By Gretchen Webster

Among the dueling sides of the Hamlet project in Saugatuck – those who are in favor of the large redevelopment project, and those who are not – are the merchants and businesspeople who actually work and sometimes live in Saugatuck.

The Journal interviewed four Saugatuck business owners this week, some who have been there for decades. It’s clear that they all had mixed feelings about the development, but agreed that Hamlet might ultimately be good for Saugatuck.

“The whole area needs a facelift and upgrade; the area needs a refresh,” said Bob O’Mahony, co-owner of Viva Zapata Mexican restaurant, which at 55 years in operation at 530 Riverside Avenue stands as the oldest restaurant in Westport. “The area needs a refresh. Everyone can agree to that.”

Bob O’ Mahony, co-owner of Viva Zapata Mexican restaurant in Westport, said that Saugatuck needs to be updated and refreshed.

The “Hamlet at Saugatuck,” as it is currently proposed, will consist of a multi-use development of 11 buildings, including retail, hotel and residential buildings between the Saugatuck River, Charles Street, Franklin Street and Railroad Place. The developer also has agreed to provide 14 off-site affordable housing units under the plan.

While developers say they plan to build what they say will be a “welcoming, lively, sustainable and vibrant place along the Saugatuck Marina where people want to live, work, visit and explore,” the plan has ignited debate among many residents and business owners in the area who say the Hamlet will create traffic and parking nightmares.

Like many other Saugatuck business owners, O’Mahony knows that traffic is one of the biggest problems facing the area, but he believes the Hamlet development team at Roan Ventures, who have been going around Saugatuck speaking to business owners, have solid plans to alleviate traffic as part of their development of the area.

“Traffic is horrific,” he admits, and his restaurant is near Riverside Avenue’s intersection with Bridge Street, where traffic often backs up. But the project developers “took a lot of time and energy to coordinate the lights,” which he believes will improve traffic flow, along with other traffic improvements in the project plan.

“If they can solve traffic issues and provide enough parking, I’m all for it,” he said.

Some business owners see opportunity in new development

The Steam Coffee Bar and Saugatuck Mail at 16 Railroad Place, is owned by Bob Glaser, a lifelong resident of Westport who lives in Saugatuck.

“I might just retire,” he joked when first asked how he felt about the Hamlet project. But, instead, he is considering taking Hamlet developers up on an offer to continue his mail business without the coffee bar, once the historic building where his store now stands is renovated, he said, as he pointed to an historic painting of the building hanging behind his coffee bar. “I have mixed feelings.”

Bob Glaser is hoping his business will become a mail and packaging hub on Railroad Place if the Hamlet team’s plans come to fruition.

In addition to being a coffee bar, his business is the only FedEx location in Westport, Glaser added, and also offers mailing and delivery services through UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, which could mean increased business for him considering the apartment buildings and hotel that is being proposed for the development.

“What they envision is a hub for mail and packaging, with a hotel behind it,” he said of the developers’ discussions with him about the future of his business.

There’s some sadness among long-time Westporters such as himself as they see Saugatuck change, he said. “It’s sad to lose old Westport, but as a business owner I’d love it. [Hamlet] will bring more business for this whole area.”

Although traffic has been cited by many who oppose the Hamlet project, Glaser said that traffic near the Saugatuck Railroad Station is only busy from 7-9 a.m. and from 5-6:30 p.m. during commuting hours.

“If the railroad wasn’t here no one would be in this area,” he said

And as for those who complain about Hamlet impacting parking, the development plan calls for adding 250 parking spaces underground which “a lot of businesses don’t like,” he said, but considering the proposed density of the development, he conceded that the plan would require additional parking.

The Hamlet developers have been working on the project for four years, Glaser added, and a lot of tenants in Saugatuck have short-term leases because of the uncertain future of the project. They are concerned that rent may go up when their leases end, he said.

“But it isn’t over until it’s over. The plans can change like that,” he said snapping his fingers.

A future in limbo, but willing to work with developers

One merchant who moved her clothing business to Saugatuck a year ago, knowing the building where she rents space may be redeveloped or torn down, is Carey Price, owner of Cove Collective, a boutique shop selling women’s fashions at 26 Railroad Place.

She’s hoping that her business can stay in Saugatuck as part of Hamlet project, but it depends on how much they remodel the building and how long it takes, she said.

Carey Price, owner of Cove Collective at 26 Railroad Place, likes the Hamlet development plans and hopes that she can be part of it.

“Everyone keeps talking about the traffic,” Price said. But like Glaser, her neighbor on Railroad Place, she said she doesn’t see traffic as a problem since the area near her store is busy only in the morning and early evening. She said she is definitely in favor of the Hamlet project, she said. “I really like the idea. They’re smart businessmen.”

Members of the Hamlet team visited her in her store and explained the plans, asking her opinion. “They definitely cared about how I thought,” she said. “They asked if I wanted to stay, and I said yes. The developers have the town’s best interest at heart.”

Concerns about traffic and parking for customers

Bill Rizzuto, owner of Rizzuto’s Oyster Bar and Restaurant at 540 Riverside Ave., said he is not against the Hamlet project, but he does have some concerns about the design of some of the buildings, and that traffic congestion and lack of parking in Saugatuck could worsen as a result of the project.

Development of the Hamlet project “would be good for our restaurant, generating more customer traffic,” but vehicular traffic “is a problem at certain times of the day, and every single weekend,” he said.

He is more concerned about parking than traffic, however, because “the demand outstrips the parking spaces,” Rizzuto said.

Rizzuto said he pays for a parking attendant and rent for the restaurant’s parking lot to accommodate his customers, but he doesn’t think that the plan to add hundreds of underground spaces in the Hamlet project is going to work.

“People don’t like parking in a garage, especially women, and having it underground is a double whammy,” he said.

Bill Rizzuto, owner of Rizzuto’s Oyster Bar and Restaurant, said he would not be opposed to the Hamlet project if it can blend with other businesses and traffic and parking problems addressed.

He said he is also concerned about the aesthetics of the project, and whether the newer, more modern buildings will fit in with existing buildings. “I think it should blend in and it doesn’t.”

If some changes are made, he would be more accepting of the Hamlet design plans, he said.

“I’m not strictly opposed if it’s done in a way that’s complementary to Saugatuck,” he said.

But no matter what happens with the Hamlet project in Saugatuck, whether the town approves it or not, Rizzuto says he has no plans to move his restaurant elsewhere.

“It’s a great spot. I don’t want to leave.”

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman and has taught journalism at New York and Southern Connecticut State universities.