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Twin Cities Nurses Make 360 State’s First Move

by Allan Appel | Aug 2, 2010 7:31 am

(26) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Downtown

Allan Appel Photo Green-minded Shelly and Gary Cozine took the keys to apartment 714—and ushered in a new era of downtown living.

The Cozines (at left and right in photo above) were the very first tenants to move into the new 360 State Street apartment tower Saturday morning.  Lead concierge Jay Fitzgerald-Hicks (at center) and the staff welcomed the couple with coffee, discount coupons to area restaurants and the keys to their new apartment on the seventh of the $190 million, 500-unit tower’s 32 floors.

The Cozines were to be followed by some 50 people expected to occupy 30 apartments in a move-in schedule going on all week at the New Haven’s newest—and second-tallest—tower. The building has 500 apartments, of which 50 will be “affordable” housing units,  and has been under construction for 21 months.

The Cozines’ apartment is 750 square feet and rents for $1,700 plus $100 for the garage. It’s a bit of an adjustment to live in 750 square feet compared to the 2,000 square foot townhouse the couple left behind (temporarily) in St. Paul. It’s likely they’ll return to it, or another assignment, when the year is up.

Both nurse-anesthetists who are taking one-year assignments at Yale-New Haven Hospital, empty-nesters, and avid exercisers and practitioners of the good green life style, the Cozines are precisely the type of renters whom developer Bruce Becker expected to attract to his fuel-cell powered tower by the train station.

“Very exciting,” Gary Cozine pronounced the occasion.

“We chose it because we wanted to walk to work, and we have only one car. [It’s] such a green building, the fuel cell appeals, [and it’s] so new,” he added.

The couple hails from St. Paul, Minnesota. They drove from there to New Haven Thursday night. They’ve been staying at the La Quinta Inn & Suites on Sergeant Drive. They arrived at 360 State with their utility vehicle and first load of stuff at approximately 8:30 Saturday morning.

No trumpets trilled a formal welcome. But lots of people like Fitzgerald-Hicks and Julio Jimenez of the building staff helped move in the first tenants.

The first load included snow shoes. “We’re snow-shoers, bikers, and exercisers,” Shelly Cozine said. The bicycles were over at the motel and were coming with the next load; a truck with other stuff is expected to arrive from St. Paul some time later in the week.

Wanting to blend in as quickly as possible, Gary Cozine said they had already chosen Frank Pepe’s over Sallys. But he had a further inquiry:

People like themselves from St. Paul were St. Paulites, he said. And those hailing from the adjoining city were Minneapolitans. “If you’re from New Haven, what are you?” he asked.

Since Thursday, the couple had already biked and hiked up to East Rock, had dinner at Pepe’s and Zinc, and were planning to celebrate Shelly’s 52nd birthday Saturday night with their daughter Sarah at Union League.

“We are going to try every restaurant in New Haven. We’re going to be good customers [for the city],” she said.

What also very much appealed was the proximity to their daughter, who just took a job for Price Waterhouse in New York. “We’re only a $14 train trip away,” she said. They hadn’t seen Sarah in seven months.

As the Cozines moved in, various other 360 staffers pitched in to welcome and to help. Jennifer Harrison of the Bozzuto Management Company, which is in charge of rentals, showed them about, and offered a welcome basket of green items.

The basket included baking soda, vinegar, and stuff people might forget or not have on that first night.

Namely, toilet paper.

When Shelly Cozine opened it up (graciously complying with a reporter’s request), she found a slight failing with the green offering: the paper was not from recycled materials. Using his science background, Gary analyzed it and pronounced it “quilted Great Northern.”

Little else about the building or the Elm City disappointed. The couple liked the HVAC panel, which building staffer Dion Smith explained had a unit that could slide out and be immediately replaced for repair avoiding interruption of the pleasures of air conditioning or heat.

They liked the ventless piggyback washer and dryer, the cute sprayer attachment to the sink, with water-conserving flow control, and especially 360’s convenient offering of a guest apartment. There Shelly Cozine’s parents will stay when they come out to see them.

The seventh-floor one bedroom also looks out on what will be evolving into the green roof. Gary eyed the now empty rectangle that will become the pool where he expects to swim laps.

“It’ll be grassed in with trees, sunning deck, tables. You’ll be able to order in from any restaurant in town,” he said.

A slight disappointment was the lack of a grocery store set up yet in the building, or anywhere nearby. “In the Twin Cities, there’s a grocery store every mile.”

They’re looking forward to the co-op evolving, but that will be some time.

Another not unsurprising (to New Haveners) was the biking. The couple rode up to East Rock on Friday and in the process dealt with more traffic than they expected. “In the Twin Cities I could bike anywhere in designated lanes” or on paths off the trafficked streets,” Shelly said.

“They could do something to improve that,” Gary added.

Although they had never been to New Haven before, Gary has a cousin who’s a law school graduate and told him about Elm City culture.

He was looking forward to, among other things, checking out the Gutenberg Bible at the Beinecke.

The couple thoroughly researched 360 State Street including Google- mapping it.

“Hey, you want to walk to work,” Gary said, recalling how he had done the virtual walk from 360 to Yale-New Haven. The reality seemed to match up.

Next challenge after moving in. Shelly needed to find the right hair and nail salon.

According to Bozzuto Management’s Lauren Lennox, 108 apartments have been reserved for rental, and they gradually become formally signed and leased.

Eight or nine move-ins were scheduled for Saturday and for Sunday, all at the main entrance on State Street, where New Haven Police Officer Ron Ferrante, on extra duty, was prepared to direct the moving vans.

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Comments

posted by: sally tamarkin on August 2, 2010  8:12am

I hope the items gifted to the first tenants from the management company were all from locally-owned businesses. I wish that coffee they were given was from one of the several nearby mom ‘n pop coffeeshops, say one of the 5 or so within a 1/2 mile of 360 State Street.

posted by: Threefifths on August 2, 2010  8:50am

Wait until King John’s tax hike kicks in.They will not be smilling.Also due to the fact that this state doesn’t have rent control and rent stabilization look for the rents to go sky high
In the next few years.

posted by: levelheadedandobjective on August 2, 2010  9:35am

Kudos to the City of New Haven and Office of Economic Developement. When other cities are crying and cutting New Haven continues to move forward!  Well done New Haven, Well Done

posted by: Eli Antonio on August 2, 2010  11:45am

Why can we build something in downtown new haven that we will hope New haveners will live in that isn’t public housing.  These guys are betting on transient 2 year yale grad students and 1 year contract medical workers to live in.  What about people born in Hamden, New Haven and West Haven? What is available for us?  Next time we sell a multimillion $ lot for a buck and allow for disrutpion of downtown traffic for 2 years, lets make it for us.

posted by: JAK on August 2, 2010  12:08pm

Hey Eli Antonio,

Q:  What kind of business caters to people based on where they were born rather than factors like market supply and demand? 

A:  A failing business.*

(* or a politically influenced public/private partnership)

posted by: Ben Berkowitz on August 2, 2010  12:57pm

City Hall,
Bike Lanes Bike Lanes Bike Lanes. People expect this from our city at this point.

If Brooklyn can reduce the majority of its one way streets to one lane for the sake of bikers so can we.

No more excuses.

posted by: Bill Saunders on August 2, 2010  1:48pm

Too bad all of the first time home buyers I know are leaving New Haven for the more affordable suburban sprawl just over the borders in Hamden and North Haven.

It remains to be seen how this development will impact the rental market in already overtaxed neighborhoods like East Rock.

posted by: anon on August 2, 2010  2:03pm

Three fifths, these are rental units, so a tax hike will be borne by the developer.  If taxes go up by 20% and that entire cost is passed along to the renters, that would work out to a relatively small increase per unit. 

However, keep in mind that this building increases our tax base so presumably the taxes for everyone actually will go down because of it—or, more accurately, not go up as quickly as they otherwise would. 

Taxes are rising primarily because of things like pensions and health care, not because of real estate development. 

If you are worried about rising taxes I suggest you work on something more productive, like bringing universal health care to the state or lowering our massive transportation costs (improved bus service, bike lanes, a walkable route from the train station to downtown, etc.).

posted by: anon on August 2, 2010  2:11pm

Ben, unfortunately none of our policy makers understand how to do that. Their idea of a bike lane is a “sharrow” painted in the middle of a truck lane - nice if you are an experienced bike rider, but probably useless if you are among the vast majority of residents who perceive riding in the middle of the street to be somewhat unsafe. It’s true that sharrows are a “good start,” and may encourage a few more people to cycle thereby building more grassroots advocacy… but how many more years will the community have to wait for truly complete streets?

You’d think that 360 State would be a model of development in this regard, given the fact it has a bike shop and that its 1,000+ residents will primarily be working within a mile or two of the site. Unfortunately, until there are viable alternatives, many will still choose to drive.

posted by: Threefifths on August 2, 2010  4:01pm

posted by: anon on August 2, 2010 2:03pm

Three fifths, these are rental units, so a tax hike will be borne by the developer.  If taxes go up by 20% and that entire cost is passed along to the renters, that would work out to a relatively small increase per unit. 

But that small increase per unit that you are talking about could make the difference in some one staying and moving out.I know people who have had to move because there rent went up by Twenty Five dollars.

However, keep in mind that this building increases our tax base so presumably the taxes for everyone actually will go down because of it—or, more accurately, not go up as quickly as they otherwise would. 

Then how come home owners taxes have not gone down,But are geting ready to go up.Also look at the car taxes going up on used cars.

Taxes are rising primarily because of things like pensions and health care, not because of real estate development

This depends if you are talking about civil service job or the private sector.Also a lot of jobs in the private sector are no longer paying there workers pensions.Also taxes are lost were this happens.

Pfizer to Leave City That Won Land-Use Case.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/nyregion/13pfizer.html?_r=1

How many of these people lost there homes.


If you are worried about rising taxes I suggest you work on something more productive, like bringing universal health care to the state or lowering our massive transportation costs (improved bus service, bike lanes, a walkable route from the train station to downtown, etc.).

No me and others need to demand a flat tax rate.

posted by: Steve B on August 2, 2010  4:35pm

I have mixed feelings. Personally I think the building is ugly as sin, but that’s just me. As far as it being a model of green living, I think I’d prefer if the building’s TWO parking garages weren’t so massive or so prominent. When I look at 360 State I see a parking garage with a building on top.

I’m really hoping the grocery store (the co-op or whatever else ends up there) is a success. To me, that will be the measure of whether this project was a success for Downtown New Haven. Given the number of empty storefronts already lining Chapel Street, adding more would not be good for anyone.

posted by: Sabrina on August 2, 2010  4:38pm

Dear Cozines:

Welcome to New Haven. I, too, prefer Pepe’s to Sally’s! Thank you for choosing New Haven for your year-long assignment and accept my well wishes as you settle in and enjoy your new home!

posted by: anon on August 2, 2010  5:21pm

Another story that makes it clear what the center of New Haven needs in order to attract more businesses, residents, and tax base (the center of New Haven is already responsible for most of the city’s tax base, but needs to grow in order to keep property taxes down):

1. A downtown grocery store.
2. Real bike lanes, like Minneapolis, not fake ones.
3. A city that is easy to walk around.
4. More places where the community can gather, that are unique to New Haven, like Pepe’s and the Beinecke. Another Starbucks won’t put New Haven on the map.

What can we do to make these happen more quickly?  I know a lot of people who want to buy a house, but they aren’t going to invest in a place with no clear plan for success.

posted by: jim on August 2, 2010  5:55pm

Lets see 20%.. if the rent is $1700.00 per and if it goes up 20% which is $340.00 your rent is now $2040.00 looks like a big increase if you ask me.  20% is 20%

posted by: Sharon Lovett-Graff on August 2, 2010  7:24pm

Welcome to New Haven! Be sure to come to Westville and explore beautiful and historic Edgewood Park, or West Rock Ridge State Park.  Edgewood Park is a great place to snowshoe in the winter! Weekend mornings Westville is the best place to go for brunch and many resturants are walking distance from Edgewood Park. See you there!

posted by: anon on August 2, 2010  7:56pm

It’s nice to see some optimism in New Haven. It’s clear from this article that downtown and Wooster are the engines that will really turn this place around. I agree with all the comments about bike lanes, groceries, and all the benefits of a small town next to an important university.  (Please get that grocery store in there so we can start using it….) Hopefully the city will seriously start to focus on building a better walkable/bike-able city and having more people investing in downtown like this couple.

posted by: Threefifths on August 2, 2010  8:01pm

posted by: jim on August 2, 2010 5:55pm

Lets see 20%.. if the rent is $1700.00 per and if it goes up 20% which is $340.00 your rent is now $2040.00 looks like a big increase if you ask me.  20% is 20%

I agree wiht you.Tha is why we must fight to get in this state Rent control,Rent stabilization.


http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/dhcr/DHCR1.html

And and Mitchell-Lama Housing Program.

 

http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/mitchell/mitchell.html

posted by: anon on August 2, 2010  8:35pm

Jim - If 100% of rent went to pay for local taxes, then it is true that a 20% increase in taxes could translate into a 20% increase in rent. But in reality, most of that monthly rent payment goes to cover the $180 million cost of the building plus a 5-10% return rate for the investor (MEPT).

posted by: Bill Saunders on August 3, 2010  1:57am

I don’t know where you guys live, but if anything this city is walkable.

posted by: Ricky on August 3, 2010  2:10am

Ok so t[they] can complain about recycled toilet paper, but not the amount of electric that big LCD tv they’re moving in uses.

posted by: LaShayla Jones on August 3, 2010  9:46am

I think the construction project will breathe new life into the downtown area. It is my prayer however that the area is not totally gentrified and smaller retail merchants are pushed out of the area. New Haven can be a great place to live and work.

P.S. The lead concierge Jay Fitzgerald-Hicks is uber handsome! That’s a great perk to living in that builidng. I may have to look into leasing a unit.

posted by: kurometarikku on August 3, 2010  10:09am

I wish I made enough money to qualify for the subsidized apartments, sounds like a nice place to live, for now.

posted by: anon on August 3, 2010  10:32am

Bill
I’m sure a plurality of able-bodied adults agree that the city is walkable for people of all ages, but it is far from a consensus—especially if you talk with children or the elderly. Have you ever been injured? Just like medical students are forced to take on a “handicap” for a week to see what it is like to be disabled or elderly, perhaps our planners should too. Because all the decisions around projects like these are clearly made by folks who are middle aged, middle income and able to walk across a 40 foot wide crosswalk without feeling that their life is endangered.  Other cities get this, why can’t we?

posted by: The Count on August 3, 2010  12:15pm

From Minneapolis? Hmmmm…..Guess they’ll enjoy our nice “warm” winters.

posted by: ricky on August 3, 2010  1:36pm

Wow, $1700 a month for 750 sq feet….that is a more than most mortgages…how about a grocery store where shaw’s used to be? is this the reason they are not there, the new co-op grocery store did not want competition?? I hope the progress in downtown continues

posted by: Bill Saunders on August 3, 2010  1:40pm

Anon,

I was actually hit by a car as a pedestrian when I was in college in Troy, NY in 1984. I darted out into the road to catch a ride to campus from a friend, and got creamed by a handicapped driver, putting me in the hospital for two weeks with a concussion and four torn ligaments in my left knee.  My fault completely. 

Stop. Look. Listen.

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