Mixed-Use Copper Square Development Underway on Stony Hill

Demolition is well underway on the two properties at 48 and 50 Stony Hill Road, directly across from the Stony Hill Fire Department. Once complete, passers-by should start to see foundations going in for retail space with upper floor apartments and a second area with townhouses and duplex homes.

The entire campus — dubbed Copper Square — will include recreation, shopping, dinning and other needs along with just under 200 residential units.

The final plans for the mixed-used development includes 48 duplex and 88 townhouse units on the northwest residential side and 60 apartment units on the second and third stories above retail storefronts up front on Route 6.

The developer for the condominium complex — RMS Companies — is eager to get started on construction, according to Bethel Town Planner Steven Palmer, and work is expected to begin this year and continue in the spring. Construction permits are expected to be issued by the end of the week or early next week.

The developer for the mixed-use buildings has yet to be named, however the contracts are expected to be signed within the next couple of weeks, according to Genaro Rubino, project manager for the property owners, Plaza Realty and Management Corp.

Palmer hopes the new development will be a framework for the future of the Route 6 corridor, transforming it from mainly commercial and industrial to high-end mixed-use.

“We’re working with a time-tested model,” he said, noting that having a strong adjacent residential area will mean a built-in customer base for the shops.

The mixed-use area is also slated to include a bank, restaurant and offices and the condominium complex will have a central recreation area with a pool, outdoor kitchens, playing courts and community center/clubhouse.

Designs for the buildings show an upscale architecture for what is intended to be high-quality housing.

“I think this is going to be a catalyst for more high-quality development on Route 6 and in Bethel in general,” Palmer said. “We hope this type of development is a winning formula for responsible growth and economic development.”