New Haven Independent

Rabbi To Redo Prospect Mansion

by Thomas MacMillan | May 13, 2009 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Neighbors applauded a local rabbi/ landlord’s plans to remake an “eyesore,” the former St. Francis Home for Children in Prospect Hill.

Rabbi Shmully Hecht (at right in photo) recently purchased 682 Prospect St., a large brick home in the Prospect Hill neighborhood, which he intends to turn into a three-unit house.

The Board of Zoning Appeals approved Hecht’s plan at its monthly meeting on Tuesday night, after hearing from neighbors who came out in support of the rabbi’s plan.

Hecht (who has been in the news before) owns rental properties citywide and has his own home nearby on Prospect Street. He told the board that his brother would move into one of the new units at 682 Prospect.

In giving its unanimous approval to Hecht’s application, the BZA voted to reject the advice of the City Plan Department. City Plan’s advisory report recommended against Hecht’s application, saying that it did not satisfy the necessary criteria for a variance and that a three-unit dwelling would compromise the “single family nature of the area.”

BZA Chairwoman Cathy Weber said that she was swayed by the neighbors who showed up in favor of Hecht’s application and by the absence of any opposition. Three neighbors voiced their support. Several others raised their hands to be counted as being in favor.

“This is a very pretty house,” said Weber. “I would like to see us pass this for the neighborhood.”

Elizabeth Lopez, who lives at the corner of Highland and Park, said that 682 Prospect has long been a problematic, neglected property in the area. The renovation would be a “huge improvement in the neighborhood,” she added.

Prior to 2007, the building was owned by the St. Francis Home for Children, which used it as a dormitory. Neighbors said that the building had deteriorated under the care of St. Francis.

Hecht described the property as “an eyesore in a beautiful neighborhood that’s only getting better.”

The rabbi picked the house up in a “short sale” from the most recent owner, listed on an online database as “Halon Beata.”

The only point of contention that came up in association with Hecht’s proposal was the issue of parking. City Zoning Deputy Director Tom Talbot voiced his concern about what appeared on the plans to be parking spots in front of the house. Hecht was quick to allay his concerns.

“I will pay him [the architect] to do whatever you tell us to do,” he told Talbot.

In the end, the board’s approval included a condition that parking be limited to four surface spaces.

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Comments

Posted by: norton street | May 13, 2009 4:23 PM

are the any pictures of floor plans and/or of the building itself so we can see if adding walls to the interior in order to make this a multifamily house would actually destroy the homes historic value?

Posted by: bri1222 | May 13, 2009 5:10 PM

whatever happened to the other programs based out of St. Francis ????? the therapeutic center closed but i know they had 3 other programs that opened in 2005

Posted by: rm92 | May 13, 2009 9:29 PM

All of those programs closed too. They were largely successful at one time due to a contact with DCF. DCF found that St. Francis did not keep up licensing requirements, so they lost their licenses to run the programs and, therefore, lost their DCF contract. From what I understand, St. Francis was very poorly run.

Posted by: sjbj | May 13, 2009 10:17 PM

letting the building continue to deteriorate will certainly destroy the home's historic value.

Posted by: pdh | May 14, 2009 6:11 AM

It is difficult to understand how converting a single to a multi-family dwelling in a neighborhood of single-family homes constitutes an enhancement of property values or quality of life!

Posted by: Reality | May 14, 2009 9:03 AM

Lets face it, there is no market for a single family home that big anymore. The cost to heat it alone makes me shudder. The wealthy are moving closer to Stanford where there is more opportunity. Find a way to get businesses and good jobs back to New Haven, and you might have a point. If I were fortunate enough to be in the Rabbi's position, I would have turned it into three condos rather than three apartments. Cudos to the BZA for going against City Plan on this one. They mean well, but in reality, generally bigger units with lots of bedrooms make less and less sense. They get turned into rooming houses, sober houses, dormitories...all of which are tougher on landlors and neighborhoods. In most instances, more smaller, affordable units is a no brainer.

Posted by: sjbj | May 14, 2009 10:23 AM

perhaps they mean enhanced quality of life for those other than single-family home owners. Imagine!!! And it certainly will enhance property values more than having it be a treatment facility for delinquent boys or a run-down, abandoned property.

Posted by: bri1222 | May 14, 2009 3:41 PM

rm92- thanks for the info....so no programs exist at st francis...? huh?

Posted by: pdh | May 15, 2009 9:53 AM

If "Reality" thinks there's not market for large single family homes, take a stroll down St Ronan Street, Edgehill Road, or "big" Livingston Street. A decade ago, it took an average of two years to sell a house on these streets. Now it take mere weeks. In contrast to the rest of the city, the value of these behemoths has increased, not declined.

Pity the city is doing its best to destroy neighborhoods!

Posted by: Ned | May 15, 2009 4:32 PM

Reality [check],
I think you mean Stamford.
Stanford is about three thousand miles from New Haven...

Posted by: robn | May 16, 2009 9:31 AM

PDH,

The majority of houses in East Rock are either double or triple deckers (multi-family) by design or have been subdivided. Thankfully, for the most part, many have retained their historic character on the outside. I don't know the exact numbers but I would guess single family houses comprise no more than 30%....maybe somebody at city planning could give us an exact number?

I recognize the economic driver towards subdivision and just hope that people who do so spend a little extra time and money to safely store all of the things removed for such a conversion (stair rails, tubs, moldings, fixtures, etc..)

Posted by: Joe Frederich | May 18, 2009 8:55 PM

Hey "Norton Street"-

What business is it of yours if the new owner adds interior walls? Butt out, comrade.

Posted by: sjbj | May 19, 2009 11:13 AM

PDH, check out the 2 "behemoths" across the street from the property mentioned in this article (across the street and just north--the house on the corner near Albertus and the one south of it). Both unkempt, with overgrown lawns, pretty much neglected for years. I'd rather subdividing than that.

Rabbi To Redo Prospect Mansion

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