125‑Unit Apartment Complex Proposed for Former Geissler’s Plaza in South Windsor

South Windsor’s longtime empty lot on Sullivan Avenue is stirring up conversation again. A fresh application—filed with the Inland Wetlands Agency on Sept. 2—asks for a mixed‑use project that would bring 125 new apartments, a small clubhouse, parking, storm‑water upgrades and a facelift for the remaining retail spaces.

The plan centers on the old Geissler’s Supermarket site at 959 Sullivan Ave. Four residential buildings are penciled in: two would house 36 units each, another would hold 41 units, and a smaller building would contain just 12. The developer also wants to replace the former Hot Leathers building at 1017 Sullivan Ave. with new construction, while keeping three existing structures and preserving roughly 61,000 sq ft of commercial space.

All of this isn’t brand‑new; the idea has been percolating for several years. Back in June 2021 the Planning and Zoning Commission gave the green light for a zone change and a general development plan that called for the same 125‑unit count and a renovation of about 60,740 sq ft of retail area across 959, 1017 and 1079 Sullivan Ave. One of the original conditions tied the project to a sidewalk connection to Ayers Road, a requirement the developer later contested in court, arguing it depended on state‑level actions beyond the town’s control.

That dispute settled in 2023, when the town swapped the sidewalk clause for a less invasive ornamental fence along Sullivan Avenue. The latest filing is essentially the next step—an official request that must clear the Inland Wetlands Agency before any ground can be broken.

Residents who want to weigh in have a chance to do so at the public hearing scheduled for Oct. 7, according to the town’s pending applications list and legal notice. Whether the community embraces the new housing and retail upgrades—or pushes back—will shape the future look of this corner of South Windsor.