New Haven Independent

Posted by: robn | November 15, 2007 12:59 PM

Although the Reg editors are the undisputed masters of questionable headlines, this one may just get a special merit award. If you don't catch my drift, Google the first word of this headline.

Posted by: allan appel | November 15, 2007 1:51 PM

As a kayaker, I can testify, alas, that there are both plenty of condos AND condoms along the Quinnipiac

Posted by: -FairHavener- | November 15, 2007 2:43 PM

"And this, I hope, will bring an end to the condo boom in my neighborhood."

Guess again:

904 QUINNIPIAC AV Owner Name: 904 QUINNIPIAC AVENUE LLC

776 QUINNIPIAC AV Owner Name: 764 QUINNIPIAC ASSOCIATES LLC

764 QUINNIPIAC AV Owner Name: EKSTROM RUSSELL A & DEBONIS WILLIAM B

And there may be more on Q Ave & G Ave (not sure yet).

On the other side on Front Street:

185 FRONT ST Owner Name: HARLACO ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

213 FRONT ST Owner Name: RIVER FRONT DEVELOPMENT LLC

And a few new apartments (as we read here at NHI):

1 GRAND AV Owner Name: ONE GRAND LLC

Even though I am Sick of all the condos (on both sides), and despite my opinions regarding the condos (and developers) and their destruction of the historic nature of what is looking less and less like a little seaside community, I am glad people are investing here. I would rather see a bunch of granola munching yuppies in "condomania land" driving Subaru Outbacks, than blight. Plus, I really want a coffee shop I can walk to. I think overall, all the condos (and people) will benefit the area. I just hope the developers keep in tune with the architecture - unless they design some very cool modern buildings. And please, stop covering the historic buildings with vinyl.

Posted by: Hartford Johnson | November 15, 2007 2:48 PM

I live in a condom, and I don't see why people should make fun of where I live. It's residentialism!

Posted by: Alex Rhodeen | November 15, 2007 3:13 PM

Just one clarification on the final quote. My complete comment was "In all seriousness, your approval (City Plan's) of this project (Hemingway Bay) will bring to an end the 80's condo boom in my neighborhood on a positive note."

In addition to the Oyster Shores development also mentioned above there are other proposed developments that will incorporate historic qualities in to the design and reflect the relationship between our neighborhood and the river. Some of these proposals include condos and I am not, as a general rule, opposed to condos.

I am eager to see an end to the 80's condo boom in Fair Haven Heights which did more harm than good, showed reckless disregard for zoning, our history, long-term planning and even defied the simple principle of supply and demand.

I am supportive of a more deliberate, small-scale, well-planned mini-boom with neighborhood input. I applaud both developers for working with neighbors and making real efforts to incorporate their requests. Oyster Shores is dramatically different than the proposal first shown at a neighborhood meeting in January of 2006 and that is a good thing.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 15, 2007 6:12 PM

robn
hahahaha

We can't stop development that we know, but we sure can make it worthy development. I can remember back when I was a teen and what that side of the river was like and I have to say that they have come a long way. It is becoming a place people want to live. And that is a good thing. Condo's hmm not a house but it gives people a chance to own a home. Some prefer to own a place with less out side maintenance. I say as long as the community is on board than go for it. But please try to keep the out side a classic design.

Posted by: FAIRHAVEN DAVE | November 15, 2007 6:30 PM

I'm all for Subaru's, Condos, Kayaks, and Coffee Shops, but if this place turns into another Freeport Maine, I'm cashing in and running back to VT. I can barely afford the local steak house as it is.

Why don't we find a way to encourage more starving artist to move to the area? (Can you smell my bias here?) If an "affordable artsy-fartsy" reputation can clean up Queens...

Easels along the AVE!!!

Posted by: Bill Saunders | November 16, 2007 6:01 AM

You missed the 'Renaissance' by a few years, Fairhaven Dave.

The terms 'Affordable' & 'Artsy' have since been driven from the 'Urban Handbook of Economic Engines'.

It seems that none of the Lip Service Salon's have closed up, though, despite the downturn.

Posted by: edsicle | November 16, 2007 10:30 AM

In response to vinyl siding old buildings, one of the smaller condo(m) complexes recently got prices to side 3 buildings, not only was it prohibitively expensive, it would have ruined the details on the older buildings, covering the Victorian touches that separate todays monoliths from charming revitalized antiquities. Three cheers for maintaining some history. Q Ave will survive, now for traffic.....

Posted by: -FairHavener- | November 16, 2007 10:35 AM

"I can barely afford the local steak house as it is."

That, and also the local sushi, which is now gone. I wonder if they would still be in business if their prices had remained low with decent sized portions, like when they opened.

I think it is a win win situation. If everything gets really expensive, then we cash in (or stay because we love it, just shop elsewhere). Or, prices stay in line and we have a lot of local places to patron.

What I would really love to see is a lot more activity on the river.

Posted by: FAIRHAVEN DAVE | November 16, 2007 11:29 AM

I am less concerned with economic engines than quality of life issues.

Artsy communities still improve quality of life issues regardless of Van Gogh screwing up Arles, mythical urban handbooks, and that section of North Church Street that never seems to evolve... Queens NY not the freakin 'House of Hannover' royal figurehead Queens! :)

'Lip Service Salon'? Please inform... out of the loop on this term/trend. Assuming you mean Universities.

Posted by: robn | November 16, 2007 1:12 PM

I just checked my "Urban Handbook of Economic Engines" and it reads like this...

Chapter 1
Neighborhood falls into disrepair. If not emptied by blight, halfhearted attempts to fix it up result in failure and wasted tax dollars...go to beginning of Chapter 1. If the neighborhood is completely devoid of humans, go ahead to...

Chapter 2
Artists move in, pay dirt cheap rent for huge spaces with little to no heat. Bohemian lifestyle is punctuated by chaotic partying and occasional muggings and car thefts. If artists (or landlord) burn down the neighborhood, go back to beginning of Chapter 1. If nobody burns down the neighborhood, go ahead to...

Chapter 3
Gay people move in and with a more urgent sense of hygiene, fix up their residences, walk their dogs after dark and open up coffee shops and clothing boutiques. Artists' parties become less punky and more disco and amazingly, artists start selling their work (all seems well, though clouds loom.) If city code officials wake up and insist that artists residences be brought up to code, whole ecosystem falls apart and you potentially go back to Chapter 1. If landlords suck it up and fix up buildings go to...

Chapter 4
Enticed by the wild time that they had at a recent artists party, kids from the "burbs" become more interested in the "urban" lifestyle. They descend upon said artists neighborhood and slightly drive up rents and drive out some artists (those lucky enough to have tall-tipping Friday shift at local bar hang on). If a "burb" kid is axe-murdered during a mugging, potentially, but not likely, go back to Chapter 1. If nobody is axe-murdered, go to...

Chapter 5
Developers get whiff of easy money, purchase old buildings from already absentee landlords and turn 5000sf artists lofts into 500sf "ARTISTS LOFTS" and rent them for thrice as much per unit. Boutique owners are happy, but artists leave for some other neighborhood that's mired in Chapter 2. If developers overbuild or build too cheaply, the neighborhood stales over the course of the next decade or three and falls into blight...return to Chapter 1.

Posted by: -FairHavener- | November 16, 2007 1:52 PM

"I am less concerned with economic engines than quality of life issues."

Aren't we all? I am every day, and I make sure the people who can do something about it know this as much as possible. But, sadly, it may take a little economic investment in the area to take care of the quality of life issues. I wish it wasn't the case that it takes money to put us on the NHPD/City map. At least that is how it seems.

I think Lip Service is like the Versace (ie expensive and fashionable) of punk rock/goth clothing and accessories. I am not sure.

Posted by: FAIRHAVEN DAVE | November 16, 2007 5:45 PM

ROBN,

You just replaced "Hippie" with "Artist". Don't confuse the two or you will end up with a drum circle in your back yard and and empty fridge.

Posted by: charlie | November 20, 2007 2:26 PM

Condos and mixed use along the river would be great. Unfortunately, the City has developer-unfriendly policies such as inappropriate zoning and ridiculous permitting fees.

The Fair Haven waterfront is one of the most beautiful places in the Northeast. Anywhere in the rest of the world, the value of the waterfront would be realized and people would be building promenades lined with galleries, new homes and kayak launches - which would be really good for everyone's tax base.