New Haven Independent

After the morning tour of the Coliseum, city economic development staffer Helen Rosenberg led the group on a walk down River Street in Fair Haven, where industrial rebirth has been occurring. The two tours replaced the Commission’s monthly meeting.

Bialecki explained how the Coliseum site will operate in the next few years, while other development plans are being debated. ProPark will operate a paved parking lot on the three parcels. The large parcel, 4.5 acres, is bordered by State, Orange and George streets. The two smaller parcels, above Orange Street and bordered by Church Street and the Knights of Columbus headquarters, will also be used for parking.

Bialecki said the city is in talks with the Knights of Columbus about using the two smaller parcels. He said originally an exhibition hall was to be in the corner parcel by George and Church Streets, pictured, but the budget didn’t cover it. The Knights had to have trade shows on the ice in the Coliseum, which wasn’t efficient.

Other plans include the relocation of Long Wharf Theatre into the larger parcel, taking up a portion of it, and the opening of Orange Street, which will lead from Frontage Road and into Ninth Square.

“The next step is to issue an RFP (Request For Proposals) for developers for that whole site in coordination with Long Wharf,” said Bialecki of the 4.5 acre parcel. “Ideally it will be mixed use (residential, retail, parking).”

Bialecki added that the Knights own a building on the other side of the Route 34 Connector, a narrow brick building by the police station. The future of that site, originally used for printing purposes, is also unclear.

The underground tunnel, extending from the Colisuem site over to 900 Chapel St. and the Omni Hotel, is also under renovation. Parts of the tunnel wil be closed, including the entrance from the Colisuem site. The new opening will be on George Street near the old Macy’s site. Bialecki said the state gave a $10 million grant to the city: $6 million for the Macy’s demolition and $4 million for “infrastructure.”

That $4 million “must go to building the new tunnel,” he said. “This is not a new tunnel,” he said. “We’re fixing up your old car.”

Meanwhile, in preparation for the parking lot, backhoes are “constantly feeding” the remains of the Coliseum, mostly dirt, concrete and some metal material, into crushers, pictured. the crushers have the ability, through the use of a magnet, to weed out the metal parts. The material will be used as fill underneath the pavement.

Next up: a meeting with Karyn Gilvarg of City Plan to discuss the Route 34 redevelopment and changing traffic patterns.

Down on River Street, the city owns nine sites set for redevelopment. Some are empty lots, some are existing buildings. Renovations and clean-up at the Bigelow building, at 198 and 142 River Street, pictured, are already in progress. (For related stories, click here and here.)

The River Street Municipal Development Project Plan was approved by the Board of Aldermen in January 2002, and by the state the following March. The plan calls for redevelopment for light industrial and commercial use as well as the reconstruction of River Street, improvements to side streets and the extension of Blatchley Avenue to the Quinnipiac River, according to the project update.

Suraci Metal Finishing acquired 90 River Street in December and Capasso Restoration is in the process of renovating 34 Lloyd St., pictured. Both are bringing jobs into New Haven.

A landscaped walkway from Criscuolo Park to Front Street Park is also in the works.

Rosenberg said in 2002 the city applied for $8.085 million from the state. It received 2.5 million and was told the remaining $5.5 million would be distributed in phases.

“It’s time for phases two and three,” she said, adding that environmental testing has already occurred, some development has started with even more in the works and clean-up has begun.

The redevelopment on River Street is good for the economy, city preservation and healthy living and working environments, she said.

“There isn’t just one solution to social problems,” said Rosenberg. “But providing jobs is one of them.”