Denver’s meter.
The Board of Alders Monday night passed measures that will allow long-planned traffic calming on Whalley Avenue through Westville Village, study of a revival for Wooster Square’s former clock factory, and start outfitting cops with body cameras and downtown streets with those donation “parking meters.”
One unanimous vote allows Mayor Toni Harp to sign a project authorization letter (PAL), and any subsequent PAL amendments, for traffic-calming measures on Whalley Avenue between Harrison Street and West Park Avenue.
Speedy drivers on Whalley Avenue have long been a concern of Westville neighbors and the calming calls for new crosswalks, bike lanes and other visual improvements to the gateways of the village. The bulk of the $560,000 project —about $420,000 — will come from state funding. The rest will come from city funds designated for complete streets projects. Read more about traffic-calming for Whalley Avenue here.
The alders also approved the following measures Monday night:
A resolution approving an easement for the installation and maintenance of utility and telecommunications equipment in Blake Field/Ralph Walker Skating Rink for the State Street Lofts, which are going up where the former Star Supply used to be in East Rock’s Goatville section. Read about the lofts project, which broke ground in December, here.
Neena Satija FIle Photo
A resolution authorizing the city to accept a $200,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to support redevelopment of the former clock factory property at 133 Hamilton St. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced back in mid-July that the state would grant New Haven the money to study what it would take to clean up the polluted former clock factory site and redevelop it, as part of a broader $7 million in “brownfield remediation” grants awarded statewide. The grants are part of the Connecticut Remedial Action and Redevelopment Municipal Grant Program.Read about the project here.
Denver’s meter.
An order authorizing the city to enter into agreement with IPS Group Inc., United Way of Greater New Haven Inc. and Parkmobile LLC to provide donation meters for the “Give Change to Make Change” program that city officials hope will curb panhandling downtown. Read more about that program here.
A resolution authorizing Mayor Harp to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Justice, 2015 Body-Worn Camera Pilot Implementation program for not more than $90,000 for two years to develop a body-camera program. Also on Monday, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it has indeed authorized that $90,000 grant for New Haven. Read more about the police department’s 90-day pilot program here.
Cool! But could someone explain why did it take so long to approve the Whalley funding? There are severe crashes there every week.