Wooster Square

Columbus Statue Replacement Up For Review

by | Oct 18, 2022 9:26 am | Comments (21)

Marc Massaro design

Columbus statue replacement, now before the Board of Alders.

A new sculpture honoring New Haven’s Italian American community is one step closer to coming to Wooster Square now that the Elicker Administration has formally submitted plans to the Board of Alders for a public artwork to replace the long-gone Christopher Columbus statue.

Continue reading ‘Columbus Statue Replacement Up For Review’

Zoners OK 3 New Restaurants

by | Sep 14, 2022 12:33 pm | Comments (5)

Thomas Breen photo

150 Wooster St: Former Tony & Lucille's, future new Italian eatery.

Make way for gelato and cocktails on Wooster Street, empanadas on Spring Street, and truffles and cheeses and Neapolitan-style dishes near Broadway.

Those culinary ventures are each one big step closer to coming New Haven’s way, after winning requested land-use relief from the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

Continue reading ‘Zoners OK 3 New Restaurants’

"Lost" Treasures Find Permanent Home

by | Aug 30, 2022 8:59 am | Comments (8)

Thomas Breen Photo

Greenberg on top floor of former ACME building, with 19th-century elevator that was moved to 80 Hamilton.

A local museum nonprofit has purchased a Hamilton Street office and warehouse building that will now serve as the permanent home of New Haven artist and historian Robert Greenberg’s ever-expanding collection of Elm City artifacts, memorabilia, and ephemera.

Continue reading ‘"Lost" Treasures Find Permanent Home’

Bocce Brings Back Wooster Square Crew

by | Aug 15, 2022 12:43 pm | Comments (4)

107-year-old Frank Sacco plays bocce on Wooster Street.

On a sun-drenched Sunday morning, a man finessed a ball down the tree-shaded bocce court at Wooster Memorial Park.

The man was Frank Sacco, who was born on 82 Wooster St. and will turn 108 in November. His ball clacked off the other balls, coming to rest near the pallino, or target. Competitors and onlookers at the weekly Society of St. Maria Maddelena bocce league match cheered. 

Continue reading ‘Bocce Brings Back Wooster Square Crew’

Historic District Commission Approves Revised Columbus Statue Replacement

by | Jul 14, 2022 4:44 pm | Comments (28)

The proposed configuration of the old plinth next to the new statue.

Now that the statue of Christopher Columbus is gone from Wooster Square Park, what should happen to the pedestal that once held it up?

The Historic District Commission weighed that question on Wednesday evening. It voted to keep the pedestal in place without a statue atop it, a few feet behind the new sculpture slated for the park.

Continue reading ‘Historic District Commission Approves Revised Columbus Statue Replacement’

A "Rock" Rolls Forward

by | Jun 7, 2022 1:36 pm | Comments (2)

Lisa Reisman Photo

Sunday at Upon This Rock.

Pastor Christine Perry offered the assembled some advice that also described a journey she was launching at the pulpit.

There may be a little turbulence,” she told them. But if there is, just hold onto your seat, because we’re definitely going to get there.”

Continue reading ‘A "Rock" Rolls Forward’

Bills, Blight Bedevil Clock Shop Project

by | Jun 2, 2022 5:57 pm | Comments (16)

Thomas Breen photo

The derelict former clock factory building at 133 Hamilton St.

Markeshia Ricks photo

Redeveloper Scott Reed at 2018 alder hearing. His company allegedly owes city $137K in back taxes.

Has the clock stopped on a long-delayed effort to convert a derelict former Hamilton Street factory into 130 affordable apartments?

The property’s Oregon-based developer says the project is still moving forward. Three years of unpaid property taxes, a recent default in a tax foreclosure court case, and a spate of city anti-blight and building safety citations suggest a different story.

Continue reading ‘Bills, Blight Bedevil Clock Shop Project’

Property Roundup: Mandy Grows In Wooster Sq.

by | Apr 5, 2022 4:25 pm | Comments (21)

Thomas Breen / Google Map photos

Wooster Square apartments purchased by Mandy over the past two years. Top row, left to right: 23 Brown St., 19 Brown St., 17 Brown St. Middle row: 208 Wooster St., the Wooster Street arch (not owned by Mandy), 604 Chapel St. Bottom row: 325 St. John St., 191 Wooster St., 533 Chapel St.

Affiliates of Mandy Management bought seven apartments and a vacant lot on Brown Street for $1.1 million — the latest instance of the local megalandlord’s two-year, $14 million-and-counting expansion into Wooster Square real estate. 

Continue reading ‘Property Roundup: Mandy Grows In Wooster Sq.’

Denser Zoning OK'd For Olive St. Tower Site

by | Apr 5, 2022 3:49 pm | Comments (7)

Thomas Breen photo

Downtown Alder Eli Sabin speaks up in support of zoning change.

PMC image

13-story apt. tower proposed for 78 Olive.

Alders overwhelmingly approved rezoning an Olive Street lot to make way for a proposed 13-story apartment tower to be built on the downtown edge of Wooster Square.

Local legislators took that vote Monday night during the latest regular bimonthly meeting of the full Board of Alders. The in-person meeting took place in the Aldermanic Chamber on the second floor of City Hall.

Continue reading ‘Denser Zoning OK'd For Olive St. Tower Site’