Sons of Italy property on New Canaan Ave. sells for $2M

April 25--NORWALK -- A Baltimore-based developer of senior living communities has paid $2 million for The Sons of Italy property on New Canaan Ave.

Brightview Norwalk, LLC, an affiliate of The Shelter Group/Shelter Development, LLC, purchased the property at 162 New Canaan Ave. from The Pietro Micca Lodge Building Association for $2,015,000, according to real estate conveyance papers filed with the Norwalk Town Clerk's Office on Wednesday.

"It took the courage of the members of the Sons of Italy to relinquish their place, stay together and be ready to rebuild. Their support was admirable," wrote Pietro Micca Lodge No. 744 President Marie DiCerto Iannazzi in a recent letter to the editor. "Our goal is to rebuild ourselves in a new home, continue to support our community and to maintain the legacy of our grandparents to keep our Italian culture alive and our Italian language flourishing."

Pietro Micca Lodge bought the property in 1999, hoping to pay off the mortgage and cover expenses such as property taxes, utility bills and insurance by renting out the dance hall and other functions. But the plan didn't pan out and The Sons of Italy began looking for smaller, less-expenses quarters.

The lodge ceased doing function at the building last October, and now holds its regular meetings and Ladies' Night events at the Norwalk Pastime and Athletic Social Club, 59 Seaview Ave., in Norwalk, and its Men's Night events, dancing and other large-attendance social functions at the Ukrainian American Club of Southport, 279 Kings Drive.

Brightview Senior Living, LLC/ The Shelter Group/Shelter Development intends to raze the building and begin construction this summer on "Brightview on New Canaan," a 90-unit assisted living complex that will feature studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, dining and transportation, and 3,000-square-foot courtyard and upper garden.

The project will entail construction of a 2.5-story, 70,500-square-foot, Victorian-style building on the 4.25-acre site that now encompasses several adjacent properties.

Brightview Norwalk purchased the adjacent property at 9 Wood Acre Road for $505,000, the property at 50 Birchside Drive for $200,000 and the property at 46 Birchside Drive for $235,000, according to the Town Clerk's Office.

The eastern portion of the site will be deeded to the Norwalk Land Trust to create a buffer to the surrounding neighborhood.

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