1135 Post Road East
Redniss & Mead played a key role in transforming the former Geiger’s Garden Center into Westport’s first mixed-use, multi-family development under the town’s Inclusionary Housing Zone (IHZ) regulation. Working with Coastal Construction, our team led the entitlement process to refine the IHZ text, making it workable for this split-zoned property and setting the stage for future housing diversity initiatives in town.
The redeveloped site consists of two commercial buildings and four residential buildings arranged above an underground garage. The corner 4,344-square-foot building houses a ground-floor bank with offices above, while a second 3,746-square-foot commercial building incorporates components of the site’s historic barn and now houses a spa. The “rear” portion of the site contains 12 residential units with associated parking, landscaping, open space, and two affordable units.
Engineering the site required creative problem-solving. The property sits on a corner with significant ledge and vertical relief, demanding careful grading and utility coordination. Redniss & Mead designed a stormwater management system to meet town and state standards while addressing DOT access requirements along the busy Post Road and coordinating with the fire marshal to ensure safe emergency access. The underground garage, which supports the four residential buildings, added another layer of structural and drainage complexity.
The design team included Vita Design Group (Architect), a longtime R&M collaborator. By integrating planning, engineering, and surveying services, Redniss & Mead helped Coastal deliver this six-building project, completed in 2017 as a landmark example of how thoughtful regulations and technical expertise can create both market-rate and affordable housing in Westport.
