The site is located at 21 Black Rock Turnpike adjacent to exit 24 of I-95. Blackrock Realty LLC acquired the property from UPS Corp., which had purchased the property in 1986 and had hoped to build a major distribution center there. However, according to Kurt Wittek, a principal of Blackrock Realty, UPS' plans for a distribution center never materialized.

The site now contains a Bullard's manufacturing facility that totals approximately 225,000 sf that has been vacant for the past 16 years. Cushman & Wakefield of Connecticut represented both Blackrock Realty and UPS in the sales deal.

Daniel A. Mambrino, senior director of Cushman & Wakefield, who brokered the deal with colleague Sal Buono, comments, "The planned Fairfield development will greatly enhance the quality of life for the people of the town. It will reduce traffic problems, provide greater commuter opportunities and will drive up economic activity in the area."

The project calls for a 1.3 million-sf office complex, that would include a health club, day care center, restaurants and a hotel. The new Metro-North station, which will be in addition to the two existing Fairfield stations, will be fully ADA-compliant.

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Town of Fairfield would fund $16 million and $12 million respectively for the construction of the new station and access road, including a bridge to be built over the Metro-North tracks between Frank and Timko Streets and improvements to a number of intersections in the vicinity. Blackrock Realty LLC, a joint venture of Rugby Realty Co. Inc., of Teterboro, NJ, and Kurt Wittek of Stamford, CT will provide the initial 1,200 car commuter parking spaces servicing the train station.

"The $28 million does not include the cost of providing a train depot and 1,200 parking spaces. The developer will be provided these amenities. Their current plan is to incorporate the train depot into the main facility of seven planned office buildings," Fairfield First Selectman John Metsopoulos said.

While the commercial office component will eventually total more than one million sf of space, Blackrock Realty will build the project in phases. Wittek noted that the first phase of the venture would be the retrofit and redevelopment of the existing Bullard's facility. The state of Connecticut, the town of Fairfield and Blackrock will be submitting plans for approval with the town of Fairfield on the venture in the near future.

"This will be a 1.3 million-sf world-class office complex with 21st century technical amenities; a brand new railroad station that is literally a part of our complex; and parking for 1,200 commuter vehicles that will go a long way to reducing the town's current commuter parking problems," Wittek said. "We are excited, and we thank the First Selectman and his administration for their help, cooperation and insight in getting the project this far."

He added that with the current traffic congestion problems on I-95 and the Merritt Parkway, he believes the development's location next to a new train station will draw companies and workers from lower Fairfield County from New Haven and the Route 8 corridor.

Aaron Stauber, managing director of Rugby Realty added, "We are very excited about this new project and look forward to working with Kurt again. With offices located a few steps from train service to mid-town Manhattan, we foresee a tremendous benefit for companies seeking lower cost alternatives to New York City. Thanks to the cooperation shown to us by both town and state officials, we believe this development will be the centerpiece of our portfolio."

Instant Insights /

Blackrock Proposes $250-Mil Office/Train Station Project

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