New Haven Independent

The Aldermanic City Services and Environmental Policy Committee unanimously approved easements required to increase electric and gas service to the theater and sent the measure on to the full board.

Safety was on the minds of board members.

Tiffany L. Stevens (pictured), a Hartford lawyer representing Area Cooperative Education Services (ACES), which owns the 85-year-old community playhouse, made her pitch for the easements as the next step in the renovations. Committee member and East Rock Alderman Roland Lemar said he was concerned about safety.

How would we assure access to the walkway next to the theater and the safety of people who use Lincoln Way and the walkway to the right of the playhouse? he asked. (The walkway is to where the youngsters are walking in the photo.)

“There are a million kids who use that during the school day,” said aldermanic President Carl Goldfield.

Austin Martin, the project manager for Strategic Building Solutions, in charge of the project, said no work would be done until that problem is solved. “There will be no trench left overnight,” he said. Those digging would only open as much trench as they could fill with pipe on that day.

He said his firm and the builder will have everything worked out before any work is done. The builder for the project has not yet been chosen, he said.

The full board of aldermen will take up the easement next year. Officials hope to be finished with the project to expand the 6,000 square foot theater to more than 10,000 square feet next November.