New Use Proposed In Building That Formerly Housed Saks Shoe Store In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — Alpha School, a unique private school chain that utilizes AI and has locations across the United States, is seeking to open up its first CT school in Greenwich, according to pre-application documents submitted to the town's Planning & Zoning Commission.

Pre-application reviews allow applicants to receive initial comments from the commission before submitting a formal application.

The school is requesting a change of use from retail to educational to operate within approximately 9,220 square feet on the first floor of the building at 20 E. Elm St., which previously housed Urban Outfitters and a store for Saks Fifth Avenue. Special permit and site-plan approval is also required.

The webpage for the K-8 Greenwich school says "launching in fall 2026."

Alpha School uses an AI-assisted, mastery-based learning model rather than a traditional classroom approach. Core academics are completed in about two hours, the school's website says.

The remainder of the school day is devoted to activities such as leadership development, public speaking, entrepreneurship, team projects, physical activity and life skills, with educators known as "Guides" focusing on mentoring, coaching and student development rather than traditional classroom lectures.

"Alpha’s 2 Hour Learning model harnesses the power of AI technology to provide each student with personalized 1:1 learning, accelerating mastery and giving them the gift of time," the school's website says. "With core academics completed in the mornings, they can use their afternoons to explore tons of workshops that allow them to pursue their passions and learn real-world skills at school."

The 17,669-square-foot building at 20 E. Elm St. was previously used for decades, up until 2008, by the Greenwich Time newspaper.

Urban Outfitters occupied a portion of the first-floor retail space until 2014, when Saks Fifth Avenue took occupancy and opened up a women's shoe store. The store recently relocated to Saks' main Greenwich location at 205 Greenwich Ave.

The office space on the second floor is occupied by a medical office and has 15 employees.

William Haslun, an attorney representing Alpha School in the Planning & Zoning process, wrote in submitted documents that Alpha anticipates a maximum of 10 employees on site upon reaching full student enrollment. Classes would be offered to students up to and including 8th grade.

"Students will be dropped off/picked up, take public transportation or walk to school. Hence, despite occupying more than 50% of the square footage of the building, the parking demand as a result of the use will be minimal, and less than that of Urban Outfitters and Saks in that in addition to employees those businesses also had customers," Haslun wrote.

Haslun noted the best location and details for the drop-off/pick-up area are still being explored by Alpha with help from traffic engineers.

Alpha School was originally founded in 2014 in Texas by MacKenzie Price. The school's AI-driven model was expanded and restructured by tech billionaire Joe Liemandt, who serves as the principal of Alpha School.

The application is expected to go before the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission in the coming weeks.