The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Town of Fairfield would fund $16 million and $12 million respectively for the construction of the new station and access road, including a bridge to be built over the Metro-North tracks between Frank and Timko Streets and improvements to a number of intersections in the vicinity. Blackrock Realty LLC, a joint venture of Rugby Realty Co. Inc., of Teterboro, NJ, and Kurt Wittek of Stamford, CT will provide the initial 1,200 car commuter parking spaces servicing the train station.

"The $28 million does not include the cost of providing a train depot and 1,200 parking spaces. The developer will be provided these amenities. Their current plan is to incorporate the train depot into the main facility of seven planned office buildings," Fairfield First Selectman John Metsopoulos said.

While the commercial office component will eventually total more than one million sf of space, Blackrock Realty will build the project in phases. Wittek noted that the first phase of the venture would be the retrofit and redevelopment of the existing Bullard's facility. The state of Connecticut, the town of Fairfield and Blackrock will be submitting plans for approval with the town of Fairfield on the venture in the near future.

"This will be a 1.3 million-sf world-class office complex with 21st century technical amenities; a brand new railroad station that is literally a part of our complex; and parking for 1,200 commuter vehicles that will go a long way to reducing the town's current commuter parking problems," Wittek said. "We are excited, and we thank the First Selectman and his administration for their help, cooperation and insight in getting the project this far."

He added that with the current traffic congestion problems on I-95 and the Merritt Parkway, he believes the development's location next to a new train station will draw companies and workers from lower Fairfield County from New Haven and the Route 8 corridor.

Aaron Stauber, managing director of Rugby Realty added, "We are very excited about this new project and look forward to working with Kurt again. With offices located a few steps from train service to mid-town Manhattan, we foresee a tremendous benefit for companies seeking lower cost alternatives to New York City. Thanks to the cooperation shown to us by both town and state officials, we believe this development will be the centerpiece of our portfolio."