A vacant office campus along the Norwalk River in Wilton is one step closer to becoming apartments and shops after Bozzuto and Kimco Realty announced a joint venture to advance redevelopment of the property at 15 and 21 River Road. The plan calls for 168 apartment residences and roughly 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail spread across a 5.62-acre site.
According to Westfair Online, the redevelopment plan calls for two residential buildings. Plans also include an elevated courtyard with a swimming pool and a rooftop terrace overlooking the Norwalk River.
From Vacant Offices to Riverfront Apartments
From Vacant Offices to Riverfront Apartments In November 2024, Wilton's Planning and Zoning Commission approved a special permit that included demolition of part of the existing buildings. At the time, the application narrative outlined plans for 168 housing units, 11,000 square feet of new retail and related site improvements, though the development was originally proposed in 2024 as a 175-unit, four-story mixed-use project before changes brought it to its approved scope.
The plan includes 168 apartments and public gathering areas, according to Good Morning Wilton. Bozzuto Development Company will lead development, Bozzuto Construction Co. will serve as general contractor, and Bozzuto Management Co. will manage the finished community. The broader project team includes Beinfield Architects, landscape architect Mahan Rykiel, interior designer CID Design and civil engineer VHB.
Executives Tout Strategic Fit With Grocery-Anchored Shopping Center
Executives Tout Strategic Fit With Grocery-Anchored Shopping Center The development sits beside a property where a Stop & Shop is located.
Separately, Kimco has previously said low demand from local businesses and the rise of remote work made it difficult to retain retail and office tenants at the Wilton campus, according to Good Morning Wilton.
A Separate Phase II Proposal and Ongoing Design Review
A Separate Phase II Proposal Beyond the 168-unit plan, a separate preapplication proposal reported in July 2026 would add 225 apartments to the previously approved 168, for a proposed total of 393 apartments, CT Insider reported. That Phase II concept has also included 275 parking spaces in a garage shielded from public view.
Earlier in 2026, Wilton's Planning and Zoning Commission had approved separate modifications at its June 8 meeting that added about 3,000 square feet to the overall development, according to The Hour. That outlet's June report described the approved project as a five-story, 168-unit mixed-use development with 11,000 square feet of retail and three units designated as affordable housing, and said it was expected to break ground on River Road within about 90 days, though that was described as an expectation rather than a confirmed start date.
Part of a Broader Wilton Housing Surge
The River Road project is unfolding amid a larger wave of residential construction across Wilton. First Selectman Toni Boucher has said the town could have as many as 1,205 new housing units by early 2027, according to CT Insider. Along Danbury Road, The Hour reported about 475 approved units, with additional projects in the pipeline.
An analysis cited by The Hour found that one new apartment in Wilton is either under construction or under active review by zoning and wetlands boards for every 16 residents in town.
