by Jean Falbo-Sosnovich | Jul 28, 2022 7:12 am
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This Bella Vista photo is from Apartments.com.
ANSONIA – The long-vacant “ Palmer building” at 153 Main St. is now home to a four-story apartment building called “ Bella Vista.
The project was developed by Shaw Ventures, of New York, and features 44 studio, 1 and 2‑bedroom market-rate apartments (with one 3‑bedroom unit left).
The building’s property manager Tracy Stella recently gave the Valley Indy a tour of the new apartment building. Stella is not only the go-to person if you want to inquire about renting one of the apartments, she’s also one of Bella Vista’s newest tenants.
“ Living here is really the best of both worlds,” Stella said. “ I always wanted to live in the city, but I’m a country girl. Here, you have Main Street with restaurants of every cuisine, the post office, the bank, city hall, and a five minute walk to Target, and then at the same time, you can look out your window and see the whole tree line in Ansonia. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Stella said the entire fourth floor is rented, and a portion of the apartments on the third floor are also occupied, for a total of 15 tenants.
The apartments range from studios starting at $1,500 a month and 1 bedrooms from $1,500 to $1,950 a month, to 2 bedrooms from $2,200 a month. A 3‑bedroom unit is renting for $2,950 per month.
The clientele so far includes a mix of folks from Fairfield and New Haven counties, as well as several who moved here from out of state for work. She also said there’s been a lot of interest from Griffin Hospital resident doctors, who would have a quick commute to work to nearby Derby.
The building’s historic brick exterior has been reflected inside as well. Each of the units feature original, exposed brick accent walls, soaring wooden ceilings and wooden beams. This is mixed with modern-day conveniences of stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and luxury plank wood-look flooring in the kitchen and living areas, along with carpeted bedrooms and tiled bathrooms.
Each floor also has several amenities for residents, including laundry, and there’s also a roof-top deck area (still under construction) for all to enjoy a panoramic view of downtown Ansonia and beyond. The complex is also pet-friendly to pooches under 40 lbs., Stella said, with a dog wash station. There’s also a coffee lounge area, a business center and gym in a large, first floor space.
Mayor David Cassetti said he’s happy with how Bella Vista turned out, and is looking forward to Shaw Ventures’ ongoing plans to convert several other long-vacant buildings they purchased from the city.
Shaw received approval from the city in 2020 to build a $14 million mixed-use development of residential and retail that will bring nearly 100 market-rate apartments and more than 14,000-square feet of retail/commercial space to the Palmer Building, the Ansonia Technology Park (ATP Building) at 497 E. Main St. and the former Wells Fargo Bank drive-up at 165 Main St.
“ For 40 years these buildings were a burden to the City of Ansonia, costing us thousands each year to maintain, and they were vacant,” Cassetti said. “ I knew when I first became mayor we needed to do something with this property. We needed to make Ansonia a destination spot, and we have done that with all the new restaurants and housing.”
For more information about the apartments, call 203 – 816-6501 or email [email protected]
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