kayseri in Anatolia, the family emigrated...
1947 film, BoomerangBoomerang (1947 film)Boomerang! is a 1947 film based on the true story of a vagrant who was accused of murder, only to be found innocent through the efforts of the prosecutor...
was shot in Stamford, ConnecticutStamford, ConnecticutStamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, and most of that in the downtown area. The Old Town Hall was used, particularly the old Police Department offices and the stairway leading up from them to the courtroom. For a scene in which a pastor was killed, the movie used the front and sidewalk of the Plaza Theatre, which stood on Greyrock Place (a driveway leading into the Stamford Town CenterStamford Town CenterStamford Town Center is an urban shopping mall in Downtown Stamford, Connecticut. The mall is the eighth largest in Connecticut, with space for about 130 stores and restaurants. It includes a Macy's and a Saks Fifth Avenue as anchors. The 1991 picture, Scenes from a Mall, was partially filmed...
Mall is at that location now). The former offices of The AdvocateThe Advocate (Stamford)The Advocate is a seven-day daily newspaper based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. The paper shares a publisher and editor with the Greenwich Time; both are owned and operated by the Hearst Corporation, a multinational corporate media conglomerate with $4 billion in revenues.The Advocate circulates...
of Stamford, on Atlantic Street, were also used. "[I]t wasn't an oddity to run into Dana AndrewsDana AndrewsDana Andrews was an American film actor. He was one of Hollywood's major stars of the 1940s, and continued acting, though generally in less prestigious roles, into the 1980s.-Early life:...
, one of the stars of the movie, in a local restaurant, or to see other stars on the street," according to Don Russell, a columnist for The AdvocateThe Advocate (Stamford)The Advocate is a seven-day daily newspaper based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. The paper shares a publisher and editor with the Greenwich Time; both are owned and operated by the Hearst Corporation, a multinational corporate media conglomerate with $4 billion in revenues.The Advocate circulates...
. - Part of Otto Preminger'sOtto PremingerOtto Ludwig Preminger was an Austro–Hungarian-American theatre and film director.After moving from the theatre to Hollywood, he directed over 35 feature films in a five-decade career. He rose to prominence for stylish film noir mysteries such as Laura and Fallen Angel...
1963 film, The CardinalThe CardinalThe Cardinal is a 1963 film which was produced independently and directed by Otto Preminger, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The screenplay was written by Robert Dozier, based on the novel by Henry Morton Robinson....
, was shot in St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church on Atlantic Street. Some people stood for hours on the east side of Atlantic Street (across the street from the church) to get a glimpse of the stars.