Winchester town officials are seeking a developer to build on a 118-acre property where utilities and groundwork were installed for a planned housing subdivision that stalled amid the 2008 housing crisis.
Town Manager Paul Harrington, hired in April 2024, said he has made restarting residential development of the Mountainside Drive property along Wallens Hill Road one of his early priorities.
“I knew about this development when I interviewed for this position,” Harrington said. “I said to the board, I will get this property listed and sold because we need to grow our grand list.”
In 2004, Winchester approved a 104-lot subdivision on the property, which is located a little more than a mile east of its downtown. The developer behind the proposal ran about 1.2 miles of roadway, along with water, sewer and stormwater utilities and nearly completed two houses before withdrawing amid the 2008 housing market crash, town officials said.
The two houses were invaded by squatters and vandals, heavily damaged and eventually demolished by the town, which claimed the property through blight liens in 2015.
Now, officials see the site as an opportunity to grow tax revenue, create new housing options and draw new residents to the roughly 11,500-resident town in the northwest hills of Litchfield County. The town is testing the quality of the existing utilities installed in the property and expects to release the results next week as an enticement to developers, Harrington said.
Earlier this month, Winchester advertised a two-step request for qualifications/request for proposals. It’s seeking developers to submit their qualifications, experience and references, along with a rough plan, by Dec. 1.
A selection committee will notify up to three preferred candidates by 4 p.m. Jan. 5. Those selected will have until 4 p.m. on Feb. 2 to submit detailed development proposals.
Ultimately, Winchester’s Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting will select the winning developer, who must then work out an agreement with the town concerning development and land transfer details.
Assistant Town Planner Geoffrey Green said developers are already showing their interest.
“Once we started talking about this property, we had a lot of interest from developers right out of the gate,” Green said.
While the property is zoned for single-family houses, the town’s advertisement acknowledges a willingness to adjust zoning to accommodate a mix of housing types.
“Ultimately, the town and the community’s goals are to create a new opportunity for residents in a community unlike any that currently exists within the town,” read a portion of the town’s invitation to developers. The property has potential for a variety of building types, as well as open spaces and “active outdoor uses,” according to the town advertisement.
Winchester officials want a plan that accommodates a variety of age groups and draws new residents, while also respecting the natural beauty of the site and its surroundings.
Harrington said the site is perched on a hill that offers fantastic views.
“It’s a beautiful area, kind of sitting on a mountain,” said Harrington, adding he will carefully consider making a move to the property himself, given its setting.
Proposals can include any combination of single-family houses, townhomes, cottage clusters or multifamily dwellings.
Developers should consider amenities such as a clubhouse, pool, walking trails and other “creative community spaces,” according to the town’s advertisement. Environmentally friendly building techniques and materials, and a design respecting the natural environment are also pluses.
Developers can direct inquiries to Harrington at tm@townofwinchester.org.
The RFQ/RFP can be found on the main page of the town’s website at www.townofwinchester.org.