This award is for a planning project or initiative of unusually high merit for which there are demonstrated results. For 2013, the Awards Committee recognized Landworks Development, LLC for seizing an opportunity in Simsbury’s new Planned Area Development zoning regulation to develop an innovative mixed use development that is the first project approved and constructed under the new regulations. The development, the Mill at Hop Brook, includes a restaurant, apartments and town homes all within walking distance of Simsbury Town Center which offers a variety of commercial and civic services. The development runs along the popular Farmington Valley Greenway.
An existing gristmill, with its views of Hop Brook, was renovated into a four-star and highly successful restaurant, Millwright’s. The beautifully rehabilitated brownstone also contains several offices, some of which are connected to the development, while others are completely separate. Mill Commons contains 88 apartments including four completely separate gatehouse style residences and a meeting house. Another section of the development, currently under construction, consists of 20 townhouses which will meet current demand for housing young professionals seeking apartment living and empty-nesters or retirees looking to down-size in a mixed-age development. The project fully embodies the Town’s new regulations and is a complement to the existing setting. Landworks embraced the opportunity to collaborate closely with the town and create a successful development from both the community and developer’s point of view.
