Guilford Village West Starts Apartment Construction, Retail Next

GUILFORD, CT — Construction has moved above ground at Guilford Village West. Robert Sachs of Cherry Hill Construction told Patch on Tuesday that vertical work on the residential portion started last week at the 1940 Boston Post Road site. The project is expected to bring 162 apartments and retail tenants including Starbucks, Chipotle and Aldi to the town's Route 1 corridor.

Apartments Go Up First, Retail Follows

Sachs said the project will include 162 residential units alongside amenity spaces, with leasing set to begin in early summer 2027. Construction on the retail component is expected within about two weeks, he said.

The retail side is taking shape with a mix of tenants. Building permits for Starbucks and Chipotle have already been secured, and Sachs said the Aldi grocery store, which operates 35 locations in Connecticut, should be finalized in the next few months. A listing from JAZ Brokerage also shows about 4,230 square feet of additional tenant space next to Aldi, which could be subdivided.

Patch puts the site at 91 acres; earlier Zip06 coverage put it at 92. The Connecticut Scoop reported Oct. 16 that site clearing and stone removal were underway to make room for the buildings, and that the complex is expected to be finished in 2027.

Town Approvals Came Before Groundbreaking

The project cleared several local hurdles before construction began. Zip06 reported that the Planning & Zoning Commission approved special exception permits for residential buildings above the town's 40-foot height limit and for two drive-thru lanes in the commercial area. The plan calls for four residential buildings containing 162 apartments, 20 of which will count as affordable units under state and local mandates.

The Inland Wetlands Commission also approved a regulated activities permit, with a lengthy list of conditions. Zip06 reported that the commission's findings put the project's direct impact on inland wetlands at 4,392 square feet, from access drives, retaining walls, utilities and grading.

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