New Haven Independent

Ownership Marks Q Terrace’s Third Phase

by Thomas MacMillan | February 11, 2009 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The developers behind the Quinnipiac Terrace housing project sought permission to begin the third and final phase of construction, embarking on the last leg of a journey that began in 2004.

Architect Hank Keating and Attorney Carolyn Kone appeared before the Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday night, laying out the plans for the final stretch of Q Terrace construction. The architect and lawyer were representing Trinity Financial, the private arm of the public/private partnership behind the public housing project along the Quinnipiac River in Fair Haven.

Trinity has partnered with the Livable City Initiative and the Housing Authority of New Haven on the project, which is part of the federal Hope VI program to replace old, failed housing projects.

See previous coverage here, here, here, and here.

Over the past several years, the housing authority has torn down the dreary, institutional, barracks-style public housing that existed at Q Terrace and replaced it with colorful new homes, designed to look more like individual houses than single monotonous buildings. The new development is a mixed-income concern, combining condos and rentals with homeowner parcels.

Phase three of the project will include the construction of 60 units, divided into two sections north and south of the Phase One and Two constructions, which together comprise 131 units. At the request of the city, 27 of the new units will be homeowner units, the rest will be rentals.

Kone said after the meeting that the city had asked for more homeowner units because “they’re really committed to this idea of a mixed-income community.” The rental units at Q Terrace are affordable housing, the units for sale will be sold at market rate.

New Haven ‘shousing authority decreased the number of planned homeowner units in December, due to the recession.

Kone was filled with enthusiasm about Q Terrace. “Have you been over there? It’s gorgeous!” she said, describing the “burst of color” that you experience as you drive into Q Terrace.

Architect Hank Keating said that completion of phase three should take about two years. (Keating was wearing a special tie for the meeting, which depicted an aerial view of New Haven.)

The BZA didn’t vote on the Q Terrace plans at Tuesday night’s meeting. The matter will go to the City Plan Commission next before returning to the BZA in March.

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Comments

Posted by: norton street | February 11, 2009 5:25 PM

what in the hell is that? theres more parking than there is building...put some 3-4 story mixed use buildings along peck street. ground level retail space, maybe an art gallery and a resturdant, with 2-3 stories of residential units above. take away a large portion of that parking and design a nice little garden and sitting area. the q bus goes straight to here from downtown and back. this neighborhood will be called the island for a new reason now: because of the gigantic islands of asphalt.

Posted by: robn | February 11, 2009 7:41 PM

Lots of parking in those plans....hope its permeable.

Posted by: anon | February 11, 2009 8:41 PM

Great, but why were some of the new streets built so wide? Unfortunately, they're not the kinds of streets where drivers drive very slow and children play outside.

Some of the "traffic calming" on Front is admirable, but I think that the new streets leave much to be desired.

They should have maximum 9 foot curb to curb distances at the exits, and ideally raised intersections as well. Can Peck Street be narrowed even more than what is proposed, in order to encourage more people to walk throughout the neighborhood?

Posted by: DEZ | February 11, 2009 8:45 PM

Hopeful, hopeful, hopeful. I'm glad to see phase III south. The community understood the "market rate" section would be the "north" property only. 27 of 60 units still bothers me. A mixed use development is great, but which units are owned vs rented? Are you going to save the "better" river view units for ownership? Nothing against the rentals, but to entice solid homeowners in this development, the perks need to be there. Let us not forget, Hope VI has not been a panacea for Q Terrace. Many of the ills that existed prior to the reconstruction remain due to loopholes in the rental of units to original Q Terrace tenants vs. tenants that arrived only after the renovation. Hopefully the HANH can get a grip on the troublemakers and remove them permanently so that those residents who have a clue can flourish in this positive environment.

Ownership Marks Q Terrace’s Third Phase

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