Vessel group eyes another New London parcel for multi-family residences

New London ― The developer of a Bank Street apartment complex is eyeing another parcel to possibly construct more multi-family housing, according to planning documents.

Vessel Technologies, doing business as Vessel RE Holdings, LLC, on May 23 applied for a zone map amendment to change the designation of 23.5 acres surrounding Briggs Brook, near the Connecticut College campus.

The proposal calls for modifying the property’s current R-2 zone, which allows one- and two-family homes, to R-3, which allows for multi-family home construction. The parcel’s western edge abuts an existing R-3 district.

A Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing on the zone change proposal was set to be opened Thursday and recessed to Aug. 15 without public comment.

The continuance request was made to allow Vessel representatives to host “informal public informational sessions” with nearby property owners on Williams Street, according to an email sent to the city’s planning department by Attorney William Sweeney, who is representing Vessel.

The heavily wooded property, identified as 0 Stonebridge Drive on amendment applications, was purchased in 1999 by the Shiloh Baptist Church for $950,000.

Sweeney stated Vessel has the property under contract, which means the seller has accepted an offer on from a buyer. However, until all contingencies on a property are met ― such as obtaining a zoning change ― the deal can still fall through.

Neither Vessel, nor the Rev. Benjamin K. Watts, pastor of the Shiloh church on Garvin Street, could immediately be reached to comment on Thursday.

In its application, Vessel, which is still building a five-story complex at 174 Bank St. that includes 30 one-bedroom apartments, states if the zoning change is approved, it intends to develop a “multifamily project” on the most developable southern portion of the property.

The remainder of the lot, which includes wetlands, would be placed into permanent conservation providing a “substantial forested buffer” to the adjacent residences along Williams Street.

The Briggs Brook property, which borders Williams and Briggs streets, as well as Hawthorne Drive and Ridgeview Circle, is a mix of wetlands and steep slopes with a stream cutting through it.

No site plans for any potential construction at the property has been received by the city, said Felix Reyes, director of planning and economic development.

“That’s typical, since no developer wants to start incurring soft costs, like architects, until they’re sure their vision aligns with what a city allows,” Reyes said. “By holding off, that allows for adjustments to a plan.”

Reyes said his office frequently fields development proposals from firms interested in building in the city, though he said he’s not seen any concrete plans from Vessel regarding Stonebridge Drive.

“Their focus right now is Bank Street,” he said. “But the city is always hoping for more housing opportunities.”

The Bank Street complex, which broke ground last spring, was initially set to open in October, but Vessel officials opted to extend the construction process and set a new tentative date of July to begin accepting tenants.

j.penney@theday.com