New Haven Independent

Posted by: Kevin Ewing | March 11, 2008 5:50 PM

I am on the commission and this is NOT the first time we've had a quorum in 8 months and in fact the commission did not meet all 8 months. Also, it would be nice if the reporter would get a camera that doesn't beep and play music like Leonard's. It is very distracting when you're trying to have a meeting.

Posted by: Chris | March 11, 2008 10:20 PM

3.Drops the requirement that Blatchley Avenue run from River Street through the development site.
4• Negates parking and set-back plans and restrictions.

Might as well add a number six- Do what you want. Its not in my neighborhood. Potentially twenty additional jobs for the errosion of investment in River Street. Might as well rename Blachley to Blahsley. Fair Haven Furniture will be the first victim of this shortsighted thinking. A higher density employment could have been achieved by building the road to the rivers edge and having businesses that want to be on the water. Why can't Econ development listen to thier own hired experts. sigh.

Posted by: DEZ | March 11, 2008 11:34 PM

"Drops the requirement that Blatchley Avenue run from River Street through the development site."

Classic New Haven shortsightedness. The idea of Blatchley Avenue extending towards the Quinnipiac River was to open up the property allowing access for both development and the casual pedestrian to embrace the river setting. The plans I saw and approved of stylistically showed a park-like setting at the end of Blatchley directly on the river, much like a jewel in a fine setting. Fools gold! I'm sure Colony Lumber will be a huge box of a building sealing off the river even more than the previous Hess Oil Tenants. To whom do we owe our debt of gratitude on this foolish idea? Oh, I know...it was the traffic calming that New Haven couldn't quite come to terms with. A street leading to the river? Well I'm sure 9 out of 10 drivers won't realize the road stops and will just plow on through into the drink leading to millions in litigation. Might as well quell that disaster by putting up a big building!

Posted by: ball-zee | March 12, 2008 10:13 AM

More jobs for New Haven residents is a great way to pull the blanket over the eyes of on lookers while the development commitee moves forward and erects a huge eyesoar of a building right on the water where the residents of Fair Haven were promised a river walk like park open to pedestrians and others who would appreciate the views. I think we should now pay to block all the street that go to the river and build massive buildings to block all access to residents. Who really wants to be able to walk near the river anyway? Industry is way more important than peoples opinion and votes in New Haven, right? What are the odds the "100" jobs will be filled by residents of New Haven, my guess not very good another black eye for the people.

Posted by: JackNH | March 12, 2008 10:16 AM

Like many Fair Haven residents, I am sure, I am very disappointed that Blatchley won't make it to the river. But am I surprised? No. I've lived here too long.

Posted by: PowertothePeople | March 12, 2008 10:38 AM

A few points (if I've been following this correctly):

1. 56 of the current 100 employees for Colony are New Haven residents. Most of their latest hires were New Haven residents. No reason to doubt that this will continue until proven wrong.
2. Access to the river is not being taken away. Folks will have to walk/drive a maximum of an additional 500 feet to get to the river.
3. There is a 50 foot easement required in this design along the river for the walk.
4. In exchange for continuing the blockage of Blachley Colony is building a fishing pier at Poplar. That will provide even more access to the river without costing the city to build it.
5. The land gets cleaned up faster than if we waited on Hess to do it.
6. A local business that wants to expand would have to move out of the city to do so because there is no other land available in the time frame that they need it. What would happen to the local employees if they suddenly have to get to Chesire or Wallingford to work?
7. There were public hearings in the community where all of this was presented. If you had a problem, you should have gone to the hearing and voiced it.
8. I believe there are spots open on the commission. If you don't like what they do, get on the commission and change it.

I am the first to acknowledge problems with how the city does things. I am constantly reminded that it's all about making money for a few people (most of them not New Haven or even CT residents) and not about building communities. However, misguided rage is not helpful. Nor is shooting down EVERYTHING the city does.

One thing about living in community is that sometimes you have to give up something to gain something. Sometimes you will get more than you give and other times the converse is true. I personally think that in this case we the people are on the up side of this deal.

That's just my $1.25 (used to be 2 cents but after inflation...)

Posted by: pedro | March 12, 2008 11:05 AM

Is it really so bad to lose that street? Looking at an areal view of the site, there are 3 other streets that still extend to the water (and much bigger ones at that). Theoretically plans should still be able to proceed, so long as colony hardware does not extend entirely to the water!

Posted by: Fair Haven H | March 12, 2008 12:50 PM

Who is running this City? I keep seeing a big business free for all while the City's residents are shoved aside. Residents of Fair Haven have been so supportive and excited about the River Street project. Retail stores, pedestrian walks, waterfront access all promised to make River Street a destination area benefiting Fair Haven and the City. Now what? The City doesn't even TRY to work with Colony to keep Blatchley Street open to the water. This is not to say the jobs brought to the area aren't beneficial, but why can't we work for both? The City may not see the lack of waterfront access as a big deal, but to residents it is. I guess we don't pay as much money as big business to the city to really matter.

Posted by: charlie | March 12, 2008 1:05 PM

Yet another classic example of extremely shortsighted thinking. Is the Riverfront Greenway even still happening? Even if it is, nobody will want to use it if it runs behind big box factories and has no visibility from the town.

Posted by: What? | March 12, 2008 2:24 PM

this is terrible. Like my comment in the last article about this, I remember being at a community meeting in Fair Haven about 5-6 years ago when young, freshfaced city planners Mike Piscitelli and Roland Lemar came into our meeting with their grand visions for River Street and ideas about how to turn this area around. I am AMAZED that they City committed do everything that they have done up to this point and I remained thrilled to see it completed, but since Colony Hardware started their negotiations, the most exciting part of the proposal that Piscitelli and Lemar shoed us has been relegated to "wishful thinking" I know Piscitelli and Lemar have moved on from their City plan positions, bu they have each acquired much more power to get these things done - can't they help rescue this key part of the plan they showed us? I know Lemar doesn't represent this district and that Piscitelli is in the transportation dept. now, but come on guys - we all know that you guys want this, can you lend a hand?

Posted by: Chrissy Bonanno | March 12, 2008 5:57 PM

Leonard--Thank you for covering this very exciting progress in the City of New Haven. The River Street MDP is one of the most successful projects in the City and is considered a model for balancing the need to create jobs with creating active public space where there was none. An army of committed neighbors, city employees and area business owners have worked extremely hard since the passage of the MDP to make things happen in an area long associated with being the location of junk yards and other noxious uses. Helen Rosenberg has been tireless in her efforts to acquire the sites, secure funding for clean up and attract high quality companies. She has also spent countless hours working on the public improvements ranging from reconstructing city streets to incorporating traffic calming measures into plans to building a waterfront park that connects Criscuolo Park to Front Street Park--all of which are either completed or underway. Colony will be an excellent addition to the area bringing not only quality employment opportunities for New Haven residents but also a real commitment to the city and its residents by choosing to keep their company headquarters in town.

Posted by: Chris | March 12, 2008 9:17 PM

Power to the people-

Of course your following- your on the commission and previously posted. Anyone using a phuedo name -I take with a grain of salt. The value of this blog is for discussion of ideas and to express gut feelings as well as balance.
my numbered response to your statements as a commissioner-

2. If you were told there was going to be access on Blatchley, its planned and presented to the community at public meetings and it is then removed- we lost access. the other options are not substitutes for this one they were always part of the program If you have four points of access and one is removed you have reduced or lost access. 3. Yes- There has always been a 50 foot easement required in this design along the river for the walk. Not as part of this deal.
4. A promised pier tomorrow for a Colony Hamburger today- Did you get it in writing, bonded, and needs to be completed before Colony get a Cert of occupancy. Good luck on the DEP permitting - Who's responsibility will this be?

5. Please define cleaned, and since its only a lease is the city stuck for environmental liability for the site? 7. I went to the public meeting I knew about on River Street (didn't see you there) as well as met with Econ development- My concerns not reflected in this proposal 8. There may be spots open on the commission but that does not mean people who apply are seated at the table.

I think there are many good things going on with City leadership I just think this one is selling the center piece jewels of this River street project for a pittance. Thank you for your service but I just dissagree on a few points- Most of my comments are petty but #4 intrigues me.

Posted by: Wages | March 13, 2008 12:48 AM

Great to have businesses gettting all this help from the city. Does New Haven have a living wage ordinance for these type of city supported business ventures? It does not seem like $12/hour is exactly a living wage if your paying rent in the city and trying to support a family of 4.