Major Neighborhood Projects
Quick Links:
City-Wide:
Façade Improvement Grant Program
In the Façade Improvement Grant Program, money is being offered for proposals in the target area that meet program guidelines. Design principles and recommendations will serve as the basis for evaluating facade improvements for funding. Payment for improvements is on a reimbursement basis: property owners will be reimbursed for approved façade improvements after payment has been made to contractors and the work has been certified in accordance with the agreement.
Design ideals are broad to allow for individual interpretation. However to achieve programmatic goals, emphasis is placed on creativity and innovative solutions, as well as the use of quality materials and fine craftsmanship. To underscore this desire for creativity, individuality and quality in design and fabrication, the use of design professionals (architects, graphic designers, lighting designers and electrical engineers) is recommended and will be eligible for funding.
The purpose of the Façade Improvement Program is to promote the safe, functional and attractive development of business; to unify commercial properties, both visually and physically, with surrounding land uses; and to preserve and enhance the character and cultural features of the community.
If you are interested in learning more about this program, please contact the city contact listed below to aquire the program 10-Step and application. You can also view some of our success stories. The City is waiting to invest in your business today!
City Contact: Clay Williams, Program Coordinator (203.946.7039)
Downtown:
Gateway Downtown Development Project
The Gateway Downtown Development Project is a $230 million redevelopment plan that will bring Gateway Community College and Long Wharf Theater into the downtown. The State will provide $140 million to relocate Gateway Community College from its two facilities in New Haven and North Haven to the Macyâs and Malleyâs sites downtown. The new downtown campus will be a 400,000 square foot state of the art facility built to meet the needs of a growing community college. The State will pay for the demolition of the former Macy building on Church Street.
The project will also bring Long Wharf Theater from its current location on Sargent Drive to a brand new facility downtown on the former site of the Coliseum. The State will provide $30 million dollars for the move, while the theater will raise up to an additional $30 million for the construction and an operating fund . The City will issue a bond for the demolition of the New Haven Coliseum, estimated at $6 million dollars.
The City will coordinate the construction of 1,200 new parking spaces and carryout streetscape and infrastructure improvements. The State will grant the City $10 million to defray these infrastructure costs. The City will meet the new parking demand by completing the new Union Station and Mid-Block garages, renovate the two lower levels of the Temple Street Garage, and convert two nearby surface parking lots into parking garages.
The plan calls for a new public plaza located at Church and George Streets. The plaza will be flanked by office or residential developments along George Street with street-level retail. The plan also includes a 300-room hotel with an adjoining conference center and parking facility. Two hundred eighty units of market rate and affordable residential housing are proposed along both sides of George Street.
The City has already received support on the project from the South Central Regional Council of Governments and from the New Haven City Plan Commission, and the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. The City has held a public hearing and developed a briefing packet that was used to brief the New Haven Board of Alderman and is now available on the City web site. The State Bond Commission has approved funds for the project.
A detailed parking plan was prepared by the traffic consulting firm of Wilbur Smith Associates, and is now available on the City web site. The City has also commissioned the engineering firm of Tighe & Bond to determine the feasibility of two new garages and to analysis the parking impact of Gateway College.
City Contact: Lisa Grossman (203.946.6387) and Tony Bialecki, Deputy Director (203.946.5891)
New Haven Port Authority
The City of New Haven has created a Port Authority that will be involved in four main areas: 1) The relationship of the Port to the local, regional, and state economy, 2) Port governance and policy, 3) Land use and environmental issues, and 4) Port security. The Port Authority is charged with creating a land use plan for the Port District, identifying a location for a Harbor Trail either within or without the District, serving as an advocate for the port and as a liaison among port area and related businesses and organizations.
On the homeland security front, the port received a $171,000 grant to fund the installation of video surveillance cameras. The installation of the cameras has been completed. The port has also a received a federal grant of $272,000 for a new police patrol boat.
The port authority conducted a series of interviews with the operators of port businesses. The major issues were the depth of the channel, lack of space, and the lack of a rail connection. Port operators were concerned with the increasing use of larger ship sizes, increasing security, and ensuring continuing port access during road projects such as the I-95 project. There is also still considerable interest in a feeder barge service from New York City to New Haven.
City Contact: Helen Rosenberg, Business Service Officer (203.946.5899)
Ninth Square Phase II
The Ninth Square Phase II project will compliment the public/private partnership that began with Ninth Square Phase I in the early 1990âs. Ninth Square Phase I was the first major mixed-use project to be undertaken downtown and demonstrated the successful conversion of commercial space to residential use. The Ninth Square Project is a combination of new construction and certified historic rehabilitation along the south side of Crown Street between State and Orange Streets. Ninth Square Phase II comprises three separate development projects:
866 Chapel
This project just opened as Center Pointe in the historic Cutler Building on the corner of Church and Chapel, opposite the historic New Haven Green. The sixteen million-dollar project includes 83 new residential units for lease. Two months after opening, fifty of the eighty-three units are occupied. The project also includes 17,000 square feet of street level retail which are now available for leasing. Block 235 Development Associates, LLC., a development entity of C.A. White Real Estate, developed the building.
824-832 Chapel, 834-846 Chapel Street
824-832 Chapel Street is the former W.T. Grant Building that has been a vacant eyesore for over twenty years. It contains three stories that will be turned into an indoor parking garage at the street and basement level for 138 vehicles and a 20,000 square foot third floor that could be retrofitted for office or residential. Two small retail storefronts have been created on the Chapel Street frontage, one of which is now occupied by a Footlocker retail store.
834-846 Chapel St. is the former Kresge Building, which extends through the block with frontage on Church Street and on Center Street. It is adjacent to the Grant Building. The building will be renovated into 36 market rate apartments on the upper levels and contains street level retail. Currently three stores occupy Chapel and Church Street frontage; they will remain after the space is renovated. Both buildings are being developed by Salatto Real Estate.
232 State Street, 26-36 Crown Street and 44 Crown Street 9th Square Crown Street
This project involves certified historic rehabilitation of the ãHarold Arnoldä and ãS.Z. Fieldä Buildings, and the construction of one new mid-rise structure. Altogether the project will create 100 rental apartments ranging from studios to two bedroom units. All floors above ground level of each building will be designated for residential use only and 40% of the units will be designated as affordable units. The ground floor space will be designated for retail and residential use. The developer is the Ninth Square Crown Street Project, LLC. The developer will receive $7,201,200 in state loan funds for the project.
City Contact: Theresa Silla, Project Manager (203.946.7941)
Tweed New Haven Regional Airport
Tweed's national recognition as the "Regional Airport of the Year" awarded by the Regional Aviation News (an industry publication), is the latest indication of Tweeds success. The Regional Airport of the Year Award, recognizes a regional airport's outstanding leadership team for demonstrating innovative thinking, tenacity and marketing prowess in attracting new regional carriers, implementing a successful business model, and demonstrating expertise in providing air service and quality customer service.
City Contact: David Greco, Marketing Director (203.946.6926)
Hill:
Newhallville:
Newhallville Renewal & Redevelopment Plan
The Newhallville Renewal and Redevelopment Plan is an important part of the City's comprehensive development program that tries to take an active role in the elimination of blight in its neighborhoods through a combination of redevelopment and rehabilitation. The initiatives outlined in the plan combine public support, private initiative and local community efforts to strengthen the re-emerging neighborhood of Newhallville.
Newhallville is a moderate to middle income medium-density residential neighborhood, which has been threatened by a variety of blighting conditions. The loss of industrial jobs in the area has had a severe impact on the economic well being of the area. The plan will include the clearing away of deteriorated and blighted structures, eliminating the harmful and incompatible uses that have infringed upon the residential sections of the neighborhood, and rehabilitating the designated properties.
In August 2004 the Newhallville Renewal and Redevelopment Plan Amendment #7 was approved by the Board of Aldermen.
City Contact: Baron Poitier, Neighborhood Specialist (203.946.7859)
West River:
See Dwight - Route 34 Development.
Boards & Commissions
Development Commission
New Haven Port Authority
New Haven Redevelopment Agency
