St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea in Black Rock
Black Rock prices are still lower than surrounding towns in lower Fairfield County, but they are increasing. There are several things that are likely to positively impact Black Rock values in the next few years:
- Fairfield Metro train station – express trains of just over an hour to Manhattan, most of Black Rock is within walking distance to it, and there is ample day parking and one of the shortest wait times for permit parking from Greenwich to Bridgeport. New York City residents have discovered Black Rock and word is spreading.
- Ash Creek Pedestrian Bridge – has been funded by the State of Connecticut and the permit process is underway. The pedestrian bridge will connect the business are of Black Rock with the train station and shorten the walking distance for those living west of Brewster Street. Construction has not yet begun.
- Black Rock School – expansion has been completed and classes extend from Pre-K (3 years old) through 8th grade. New gymnasium, classrooms, library, science center, playground. Pre-school care and after-school care at affordable prices. Extracurricular programs include: Wakeman Boy’s & Girl’s Club (aftercare until 9 pm), Fairfield YMCA Swimming, Yoga Club, Garden Club, Creative Writing Club, Chess Club, and more. High parental involvement in this school makes for a quality education.
- St. Ann’s Academy – next door to Black Rock School for those who want a parochial school education (K through 8th grade).
- Reputation as a “hip” area – Black Rock has been gaining a reputation among young professionals as the cool place to live and hang out, upscale coffee shops, cafes, art galleries restaurants, and music venues such as Park City Music Hall and PorchFest.
- Natural beauty – you can take a three mile walk along Gilman Street, Eames Boulevard, Grovers Avenue and most of that time you will be walking on a sidewalk looking at the water (tidal estuary or the Sound), most coastal areas are populated with expensive homes on the shorefront, there are very few where you can actually see the water as you walk along. Black Rock has an amazing amount of public access to its shoreline, including a public boat ramp on Brewster Street and a sandy beach on Seabright Avenue. Ash Creek is one of the few pristine tidal estuaries in an urban area. For more information please visit www.ashcreekassoc.org
- Coastal lifestyle – we have a marina, public boat launch, and two yacht clubs. Many people launch their kayaks into the gentle waters of Ash Creek. For more information: Black Rock Marinas & Yacht Clubs
- Elevated water views – most coastal areas along the Connecticut shoreline are flat near the water, but areas of elevation near the shoreline have become very desirable post-Irene and Sandy. Sasco Hill in Fairfield offers the same terrain as Grovers Hill in Black Rock, but prices there range from $3-5 million compared to $450,000-$2 million on Grovers Hill. Over 2,000 Fairfield homes were damaged in Hurricane Sandy, whereas very few homes in Black Rock were affected. In fact, one direct waterfront home went under deposit the day after Sandy and sold for $1.75 million.
- True community – there aren’t many areas where people identify with their community, but Black Rock is one of them. Black Rock has always had its own identity before it became a part of Fairfield and then Bridgeport. It was a colonial seaport and continues to view itself as a coastal village. Harborview Market is the prime gathering spot to catch up with one another over coffee, lunch, or weekend brunch. Black Rockers join together on common causes and there is always a meeting to attend or an event to go to. It’s a lively community with interesting people living lives with a purpose. The New York Times has published a number of articles on Black Rock in recent years: “Living in St Mary’s-by-the-Sea, Connecticut: The Saltwater Smell Means You’re Home” (May 23, 2010), “Living in Black Rock, Connecticut: A Community with Spirit and an Edge” (August 8, 2004), and “If You’re Thinking of Living In St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea, Connecticut: At Peninsula’s End, a Waterside Enclave” (June 9, 2002); “Black Rock: A Close-Knit Harborside Connecticut Neighborhood ” (December 21, 2016). Check out the Wikipedia entry on Black Rock Connecticut .
- New Yorkers Buying Bridgeport Homes – New Yorkers have been driven out of Manhattan and the Boroughs by high prices as well as Westchester County. As they look along Connecticut’s coastline near rail stations, Bridgeport becomes the best value. Black Rock is a very desirable part of Bridgeport to New Yorkers due to easy access to the Fairfield Metro train station.
In fact, New Yorkers are buying homes elsewhere in Bridgeport as well. Bridgeport is the largest city in the state and is one of the fast growing. More residents means the tax burden is spread out among more people. Also, there are exciting economic developments in the city. Steelpointe Harbor is a 2.8 million square-foot mixed-use, urban-oriented waterfront project on Bridgeport Harbor. When complete, Steelpointe Harbor will have approximately 1,000 to 1,500 residential units , 800,000 square feet of retail, 200,000 square feet of commercial/office space, 300,000 square feet of hotel/meeting area, a new 200-slip marina with complete shore-side support. Due to the scale of the project, Steelpointe Harbor will be constructed in phases over a period of several years. Downtown Bridgeport is becoming a hip destination for young professionals to live, dine, and enjoy entertainment. The revitalization of downtown Bridgeport is well underway and will bring more tax revenue through commercial and residential developments. To see recent Black Rock developments check out this post Recent Black Rock Developments
Black Rock is an area approximately one square mile in size. To get a daily update of new listings in Black Rock as they come on the market, text Gail at 203-521-0768.
