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Central Greenwich – A Prime Gold Coast Destination That Is Also Home

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By Liz Leamy
Sentinel Contributor

Greenwich-Avenue-street-sign-FICentral Greenwich is both a historic district and the town’s bustling hub of culture and commerce — a place to see and be seen, an ever more fashionable quarter in which to dine at excellent restaurants and to buy the finest clothing, jewelry, shoes, what-have-you.

Central Greenwich retains traces of its old New England townhood in some of its older Georgian and classical revival buildings on Greenwich Avenue and in its four most prominently visible churches—Christ Church, Second Congregations, First United Methodist and St. Mary. But the look and energy of central Greenwich increasingly has a metropolitan shimmer.

“Central Greenwich offers everything,” said Curtis Wood, a prominent Greenwich real estate broker with William Raveis, located on Field Point Road. “It’s a place like no other, and people from all over come here for that very reason.”

The center of central Greenwich is, of course, Greenwich Avenue. It runs downhill toward Long Island Sound, ending at Railroad Avenue (though the road continues to the Sound as Steamboat Road). The one-way avenue—it used to be two-way, and have trolley tracks—is the primary life force of the downtown community, offering all the amenities that comprise a quintessential main street, from nail salons to art galleries.

Once populated mainly by local retailers, Greenwich Avenue has become home to numerous quality regional, national and international chains, from Tiffany & Co. to Ralph Lauren to J. Crew. But the Avenue does still have great homegrown successes, perhaps most notably Betteridge Jewelers, owned by Greenwich native Terry Betteridge.

Other main sites on and near the Avenue include Greenwich Hospital; the classical revival post office, now Restoration Hardware; the old Town Hall, now the Senior/Arts Center; the yellow brick Havemeyer Building; the new the police and fire complex; numerous antique, sports and flower shops; and the state-of-the-art Greenwich Library, which was named as one of the top-ten of its kind in the country.

Of course, there is also the magnificent red brick, pillared and porticoed Town Hall, which once served as Greenwich’s high school. Today it serves as home base for Greenwich’s political leaders, department heads, and employees—a vital and powerful symbol for our vibrant community.

“It is an incredible building,” said Wood, a lifelong Greenwich resident whose mother, Dorothy, was a top area real estate agent for many decades.

On any given day, the Avenue is abuzz with cars and people, many who trek there from all over the tri-state area.

They might be running errands, getting coffee, meeting friends and colleagues for appointments or just browsing among its many wonderful shops, including several high-end flagship stores, all of which have come to designate this as a prime New York City suburban social and business destination as well.

“People from all over come here, especially on weekends, and usually spend a whole day just shopping, having lunch, walking through the park and enjoying the experience of being there,” said Wood. “It’s an incredible place that offers people so much, and could be considered the Rodeo Drive of the Connecticut Gold Coast.”

Greenwich Avenue (and immediate environs) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The historic district covers about 86 acres on either side of the Avenue, including the park between Greenwich Avenue and Town Hall.

Greenwich Avenue, stretching about five blocks, is a place where people can hang out, relax and spend hours exploring and browsing.

Greenwich-Town-Hall-FI“It takes a good two hours to walk up and down the Avenue and it is a destination, which is why so many people come from all over to spend time there,” said Wood, whose family history is also extensive here in town, as some of his ancestors owned and lived in the historical Tomes-Higgins House next to Christ Church on the Post Road. “They shop, eat at the restaurants, walk around and bring their dogs to the park and the football field behind town hall, where there always is a big weekend outdoor social scene.

“It’s a beautiful town that offers so much,” said Wood. “You have gorgeous beaches, the Avenue, parks, a great hospital and library and so many amazing people who are committed to building and contributing as much as they can to this community.”

Meanwhile, near the Avenue, there are blocks of beautiful homes and condominiums along with several high-end food stores, a luxury waterfront hotel, and a fantastic museum (the Bruce), which are also huge draws.

Next to the luxury waterfront hotel, the Delamar, is the town of Greenwich Island Beach ferry dock area, where scores of people go to ride various white ferries to Island Beach or Great Captain’s Island.

Essentially, these picturesque places, along with Greenwich Avenue, are the reasons why the town has come to be known as a premiere U.S. suburban locale.

For many people, including longtime residents like Wood, Greenwich is a very special place.

“This is a great town,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

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