Greenwich Station Developer Requests More Seating and Parking to Attract Restaurant Tenant
The $30 million Greenwich Crossing redevelopment at the Greenwich train station is hitting a zoning roadblock: securing a high-end restaurant tenant. While the physical space at Railroad Avenue and Steamboat Road is finished, prospective operators say they need a 150-seat capacity to make their business model work—well above the 112 seats originally approved by town planners.
To close the gap, developer GP Holding (owner of the Greenwich Plaza office buildings) has returned to the Greenwich Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission seeking approval for the extra seating.
The Valet and Distance Dilemma
Because increased seating mandates additional parking under town regulations, the applicant’s proposed solution hinges on off-site valet parking at the former Hopscotch lot on the opposite end of the station.
Re-striping the Lot: The plan would expand the lot’s capacity from 36 self-parking spaces to 55 narrower, attendant-managed, valet spots, staffed by two or three attendants during peak hours.
The 465-Foot Trek: Patrons using the valet service would face a 465-foot walk from the drop-off lot to the restaurant's main entrance on Railroad Avenue.
P&Z Commission Concerns
During recent hearings, P&Z commissioners expressed concerns about the proposal:
Accessibility Barriers: Chair Margarita Alban pointed out that elderly or mobility-impaired patrons cannot reasonably walk nearly 500 feet from the valet drop-off, leading commissioners to insist on a dedicated front-door drop-off zone.
Traffic and Spillover: Commissioner Dennis Yeskey warned that drivers opting out of the distant valet lot will endlessly circle nearby streets for parking, increasing downtown congestion. Concerns were also raised that takeout and delivery drivers could overwhelm the tightly re-striped valet lot.
Community Reaction
While the station’s structural upgrades move forward, the flagship restaurant space remains vacant. Local residents on social media continue to debate the delays, with many questioning whether high commercial lease rates are scaring off potential operators.
Between the Lines: Meanwhile, for those who frequent downtown Greenwich, the scenario highlights a familiar local reality: circling the Avenue in a perpetual search for parking.