Former Chocoylatte Site Now Proposed as an 8-30g, “The Putnam Lofts”

A new proposal to redevelop 121 East Putnam Ave in Cos Cob have been submitted to the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Dept.

Many will remember that the site was home to Chocoylatte.

The gourmet dessert shop, bakery, and coffee house opened in 2019, but the building was irreparably damaged on February 6, 2020 when a Ford Taurus crashed into it, killing the driver. The building was examined and declared unsafe by Town of Greenwich Building Inspectors.

The building had only just sold a week before the crash from Bar N Brand, LLC to KRM Realty LLC on Feb 5, 2020 for $1,100,000.

The building has since been demolished.

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Litigation dragged on for a few years after Sabel Adjusters, a public insurance adjusting firm, sued Chocoylate and the building owner, KRM in early 2022. Then there was a counterclaim against Sabel by Chocoylatte and KRM. Chocoylatte and KRM also sued insurance company Selective Insurance Company of South Carolina. That case was settled in Sept 2025.

Contributed photo of crash into Chocoylatte building. Feb 6, 2020

Empty lot at 121 East Putnam Ave in Cos Cob. Sept 9, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

A narrative from attorney John Tesei dated August 19, 2026 recalls that in Sept 2025, plans were proposed to redevelop site with a three-story mixed-use building pursuant to 6-110 of Greenwich’s building zone regulations, intended to incentivize moderate income housing.

The applicant proposed to include both commercial space and six residential units, of which one would be restricted.

The town’s 6-110 regulation is different from 8-30g, which is a state affordable housing statute. Reg 6-110 is a local building zone regulation to incentivize moderate income housing, also referred to as “workforce housing.”

The owner has since reconsidered, and is now proposing a 4-1/2 story building with 14 units called “The Putnam Lofts,” submitted under the state affordable housing statute 8-30g.

The applicant is KRM Realty LLC. There would be a total of 30 bedrooms in the 14 units and 14 parking spaced of which 8 would be below ground and 6 would be surface level.

Thirty percent (5 units) would be designated affordable pursuant to 8-30g.