Stamford’s downtown revitalization sparks “Williamsburg” comparisons

The “next Williamsburg,” is a frequently invoked concept, but never has it seemed more surprising than in the Wall Street Journal’s latest application: Stamford, Conn. The Fairfield County city is latest nightlife hotspot, with rising residential developments to compliment the influx of restaurants and bars of late, the Journal reported.

“It’s certainly been one of the national success stories for downtown revitalization,” Christopher Jones, vice president of research at the Regional Plan Association for Stamford, told the Journal. Stamford-based businesses, like the Swiss bank UBS, have helped build that momentum, and 1,600 residential new units have been built since 2010, the Journal said.

And while other cities along train lines that connect with New York City have worked to grow their downtowns into destinations in recent years, Stamford has been one of the more successful examples, the Journal said, citing the recent arrival of a Fairway Market in 2010 and a 400,000-square-foot Chelsea Piers athletic complex, which opened in July.

“When I started, it was truly lights out at 5 o’ clock,” Jay Hruska, an executive vice president at the Cushman & Wakefield’s Stamford office, told the Journal. “No question, it’s [now] a more vibrant place.” [WSJ] –Guelda Voien