New Haven Independent

Intercontinental Developers bought 17 parcels of land around the soon to be built Yale-New Haven Cancer Center. Will Smith, the representative from Intercontinental and his lawyer Jim Segaloff, appeared before neighbors in nearby Dwight.

Typically, developers apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a zoning variance to build retail, office, or medical space in a residential neighborhood. Intercontinental went further, filing a request with the Board of Aldermen to change the zoning on the whole block, which would open up the possibility of changing the character of the whole neighborhood. On previous occasions — click here and here for other stories related to the company’s plans for the Hill — there has been talk of building two garages and some new housing, and possibly purchasing and razing the public-housing tower for the elderly at 904 Howard Ave.

“What was your idea that made you want to come here in the first place?” asked one resident.
Smith said he was thinking office space, retail stores, and more medical centers. When pressed for one specific proposal, he said, “an outpatient clinic, or a hotel for families visiting the cancer center.”

The Board of Aldermen has not yet scheduled a date to hold a public hearing. Dwight organizer Curlena McDonald told the developer he needs to come back to the management team with a solid proposal.

Also at the same meeting, Yale Urban Design Workshop director Allan Plattus announced the next workshop session to lay out a 10-year plan for the Dwight neighborhood. The last meeting was held in 1995. The building the group met in Tuesday night was a product of that meeting, along with the Shaw’s Plaza and the Alvis Booker building. The meetings will be held on Friday July 27 and all day Saturday July 28.

This Saturday Dwight residents will celebrate the Big Read with a showing of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at Timothy Dwight School from 12:30 - 4:30pm.