On the corner of College and George Streets, where TK’s American Caf√© now sits, a Hartford developer wants to build this 19-story tower of mixed retail and high-end condominiums. The plans for a $140 million building, which would bring hundreds of luxury condos and a strip of shops to the city’s downtown, came before the Board of Zoning Appeals this week, with one objection from a neighboring landlord.
Robert A. Landino, a former state representative who now works for Centerplan Development in Hartford, plans to add to downtown New Haven’s emerging luxury housing market with 276 high-end condominiums on 15 residential floors.
The so-called “Residences and Shops at College Square” would have two floors of streetfront retail, then two of parking, then 15 floors of living space, including a million-dollar penthouse on top. Plans include one level of underground parking, where valet attendants would use racks to double-stack cars. The 1‑, 2- and 3‑bedroom condos would range from $400,000 to $1 million in price.
The tower, with a footprint of almost 50,000, would take up a whole block of College Street between Crown and George streets.
Landino is former president of BL Cos of Meriden, an architecture and engineering firm that has done a lot of work on Broadway and in the Ninth Square and is designing this project. His father, Al Landino, was a city engineer and development administrator. Representing him at the BZA Tuesday was Anthony Avallone, a former state senator.
Avallone (pictured) said the group hadn’t yet decided what kind of retail the 278-foot tower would hold. He said the architects had met with Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, which is designing the Co-op High School being built a block away, to ensure the designs wouldn’t clash.
Developers are asking for a host of variances, including requesting no front, side or rear yard setbacks, to fit the building on the corner lot. City Plan said the nearby streets “act as yards” of themselves, and that setting stores back from the street would ruin the walkable feel of the street. The Comprehensive Plan encourages dense, mixed-use residential buildings downtown.
The department recommended approval with conditions: The apartments must be owner-occupied and must be approved by the Site Plan Commission, state traffic officials and a special Design Advisory Committee comprised of city officials, the local alderwoman and a non-biased architect.
To make way for the proposed colossus, three lots, including one holding TKs American Caf√© (pictured), will be cleared. The man who owns the yellow “banana building” (pictured behind TKs) showed up to the BZA to voice some concerns.
Michael DiScala, whose family owns a seven-story apartment building at 297 George St., questioned why Landino deserved such a “multitude of variances.” He charged the developers hadn’t met with him to address concerns.
College Square’s two parking garages will hold at least 464 cars, which will enter from two entrances, one on George Street, the other on Crown Street. DiScala found the George Street entrance too close — 10 feet away from his building. He asked for dialogue on his concerns: Traffic, building safety and construction-time disruption in the form of noise and dust.
“Ninety percent of his concerns will be addressed through the site plan process,” responded Landino. The developer hopes to start building in the early fall of 2007 and complete the project after another two years.
The BZA will vote on the proposal in the next “three to four weeks.”
Where are all these rich people going to shop for food and staples or do they eat out all the time? Downtown residents who aren't so financially fortunate need a place shop for groceries without having to have a car.