Construction underway on large apartment complex in Groton
Groton — Construction has begun on a 147-unit apartment complex at Pleasant Valley Road North and Route 12, one of two multi-family building projects in Groton.
“We haven’t seen new apartments in some time,” said Jonathan Reiner, Groton director of planning and development services. “We’re excited about this development. They’re going to be market rate units, and we’ve seen in the market analysis and from developers, the desire to building more multi-family housing in Groton. This is starting to meet that need.”
One finding of the analysis completed last year was the demand for more multi-family housing in town. Residents ages 25 to 34 made up more than one-third of Groton’s population, are beginning to earn significant income but either can’t afford or don’t want single-family homes, according to the report by New-York based consultant Camoin Associates.
Developers may be responding to this need and the growth at Electric Boat, Reiner said. Electric Boat needs to hire 15,000 to 20,000 people by 2030 as it gears up to build two Virginia-class submarines a year and develop and design the first Columbia-class subs.
In addition to the construction on Pleasant Valley Road North, Long Meadow Landings is building 22 apartments at 45 South Road. Gabriele’s Karate also built 15 apartments at 1028 Poquonnock Road, including four completed within the last six months. The planning department anticipates 19 new condominiums will be built on Fort Hill Road this year.
Groton Multi-family Apartments on Pleasant Valley Road North would include three multi-story buildings with 49 units each, 239 parking spaces and recreation facilities. Future tenants would access the complex from two points off Pleasant Valley Road north, according to planning documents.
"We're trying to get housing for all of these young engineers that are coming to EB. We want them to stay in town," said Town Councilor Bonnie Nault, one of two council liaisons to the economic development commission. Nault works as a real estate agent and recently helped two new EB employees find housing.
Much of Groton's housing stock is older, so new apartments will help fill that void, she said. The market analysis recommended mixed-use developments, or a mix of retail shops and apartments, which is what the council wanted to do with the former Seely School property, Nault said.
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