Avon Approves Facelift For Busy Shopping Plaza

AVON, CT — A busy shopping plaza will get a building facade facelift after its owners received town approval earlier this month.

The Avon Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site plan modification allowing for building improvements at the Nod Brook Mall, 315 W. Main St.

PZC members unanimously approved the proposal by Nod Brook Investors LLC after a Jan. 10 public hearing on the topic.

Hiram W. Peck, director of planning and community development in Avon, said the application for the facade renovation came as work is ongoing to build a new HomeGoods store there.

Last summer, it was announced HomeGoods was moving its Simsbury store to Avon as the PZC in June approved expansion of the shopping plaza to facilitate its arrival.

Now, the PZC has approved the facade renovations necessary to have the HomeGoods store blend in aesthetically with the other businesses, creating a modern, updated look, according to proponents.

Frankie Campione, principal of CREATE Architecture and Planning representing the applicant, told PZC members the current site is visually outdated.

He said the goal is to have the plaza's so-called "junior anchors" — HomeGoods, Marshal's and Michael's — have "a different scale/feel from the smaller inline stores."

Plans call for a whole new style of facade, new signs, new paint as well as new lighting, among other changes.

Peck said any new signage would also require subsequent town staff approval and, possibly, PZC approval as they fall under the umbrella of Avon's sign regulations.

From July 12: 'HomeGoods Moving From Simsbury to Avon'

For the minutes of the Jan. 10 Avon Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link