All Aboard: In and Around Noroton Heights

In 2016, Darien officials and community members put together a plan to “transform the Noroton Heights Station area” into “a pedestrian‐friendly, mixed-use, village-like area.”

According to the town’s 2016 Plan of Conservation and Development, “the Noroton Heights business district has the potential to be so much more.”

From there, in 2017, the town and WestCOG put together the Noroton Heights Station Area Plan that aimed to “support economic growth and development by promoting sustainable mobility and leveraging the transit-oriented assets surrounding the station.” 

Both plans also noted that the station itself was in need of some improvements, with the Noroton Heights Station Area Plan stating that “the existing train station building needs to be replaced,” and the station had rundown infrastructure, accessibility concerns, and more. 

Now almost 10 years later, that vision for the area around the station has come to life, while plans to replace the station are a ways off. 

“A Second Village-Like Area”

Two projects across the street from the station—Darien Commons and Heights Crossing brought nearly 200 housing units, new businesses, and improved pedestrian access to the area.

Darien Commons, which opened in 2022, is a mixed-use project featuring 122 apartments, with a variety of retail outlets including Gregory’s Coffee, Equinox, Chase, Lululemon, solidcore, Seamore’s, and more. 

“The Commons at Noroton Heights is a vibrant village-like development situated between an established residential neighborhood and an important station on the MetroNorth train line,” a statement from Beinfield Architecture, the project’s architect, reads. 

Meanwhile, earlier this month, Heights Crossing officially opened its doors, with 65 additional apartments also across from the station. 

“Heights Crossing offers a modern living experience steps away from the Metro-North train station, upscale retail, and the charm of coastal Connecticut,” a statement from the V20 Group, the developer of the property, reads. “With 65 thoughtfully designed apartment homes, a curated blend of retail tenants, and a host of upscale amenities, Heights Crossing represents the best of convenience, comfort, and community—all in one place.”

Heights Crossing will include a Goddard School as well as four restaurants and two retail storefronts. 

“It really is a terrific set up, lots of progress there, it’s a gorgeous place, they’ve really done a nice job,” First Selectman Jon Zagrodsky said at the July 7 Board of Selectmen meeting. 

Both projects tout the residential and retail opportunities available on site that help provide a true village-like community. 

“The design team utilized the significant existing grade change and terraces to make the 3-story mixed-use buildings appear as 2-story residential buildings along the perimeter of the site,” Beinfield Architecture said about the Commons project. “On the interior, however, the development reveals itself as a village-like commercial area. High-end and commuter-oriented services will supplement the project’s anchors: a Walgreens pharmacy and Equinox gym.”

In addition, Darien Commons contains 14 affordable housing units, while Heights Crossing has 10. 

Zagrodzky also said he would get an update on when the Public Works department is planning to repave Heights Road and Hollow Tree Ridge Road in the area as well as when the lights along Hollow Tree Ridge Road would be retimed to better help traffic flow. 

He said that they were waiting for the Heights Crossing project to have its construction wrapped up before they scheduled that work. 

“Too Much Development?”

But despite the fact that the projects are fulfilling what the town had planned for, there are some concerns about the developments from residents.

In surveys for the town’s current master plan project, hundreds of residents responded that they felt a “loss of small town character.”

“Many express nostalgia for a quieter, less developed town, and regret that Darien is becoming more like larger, less distinctive cities (e.g., Stamford, Norwalk, Westchester [County],” the survey analysis found. “Many respondents commented that there is too much development, especially in Downtown and Noroton Heights and are worried about the number and size of apartment buildings overwhelming schools, roads, and other infrastructure. Some mention that new developments are “cookie-cutter,” “cheap,” or “out of character” for the town.”

Station Enhancements 

In 2017, the state invested more than $6 million in replacing the platforms at Noroton Heights. The project included the replacement of platforms along both the New York and New Haven sides of the station, additional guardrails and hand rails as well as an eastbound platform shelter, and illumination upgrades.

But that project didn’t address all the issues that the Connecticut Department of Transportation had found at the station, according to the Noroton Heights Station Area Plan. 

“However, two of the capital projects recommended, the rehabilitation/replacement of the pedestrian bridge with an ADA compliant structure and the construction of a new westbound station building, have not been enacted upon, nor has the extension of the two platforms to handle 12 rail cars instead of 10,” the plan stated. “Both structures are still non-ADA compliant and in fair condition. Furthermore, the station building has exposed wiring, lacks heat, and can only accommodate a few commuters. The pedestrian bridge has peeling paint, its surfaces are pitted, and leaks. This can be precarious in the winter when leaking water turns into ice.”

In March 2025, First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky said on Darien TV 79’s “Ask the First Selectman” show that the plans to replace the station do exist, but not any time soon.

“The idea is still there, the last time I checked, which was at the end of last year, we are actually on the schedule for the station to be replaced in 2031 I believe,” he said.

Zagrodzky said that an improved station would fit into the work taking place around it. 

“Once that gets done, I think it’ll be great because we’ll have all that new construction from Darien Commons and then shortly at Heights Crossing and to marry all that with a newly designed Noroton Heights train station, that whole area is really going to look sharp,” he said.