Baywater Properties Opens a New Chapter: Describes Staff Expansion, Plans Groundbreaking Ceremony Monday

Days before the Monday groundbreaking ceremony for The Corbin District redevelopment downtown, Baywater Properties on Saturday formally announced the expansion and reallocation of members of its business’ staff as a result of the project.

The Baywater team now includes Kate Perez and Marysa Fiorita, who will directly work on The Corbin Project, as well as Gary Hock will work with some other Baywater properties, allowing Doug Craybas, Baywater’s head of construction, to focus on the construction of The Corbin District.

“I am so proud of the team that we have assembled over the years at Baywater Properties,” said David Genovese, CEO of Baywater. “Kate, Marysa and Gary will help us execute our development of The Corbin District, a legacy project for our company and our partners, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the town.”

Kate Perez: Corbin District Development

Kate Perez joined Baywater in December 2019 to oversee development of The Corbin District, 26 East Lane, and 34 Old Kings Highway South.

26 East Lane was completed this month and 34 Old Kings Highway South will be completed in January 2022.

Kate last worked for CIM Group, where she served as AVP of development, overseeing the design and construction of large scale, ground-up and conversion projects in New York City and Boston, including 432 Park Avenue in Manhattan.

Before joining CIM, Kate was an architect in New York City and Boston, at Elkus Manfredi and Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Kate earned her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and her masters in Architecture from Yale University. Kate is a resident of Darien.

The Corbin District excavation

Early stage of construction of The Corbin District (looking north at an excavation on the east side of Corbin Drive. The edge of Darien Post Office is at left.

Marysa Fiorita: Project Cost Accounting

Marysa Fiorita joined Baywater in mid-2020 as a project cost accountant for Baywater’s development projects, including The Corbin District, 26 East Lane and 34 Old Kings Hwy. South.

Marysa reports to Christine Riniti, Baywater’s chief financial officer, and brings to Baywater a broad range of experience in real estate accounting, having worked for 10 years for Louis Dreyfus Property Group where she handled financial reporting on various properties located in Washington, D.C. Marysa earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from The University of Connecticut and continues her real estate studies at New York University.

Gary Hock: Property Management, Building Engineering

Gary Hock joined Baywater in October 2021 to oversee property management and building engineering after a 16-year career with Albert B. Ashforth Inc. Before joining Baywater, Gary began worked with the Baywater team in the repositioning of 2777 Summer Street in Stamford, executing numerous capital and tenant improvement projects.

Gary is a U.S. Army active duty combat veteran and is OSHA 10 certified. He will report to Craybas, Baywater’s head of construction.

About The Corbin District Project

The Corbin District is a transformational redevelopment of a significant portion of downtown Darien, a project 16 years in the making. Baywater and its partners, including PG Properties, began working on The Corbin District project in 2005, and acquired the first properties associated with the project in 2007.

Corbin District map from website

Map of The Corbin District development

The Corbin District will occupy seven acres of downtown Darien between Interstate 95 Exit 11, adjacent to the Whole Foods Market, and the Darien Metro North Station. The development ultimately will add nine buildings comprising over 100,000 square feet of space for retail, restaurants, fitness and personal service uses, 85,000 square feet of Class A office space, and 116 luxury apartments.

Two of the apartments to be built within The Corbin District will be leased through Abilis on an affordable basis to adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

In connection with The Corbin District project, Baywater has built for and donated to Abilis 12 deed-restricted apartment units to be occupied only by adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Rent will be on an affordable basis. Abilis staff will provide support for the residents.

The Corbin District was designed by Beinfield Architecture, and for the first phase of the project, A. Pappajohn Construction will serve as construction manager.

About Baywater Properties and Abilis

Baywater Properties, founded in 2001, is a fully integrated commercial real estate investment, development and management company based in Darien and serving Fairfield and Westchester counties.

Abilis is celebrating its 70th year in 2021 of being a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with special needs from birth throughout their lives, along with their families.

Abilis serves the special needs community in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport, Weston and Wilton.