New Haven Independent

As the city engages in a years-long process to get state approval to build housing and retail on the abandoned Route 34 Corridor, West River neighbors are urging participation not just as storeowners and residents, but as developers as well.

Plans (detailed in depth in this article) have been drafted to turn the grassy strip between Frontage Road and Legion Avenue, once razed to make room for a highway that was never built, back into a mixed-use neighborhood.

Representing the West River Neighborhood Services Corp., consultant Jerry Poole pitched the case to aldermen of the Black and Hispanic Caucus Monday night as to why the West River group should be selected as developers of the city’s plans.

The group, under the name West River Neighborhood Association, helped draft revitalization plans over the last 20 years. They’ve recently formed a partnership with the University of New Haven to foster young entrepreneurs.

Poole sees the project as an opportunity for local residents to become storeowners and to develop a pedestrian-friendly, retail-rich space, perhaps with an IHOP, Spanish bakery or kosher deli.

West River Self-Help Investment Plan LLC, the for-profit entity that grew from the neighborhood alliance, wants to be there to develop the plans itself. The city has told the group it’s too soon to select a developer.

As the process goes forward, Poole and the group want to put pressure on the city to keep them in the picture.

“We want to help build it. We want to be owners and operators. … We’re happy jobs are being created, but we want to create those jobs,” said Kevin Ewing of the neighborhood group.

West River Alderman Yusuf Shah backed up the West River group’s request: “I’m tired of seeing developments being built, and we’re not a part of it.”

Poole and Ewing stressed they’re focusing on “building capacity” among residents to prepare them to be homeowners.

City Planner Mike Piscitelli, responding to criticism that the city was keeping the grassroots group away from the decision-making table, noted that built into the planning stages while applying for state and federal aid is a one-year waiting period to draft a plan.

During that year, West River’s input will be considered, said Piscatelli. Though the city’s proposal has higher density and less retail than West River’s (pictured at top), the city’s plan “is by no means the final plan.”