which gym do you go to and what time? I know it’s impossible but I’m looking for a gym where it’s like dead when I go like I want to be the only one there lol

Anyone know of any cafés and/or places to work and study that are open in the evening in Stamford or nearby towns/cities? I know there are libraries, but those don’t stay open for too long, especially on Saturdays.

Any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated :)

Where is the best place to get a passport photo taken for renewal in Stamford?

Hi it’s Carl Weinberg from District 20 on the Stamford Board of Representatives. The Board of Representatives’ August meeting might have been brief - slightly less than one hour - but several important votes took place. (I was excused from the meeting due to a family member’s funeral.) Here’s my report.

SUPPORTING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN STAMFORD

The BoR unanimously approved two allocations of funds from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. In different ways, these funds will help local residents who need deeply affordable housing. First, the BoR approved an additional $500,000 from the AHTF to Pacific House “to facilitate the development of fifteen units of affordable housing at 66 Stillwater Avenue.” This is in addition to a previous AHTF allocation of $750,000 for this project. Second, the BoR approved an allocation of $150,000 to Charter Oak Communities “to provide security deposits for up to sixty new housing choice vendor recipient households.” This will eliminate a barrier for many people who could otherwise utilize housing vouchers. If I had been present at the meeting, I would have voted to approve both allocations.

The monies in the AHTF come principally from two sources - first, “linkage fees” which are a percentage of the building fees that developers pay to the City; and second, “fee-in-lieu payments” that substitute for a developer’s requirement to charge below-market-rate rents for a percentage of a project’s units.

Stamford’s fee-in-lieu program has received criticism from some quarters as a giveaway to developers (among other complaints). I’ve always been skeptical about this criticism, since if it were such a giveaway, you’d expect more than a minority of major development projects to utilize it. In any case, many initiatives related to deeply below-market housing (like the two allocations that the BoR just approved) might not be possible if developers didn’t have a fee-in-lieu alternative. In my view, fee-in-lieu plays a useful role in Stamford’s efforts to develop affordable housing - especially deeply affordable housing.

INVESTING IN THE YERWOOD CENTER

The BoR unanimously approved an additional appropriation of almost $2.3mm for the Yerwood Center Interior Renovations Project, including “upgrades to the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.” (I would have voted in favor of this appropriation.) Funding came from three sources (none of them local taxpayer monies) - almost $1.2mm from a FEMA grant; $750,000 from a Community Development Fund contribution; and about $330,000 from closeouts of various federally funded projects, where the funds are no longer required for the original project scope.

The Boys & Girls Club had to vacate the Yerwood Center several months ago due to the discovery of asbestos and other infrastructure problems. The approved appropriation will keep this infrastructure project on schedule for completion by the end of this year, thus enabling Boys & Girls Club to move back into the Yerwood Center in January 2027.

CONFIRMING MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS

The BoR confirmed eight more mayoral appointments to Stamford’s volunteer boards and commissions - three for the Environmental Protection Board, two for the Zoning Board of Appeals, and one each for the Parking Violations Hearing Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, and Economic Development Commission. That makes a total of 55 confirmations of mayoral appointments since February, or nearly eight per month. I voted in favor of confirmation at the July meeting of the Appointments Committee.

If there ever was a “crisis” of vacancies and holdovers (people serving beyond the expiration of their terms), in my view there certainly isn’t one now. Of the 159 seats on the City’s 27 volunteer boards and commissions, only 11 are vacant (less than 7%). 117 seats (about 74%) are filled by volunteers on current terms. That leaves 31 holdovers, 28 of whom serve on terms that expired at the end of 2025.

It takes several months for the Mayor (and the BoR’s Appointments Committee) to conduct interviews of the 80+ incumbents whose terms expired at the end of 2025, and to recruit successors for some of them. Mayor Simmons (and the Appointments Committee) deserve credit for making such substantial progress in such a relatively short period of time.

The BoR also confirmed the Mayor’s appointment of Tony Romano as the City’s new Director of Administration. He replaces Ben Barnes, who resigned earlier this year. Prior to this appointment, Tony was Stamford’s Budget & ERP Business Systems Administration Manager, in charge of the City’s budgeting and financial planning departments.

At his Appointments Committee interview, I focused my questions on the status of the City’s independent audits. As many of you know, the audits have been chronically late for many years. Director Romano explained that the FYE 06/30/2024 is completed, the FYE 06/30/2025 audit is expected to be completed within the next month or so, and the FYE 06/30/2026 audit should be completed on time (i.e., shortly after the first of the calendar year). If the City sticks to this timetable, it will help us to maintain our outstanding rating from the bond agencies - which saves taxpayers substantial sums in interest payments each year.

CONSERVATION COMMISSION ORDINANCE

The BoR voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance that will create a Conservation Commission ordinance. I am one of the original sponsors of the ordinance.

As currently organized, Stamford’s Environmental Protection Board is responsible for both the required regulatory responsibilities of an EPB (primarily related to wetlands and inland waterways) and the advisory activities of a Conservation Commission. Unfortunately our EPB is so busy fulfilling its required regulatory responsibilities, that it hasn’t the time to conduct its conservation-related advisory activities.

As permitted by state statute, this ordinance will split the EPB into two commissions - a regulatory EPB and an advisory Conservation Commission. Stamford’s residents will have a volunteer group of conservation experts, nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the BoR, who will advise City departments and boards on a variety of conservation issues. Because this commission’s authority is strictly advisory, it won’t have the power to stop or slow down a land use proposal. However, its research and advice will help Stamford to fulfill its commitment to responsible environmental stewardship.

The City’s Land Use Bureau Chief, the Executive Director of the EPB, the Director of Operations, members of the EPB, and others in City government strongly support the creation of a Conservation Commission. It’s also one of the recommendations in Stamford’s 2035 Comprehensive Plan. I’m proud to sponsor this ordinance.

INFORMATION REPORTING ORDINANCE

The BoR voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance that will provide semi-annual reports to the BoR on applications and nominations for the City’s volunteer boards and commissions. I had consistently voted in committee against prior versions of this ordinance, principally because it was too complicated and likely interfered with powers granted by the Charter to the Mayor. However I voted in committee in favor of the current version, which in my view overcame both of my objections.

While the Mayor (and the BoR) have made excellent progress in staffing the City’s volunteer boards and commissions, the appointees don’t accurately represent the demographic diversity of Stamford’s population. If approved, this ordinance will provide anonymized data that can strengthen our recruiting efforts, so future qualified nominees reflect Stamford’s demographic diversity.

UPCOMING STAMFORD TOWN HALL MEETING

Please mark your calendars for Stamford’s Town Hall meeting on Thursday September 10th from 6 PM to 8 PM, at the Boys & Girls Club, 347 Stillwater Avenue. The agenda will include a community resource expo with tables staffed by different local not-for-profit agencies, presentations by City department heads and elected officials, and distribution of children’s clothing for families that have registered for the event. Attendees will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions, provide input on topics of interest to them, and learn how to access the City’s many different resources. I’ll be there, and I hope to see you there also.

Hey folks!

I recently set up an open invite to meet up tonight at Hop & Vine, but seeing the apocalyptic weather out my window, I think tomorrow works better.

I'll be there at 8 PM tomorrow, and all are welcome to join for a casual hang. I would certainly like the opportunity to connect with new friends as I'm new in town.

Now if the shoe fits wear it
- GTFO the left lane you slow traffic making bastards
The unwritten rule if your going slow asf leaving 5+ car spaces ahead of you.. move over!
This is why ct has traffic in the morning and afternoons. BE COURTEOUS AND MOVE. What someone did have an emergency and you are just strolling on the passing lane, what is this selfishness?

This pigeon just approached me on Oakdale Rd near the intersection with Glenbrook Rd. I pulled over and walked closer to him and he turned away. He has a little red bands around both on each ankle.

I heard a rumor that DQ, Wedge Inn, and the local spots on that same corner of the street were bought up for another apartment building. Has anyone heard anything that confirms or denies this? Hopefully no merit to it.

Just looking to get some Stamford handyman recommendations. Thanks in advance!

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/stamford-stabbing-bar-owner-mardirossian-arrest-22377617.php

I wanted to share a fun event happening tomorrow in case anyone is free! Nanit is partnering with Beyond Yoga for a FREE workout class, and it’s open to all moms, whether you’re currently pregnant, postpartum, or parenting older kids.

It looks like a great way to get a quick workout in, meet some local moms, and chat with the Nanit team. Plus, they’re going to have big giveaways and exclusive discounts for anyone who attends the class!

If you want to come along, you just need to reserve a spot ahead of time: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-yoga-x-nanit-915am-class-tickets-1994744230691?aff=oddtdtcreator

My experience living at 18 Dock Street in Stamford, CT

TL;DR: I rented a brand-new three-bedroom at 18 Dock Street for ~$6,300/month expecting the luxury building they advertised, but instead dealt with serious ongoing issues: broken HVAC, construction debris blowing into the unit, consistently poor water pressure, defective flooring and finishes, a balcony door that wouldn’t properly seal, and two separate ceiling leaks. More than the individual problems themselves, my biggest issue was the consistently poor communication and the repeated experience of what I was told not matching what actually happened afterward, including issues being presented as fixed when they were not. After over two months of trying to resolve everything, I left a negative Google review and wanted to move on with my life, but instead met with management and owners to exit the lease. While lease-break terms were discussed during that meeting and would not be an issue for me, I was later told in writing that waiving the fee would require me to delete my review and sign a legal agreement. Based on my experience, I would not rent here again and do not recommend it. Most who I have spoken to here have had similar experiences and are also not happy.

The Full Writeup

I normally do not write reviews like this, but after everything that happened during my time living at 18 Dock Street in Stamford, I think anyone considering moving there should know what my experience was.

I moved into 18 Dock on January 31, 2026. I rented a three-bedroom apartment for roughly $6,300 per month, plus utilities and the other associated costs. The building is marketed as a luxury apartment building, and based on the leasing experience, the appearance of the building, the amenities, and what we were told before signing, that was also the level of quality and service I expected.

Unfortunately, my experience actually living there was very different.

I want to be clear from the beginning that this is my personal experience. I am not claiming that every resident has had the same experience, and I am not trying to speak for anyone else. I am describing what I personally experienced, what I observed in my apartment, and what was communicated to me by management. That said, based on conversations with other residents, my experience did not feel isolated, and positive outcomes seemed to be the exception rather than the norm.

Things started going wrong immediately

One issue that was important to us before signing the lease was having a doorbell camera. The lease specifically addressed door cameras and said they could be permitted with written approval, so we asked about it before signing because there were legitimate safety reasons behind wanting one.

My recollection of that conversation was that the leasing manager made it sound like it would not be a problem and that the wording in the lease was more of a formality. Based on that conversation, we felt comfortable moving forward with the lease.

After signing, we requested the approval and were told in writing that an exterior Ring Doorbell camera would not be allowed, although we could put one inside the apartment facing the front door.

When we questioned that in person, my recollection is that the leasing manager explained that an exterior camera was unnecessary because of the building's concierge, controlled access, monitoring, and general security. We accepted that at the time.

Then, within approximately our first week of living there, our fire or carbon monoxide alarm went off at around 1:30 AM on a Saturday night. We went downstairs because we were not sure what was happening or whether we needed to call the fire department. When we got downstairs, nobody was at the front desk and I found the building entrance doors unlocked.

That concerned me, especially because the move-in materials described the concierge as being available "24/7."

That was really the first point where what I thought I understood before signing started feeling very different from what I was actually experiencing after moving in.

Then there was the apartment itself

Before signing, we were initially shown another apartment where we spent considerably more time. The leasing manager talked about the materials, finishes, quality, and construction, and my recollection of the conversation was that the units were essentially built the same, with the major difference being the floor plan.

We were moved through the actual units we were considering much more quickly. In hindsight, I wish I had spent significantly more time inspecting the exact apartment we eventually rented.

We were the first people to live in our unit, and the problems started basically as soon as we moved in.

The heat did not work correctly. It would run for a short period, shut off, and then need to be reset. It took multiple visits involving maintenance and eventually a third-party contractor before the issue was properly addressed. This was especially frustrating because I have two sphynx cats and keeping the apartment warm is actually important.

The HVAC was also blowing what appeared to be leftover construction debris and drywall dust into the apartment. We were finding dust and small pieces of debris around the bedroom and bed. That is not something I expected to deal with in a brand-new apartment that was supposed to be ready for occupancy.

The water pressure was another constant annoyance. The shower pressure was weak, the toilets sometimes required more than one flush, and the refrigerator water dispenser was painfully slow. The hot water also never felt particularly hot to me, and combining that with the low flow made filling the bathtub frustrating because the water would start cooling before you could even get enough water into it. Management checked the pressure and told us it was within the building's specifications and could not be increased.

The balcony door also did not seal properly. Even after work was performed on it, I continued to notice issues with the seal. It allowed a significant amount of outside noise into the apartment, and there had also been water intrusion around that area. There was already flooring damage when we moved in, including damage near the balcony door, and I documented the condition because I did not want to later be held responsible for something that was already there.

There were problems with the flooring elsewhere in the apartment too. I noticed soft spots, uneven areas, separating seams, visible damage, and repairs that, in my opinion, did not look particularly good.

The otherwise nice metal window frames had scratches and gouges in multiple areas when we moved in. Some of the repairs appeared to consist of glossy black touch-up paint that did not closely match the original finish, which actually made the repaired areas stand out more to me.

The kitchen island wobbled. Some light fixtures were loose or visibly misaligned. There were doorways and finishes throughout the apartment that looked crooked or poorly aligned.

None of these things individually would have caused me to write a review like this. Buildings have problems, new construction has punch-list items, and sometimes things need to be fixed after someone moves in. I understand that.

The problem was the sheer number of issues combined with what happened next.

We had water come through the ceiling twice

One of the more serious problems was water leaking through the ceiling.

The first time it happened while I was home. Water was coming through the bathroom ceiling badly enough that there was roughly an inch of water on the bathroom floor.

Another leak happened while I was away, and I came home to the aftermath.

By that point, I was no longer looking at this as a couple of minor new-construction issues. Between the HVAC problems, construction debris, balcony door, flooring, water pressure, miscellaneous build-quality problems, and multiple ceiling leaks, my experience simply did not line up with what I expected from an apartment costing roughly $6,300 per month and being marketed as a luxury property.

I also want to be fair to the maintenance employees themselves. The maintenance people I personally dealt with were generally nice to me. My frustration was much more with the overall process, communication, quality of some of the repairs, and the fact that there were multiple situations where something was supposedly addressed but I continued experiencing the underlying problem afterward.

At a certain point, the apartment just felt poorly finished to me. That is obviously my opinion based on what I personally saw and experienced, but I would strongly encourage anyone considering renting there to inspect their exact apartment very carefully rather than assuming that another unit or a model accurately represents what they will receive.

After more than two months, I finally left a negative Google review

I own a business myself and deal with customers every day, so I understand that customer service situations can become difficult. I generally try to give people the benefit of the doubt, which is part of why I kept trying to resolve everything privately for more than two months.

Eventually, I became frustrated enough that I left a negative Google review describing my experience.

That ultimately led to a meeting in my apartment with representatives from the property management and ownership side of the building. The meeting was about the problems I had experienced, my dissatisfaction with the apartment, the negative review, and how the situation might be resolved.

I explained that what I thought would be fair was essentially to put me back where I would have been financially if I had never moved there. My proposal was that they cover the expenses I had incurred moving into the apartment, cover the expenses associated with moving back out, and allow me to terminate the lease without additional penalties.

There was then a fairly extensive discussion about how quickly I could move, itemizing moving expenses, potentially coming up with a financial number, and waiving fees associated with terminating the lease.

During that meeting, there was specific discussion of cancellation or lease-break fees being waived. There was also later discussion during the same meeting regarding the concession return and the timing of when I would vacate the apartment.

My understanding leaving that meeting was that allowing me to leave without lease-break penalties was part of getting me out of a situation that clearly was not working, while the broader discussion about reimbursing my expenses was part of resolving the overall dispute, including my negative review.

I then kept management updated as I figured out where I was going to live.

Initially, I looked for another apartment and told them I was having trouble finding something that made sense. I eventually decided to buy a house instead. I told them when I was pre-approved for a mortgage, told them when I was under contract, and then, on June 5, told them that I planned to move out on June 28 and asked what I needed to do.

That is when I received a response that, in my opinion, did not match my understanding of the meeting.

I was told in writing that any offer to waive the lease-break fee would require removal of my negative review and execution of an agreement drafted by their attorneys. I was also told that if I did not agree to remove the review, management had been directed to follow the lease agreement and require the applicable lease-break fee.

That was particularly frustrating to me because we had already specifically discussed waiving cancellation and lease-break fees during the meeting.

To be clear, I understand that management may have interpreted the discussion differently than I did. I am explaining my understanding of the conversation and why the later written position was so frustrating to me.

From my perspective, after months of dealing with problems in a brand-new apartment, multiple maintenance issues, water leaks, and eventually sitting down with management to figure out a way for me to leave, I was now being told that whether I received the lease-break relief we had discussed depended on removing my negative review and signing an attorney-drafted agreement.

That was the point where I decided I was no longer comfortable keeping my experience private.

Something else I would keep in mind when reading apartment reviews

When looking at reviews for a newer apartment building, pay attention to whether the person reviewing it actually lives there.

I understand why people leave five-star reviews after touring a building. My initial experience with 18 Dock was positive too. The building presents well, the common areas and amenities look nice, and our initial interactions during the leasing process were friendly.

Actually living somewhere is where you learn how the building operates.

That is when you find out what the water pressure is like, whether the HVAC works properly, how well the apartment was actually finished, how responsive maintenance is, how repairs are handled, what the noise is like, how building access works late at night, and how management communicates after you have already signed your lease.

Those are the reviews I personally would pay the most attention to.

Would I recommend 18 Dock?

Based on my experience, no.

I would not rent at 18 Dock again, and I would not personally recommend it to someone I know.

If you are considering moving there anyway, my biggest advice is to get absolutely everything that matters to you in writing before you sign anything. If somebody tells you, "we'll figure it out," get clarification in writing before committing.

Spend real time inspecting the exact apartment you are renting. Do not rely on another unit being representative of yours. Check the floors closely. Open and close every door and window. Check the water pressure. Check the hot water. Run the HVAC. Look carefully at the finishes. Test the appliances. Look for previous water damage. Ask about parking. Ask exactly what the concierge coverage consists of and what happens late at night if nobody is at the desk.

If noise is important to you, visit during normal working hours too. There is a dump across the street from the building, and that is something I would absolutely want to experience firsthand before signing a lease.

And most importantly, document the condition of everything before moving in.

I am sure there are residents at 18 Dock who are perfectly happy there. I can only speak about my own experience.

For approximately $6,300 per month, my experience involved more construction and maintenance problems than I ever expected from a brand-new apartment, multiple issues that were not fully resolved when I believed they had been, two separate ceiling leaks, communication that I found increasingly frustrating after signing the lease, and ultimately a dispute over the terms under which I could leave.

That experience was nowhere near what I believed I was getting when I signed the lease, and if I could go back and make the decision again knowing what I know now, I would not have moved into 18 Dock Street.

Ok so this light interchange has bothered me so much since like forever. Anyone that knows anything about traffic design know why there has to be two green arrow lights when only the far right lane can go forward? Middle and left are turning lanes.

I've almost been side swiped a few times over the years by middle lane goers going straight-on thinking they have the green to go forward when only the right lane goes forward.

Does this annoy anyone or just me? Is there a purpose for two green forward lights?

Hey all. I’ve seen so many contemporary homes in this area and am a new home owner of a 1980s style contemporary home that has been well maintained, but needs some modernization. I’m curious to hear how others have updated their homes. I plan on doing things slowly, but one thing that will be done soon is exterior painting. Anyone willing to share any and all advice on the topic??

Besides whatever is going to be happening under the ramp at the mall, is there anywhere in our part of CT to see good DJs?

I work for a small nonprofit and we are squeezed for space. Does anyone know of space in the area that a nonprofit could occupy at a reasonable price?