New Haven Independent

According to Eric Bianca, whose Bianca Construction company is doing the renovation/restoration on the historic structure, dozens of drivers stopped at the busy Grand Avenue/Front Street intersection and passersby commented on the windows and the ongoing rebirth of a building that has been shuttered and unloved for decades.

“Nine out of ten,” he said, “shout remarks that are really complimentary. They say what we’re doing is beautiful. ‘Way to go,’ and things like that. It’s terrific, although one guy driving a Public Works truck the other day shouted out, ‘Tear that eyesore down!’”

A guy driving a city truck said that? Bianca confirmed it. (John Prokop, chief of public works, are you reading this?)

Bianca is partners with David Vieau in the development of One Grand. Bianca handles all the construction side; Vieau has handled the finances, permissions, and the year-and-half back-and forth with the city and the Historic District Commission.

That collaboration, balancing developers’ needs and those of preservationists and residents of the historic Fair Haven community, has been fruitful. As part of the requirements mandated by the Historic District Commission, Vieau and his architects researched the size of the original windows, which were about three feet by seven. These will be installed on the second floor street and river side, with smaller casement windows nestled beneath the cornices.

On the commercial façade, which all parties agreed had been yucked up over the decades, Bianca showed evident pride in describing the seven black-framed windows, as well as their mullioned counterparts above. All are made of wood painted black. “Now that the warm weather is here,” he said, “and we’ve framed it all, we’re going to put in all the other windows above. All wood, all to the exact specifications of the commission, just as they were.”

The doors on Grand Avenue will let visitors into the two commercial condominiums only. Around back, on the Front Street side, a third commercial condominium will be created out of the free-standing shed behind the building. It will be connected to the main building, Bianca explained, by a full deck and an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp that will lead to period-appropriate double doors into the residential condominium main entrance.

From the deck, also per the city’s requirement, will be a passage for public access to a waterfront path.

“From the deck entrance,” Bianca added, “you enter a hallway leading either to the commercial condominiums on Grand or to the third commercial condo on the river side. To the right will be a hallway leading to steps up to the five two-level residences.”

One Grand is the first project of Bianca Construction; for ten years Bianca has been working for other companies. He said he and his partner haven’t yet had any nibbles on the three commercial and five residential spaces, but it’s early. He said the work is on schedule and the building should be ready to be walked through by condo purchasers by September. In the meantime, the compliments are likely to keep coming.

For previous stories, click here and here.

For an article about One Grand in the newsletter of the New Haven Preservation Trust, click here.

Local preservationist Chris Ozyck said he was happy with the restored roof at One Grand. Regarding the commercial façade, he said he preferred to withhold full judgment until all the work was completed. However, he conveyed an initial sense of disappointment that the entryway on Grand did not contain more windows and light. “There’s a danger it’ll end up being used as a kind of shelter. We’ll see.”