WESTBROOK, CT — The Westbrook Outlets could be demolished in favor of a massive $425 million development with 595 apartments, 100 townhouses, a new hotel, restaurants and entertainment, according to The Hartford Business Journal.
Lexington Partners is breaking ground on the nearly 50-acre site at 314 Flat Rock Place in Westbrook with construction likely to begin in 2025.
To make way for the development would require the demolition of four retail buildings totaling 257,115 square feet, along with a movie theater.
It is estimated that only 25 percent of Westbrook Outlets stores are occupied. (Read the full story in The Hartford Business Journal.)
Westbrook Cinemas was reopened in the mall last year by Shoreline Entertainment in the former home of Marquee Cinema, which was closed due to the effects of the pandemic.
Westbrook Outlets is far from the only retail center facing an uncertain future in the state. Many other malls could soon have residential developments as well.
A developer plans to convert an abandoned Lord & Taylor site at Danbury Fair Mall into 144 residential units.
In Milford, the owners of the Connecticut Post Mall have received zoning approval to allow housing on the site. This could be done in three phases, with each phase adding 250 housing units.
For the Trumbull Mall, the community is discussing whether the mall could be demolished to make way for housing as well.
