New Haven Independent

West Rock Master Developer Approved

by Allan Appel | July 27, 2007 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Calling it an exciting new chapter in the evolution of West Rock, which was once the site of the colonial alms house, the housing authority Friday chose a master developer for a $144 million remaking of the Brookside and Rockview housing projects.

At a special early-morning meeting, the Housing Authority of New Haven’s (HANH) Board of Commissioners voted to approve New Jersey-based Michaels Development Company. The company was selected in close collaboration with the West Rock Implementation Committee (WRIC). WRIC, an activist tenant and community committee, has been keenly interested in having tenants not only planning, but reaping jobs and other benefits of the project.

The agreement was negotiated by this woman, Megan Glasheen, a managing attorney with the law firm of Reno and Cavanaugh, working with Rolan Joni Young, HANH’s chief counsel (pictured at the top of this story with board Chairman Bob Solomon). Following close on the model of Quinnipiac Terrace and Monterey Place, which development agreements Glasheen also helped to craft for HANH, the new West Rock will have a total of 605 units and be denser than what it is replacing. The proposed new community in its general outline will have 455 rental units including 198 units of public housing and 197 Section 8 voucher units. There will be 60 non-subsidized market rate units, 90 home ownership units, and commercial, retail, and institutional spaces to support the West Rock community.

HANH is providing $36 million of the total $144 million; the developer is responsible for the bonding, the tax-based revenue, and other sources to make the balance. The master developer in turn hires contractors to do the various phases of the work. It’s the beginning of a long process, Solomon underscored. WRIC and HANH will work with Nichole Jefferson of the city’s equal opportunity commission to involve local people in the project, especially training programs in the building trades.

Solomon and other members of the board listened carefully to Glasheen outline last- minute changes to the agreement — contingencies relating to how HANH and the developer handle the discovery, for example, of a significant or unanticipated environmental clean-up. There was general satisfaction, and the commissioners’ approval was unanimous.

HANH’s chief operating officer, Karen Dubois Walton, indicated that the absence of a WRIC representative at the morning’s meeting indicated quiet happiness with the agreement, or the fact that meeting took place so early. It started at 8 a.m.

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Comments

Posted by: TrueBlueCT | July 28, 2007 3:19 AM

Gosh, I hate to be the perennial gadfly. But it does need to be noted that the $250-$300,000 per unit cost of this development is more than enough to by each recipient a house! (thereby lifting at least a generation out of poverty.)

Where are the successful HUD Co-ops of the 60's and 70's? (Dwight and Seabury being notable examples.)

And whatever you do, don't Google Michael J. Levitt founder of Michaels Development. One would hope that the Housing Authority's Michael J. is not the same Michael J., (or Michael J. Jr.) who is on the board of Clear Channel Communications, as well as a partner with Bush's buddies, Hicks, Tate and Muse....

Posted by: Tgunn | July 29, 2007 7:19 PM

Please rep[ort the tax deal, is it lie Front St, wher NHHA owns the land and the deveoper run the project, but only pays $250/yr/unit? NHI is too busy reporting sensational crap and refuses to report or reseach the deals. If you live near Dover or Front St. and own a house you shouls =d ask why you pay thousands while the developers only pay $250 a year. Is that fair! your BOA voted to support it, because the administartion told them to. I kmnow this is a waste of time since nobodey that comments here gets research or reponsible follow up. But NHI is to busy. I oonce believed this was aforu for truth, I now see it as an empty vessel. Save your opinions and vote, it is clear the cueenrt peole n pwer could care less what we have to say and that NHI id unable or unwilling to do minor research. New Haven is about to fall apart. The condo development on Chapel and East is already claiming they ca't sell the units, and they got a special deal for deferral, but Ude left, get his memos for that project and ask why Star Supply got a retroactive deal. FOI Udes and Rosenberg. NHI won't but I hope some group will. I wish one aldr had the nerve to ask for deals that were done to avoid them. By city charter, every deferral deal must be reported. Whne was the last repot provided?

Posted by: truepurplect | August 8, 2007 1:13 PM

"But it does need to be noted that the $250-$300,000 per unit cost of this development is more than enough to by each recipient a house! (thereby lifting at least a generation out of poverty.)"

Yeah, that would be nice but, how do think the serious money is made? By owning the rights to managing the properties; why do you think there is always a big deal made to be the property management company?

So, the HANH could call the rentals "condos" and give them away (sell, whatever), but then they would potentially be giving their power (and jobs) away to the owners of the condos who could rise up and fire the HANH and hire whoever they want to manage the properties.

West Rock Master Developer Approved

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