Charging ahead with a campaign to prevent an unwanted laundromat from opening in the Walgreen’s Plaza, Whalley Avenue neighbors have filed suit against the city zoning board.
Neighborhood activist Eli Greer (pictured) and three other Whalley Avenue property owners filed suit last Friday in New Haven Superior Court against the New Haven Board of Zoning Appeals. Their legal appeal seeks to overturn a Feb. 10 BZA decision that granted permission to Precision Wash ‘n’ Dry to open a 40-washer laundromat. The Brookfield-based company operates a small chain of laundromats in southern Connecticut.
Greer (pictured) announced the suit at a Monday morning press conference in front of the site of the proposed laundromat, at the corner of Whalley Avenue and Ella Grasso Boulevard.
“Whalley Avenue is no longer going to tolerate slumlords coming in,” declared Greer, arguing that Precision Wash ‘n’ Dry’s other locations have a high rate of crime and litter.
The appeal is the latest move in an ongoing campaign by Whalley residents intent on preventing the laundromat from opening. See previous installments here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
“The board acted illegally, arbitrarily, and in abuse of the discretion invested in it in one or more of the following respects,” the suit charges, outlining a litany of complaints with the BZA’s management of the case. Complaints include: insufficient parking, inaccurate maps presented to the board, statistics showing high crime on Whalley Avenue, and dangers of venting the laundromat within feet of residential buildings. The proposal should be opposed because “every neighborhood organization in existence in the area” has opposed it, the suit argued.
Precision Wash ‘n’ Dry officials could not be reached as of press time. In the past, the company has argued that despite neighbors’ other concerns, the BZA case rested solely on sufficiency of parking, a requirement the proposal met.
The appeal was filed by four owners of property within 100 feet of the laundromat’s proposed location: the Greer-owned property management business Friends of Hagan Inc., as well as Reuben Byer, Hershel and Donna Schlank, and LJS Realty LLC. Attorney Bill Gallagher is representing the clients pro bono, Greer said.
Also at the press conference in support of the lawsuit were John Vuoso and Sheila Masterson — heads of the Whalley Avenue Special Services District — and local Alderwoman Liz McCormack. The stakeholders argue that a laundromat will lead to crime and litter and runs counter to their efforts to revitalize the area.
Asked later to elaborate on his “slumlord” charge against the laundromat company, Greer said, “Unfortunately they do have a reputation.” He said that there were high incidences of crime at the company’s other laundromat locations.
“We don’t need more issues,” said Greer. “We’re trying to improve the avenue.”
According to the city’s calculations, a new laundromat would need only 12 parking spaces. But Greer said that another study showed that laundromats need one parking space for every 2 machines. By this reckoning a laundromat of 40 washers and 40 dryers would need 40 parking spaces. The site has 13 parking spaces.
Greer also warned that the company tailored its application for approval, but plans to expand its business once it occupies the space. He said that the plans show office space in the rear of the store, even though there is office space “at no other locations” and there is a basement that could be used for office space.
“My guess is that they want to put a dry cleaners in the back,” said Greer. He also speculated that the business would try to move to a 24 hours, 7 days operation. The BZA approval came with the condition that the laundromat be closed by 10 p.m.
Greer warned that the laundromat will be venting its dryers out the back of the building, where there is a 12-unit apartment building. “They’ll be venting in to where women and children are sleeping,” he said.
Asked whether, given the economy, this was a good time to be saying no to a new business, local Alderwoman Liz McCormack said, “This is probably a good time to have an appropriate business open.”
McCormack said that she has not heard any positive feedback from her constituents about the prospect of a new laundromat. As for whether or not local residents might need a place to wash their clothes, Greer said that most residential units have a washer and dryer.
Greer estimated that it will be quite some time before the appeal is resolved. In the meantime, construction will likely be stalled.
“There’ll be no hearings on this for at least eight to 12 months,” Greer said happily.
Looks to me like the good ol' "concerned" residents want to see to it that poor people stay away from their section of New Haven once again. Why would they oppose a laundromat? Could it be because they only expect Poor(Black and Hispanic) to patronize this laundromat? They act as if the developers are attempting to open a night club. I personally am getting a little tired of Ol Eli appointing himself the spokesperson for the Dwight/Edgewood "conservative" residents. Why doesn't he just come out and say, "we have enough problems with poor people of color in this neighborhood, the last thing we need is another congregation spot." That's all it's about. "Certain" residents think that their concerns are the end-all/be-all.