Scheme of planned development.
Downtown neighbors gave thumbs up to the latest proposal for building new apartments — and especially liked the idea of limiting the number of parking spaces.
The proposal — to build a seven-story apartment building and convert an existing tower to 106 market-rate apartments with only 16 on-site parking spots — was the subject of a presentation Tuesday night at a Zoom meeting of the Downtown/Wooster Square Community Management Team (DWSCMT).
Architect Ken Boroson and attorney Ben Trachten made the presentation about the plan, which calls for converting the the LoRicco building at 208 – 216 Crown St. to residential, razing a small building next to it, then building the new seven-story building on the lot. The plan would eliminate part of an existing parking lot.
Click here for a previous New Haven Register story by Mary O’Leary detailing the plans by the current owners, the LoRicco Family.
In addition to the lower level, which will house amenities like a gym and plenty of bike parking, the combined conversion of the two structures, the new and the current tower, will result in creation of 22 studios, 47 one-bedrooms, six one-bedrooms-with-den, and 31 two-bedroom units, said Boroson.
What grabbed and generally pleased listeners to the plan was the small number of parking slots being created on site, 16, in relation to the number of units.
The balance of the parking spaces required by the ordinance would be leased from nearby public garages.
Trachten said the numbers have not been firmed up with the city, but with credit for the bike spaces being provided and the 16 spots on site, the balance needed would be leased from the Temple Street Garage.
“How many parking spaces are to be leased?” asked neighbor Tony Kosloski.
“Somewhere in the low 30s, ” replied Boroson.
Among parking-obsessed New Haveners there remained skepticism
“What happens if events go on downtown and those spaces are not available to incoming traffic?” Kosloski pressed.
“Residents would have to temporarily find parking elsewhere,” replied Trachten. “That area has a lot of parking options.”
“I seriously doubt that,” said Kosloski.
“Are you taking away the Crown Street Garage where I lease space?” asked Miriam Grossman.
“No, we’re leasing spaces,” said Trachten
New Haven Urban Design League President Anstress Farwell praised the parking plan but still had a “but.”
“It’s good to use publicly owed parking to satisfy the need. I support that,” Farwell said. But “as parking demand gets reduced, I am wondering if the building you’re planning, if it’d be possible to build further on the land saving as much and as possible from parking?”
“I’m glad people are recognizing that limited parking is the future,” replied Trachten. “We have 16 spaces on site. We’d love to take it down further, but need that much to accommodate residents who need to be close to the building.”
Trachten said the next step is to present the plans to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) in September and then to the City Plan Commission for site plan review.
“When it comes time for the Crown Street project. would it be appropriate to ask for a letter of support?” Trachten queried. “As there wasn’t much opposition to that one.”
“Send the request to us,” answered CMT Chair Ian Dunn, “and we’ll kick it around.”
One entirely sensible suggestion made during the meeting was that cars exiting the proposed building do so from the left lane, to avoid crossing traffic as is the case with the exit from Gateway Community College. (Ken Boroson supported this proposal.) Of course, the long-term solution is to make Crown Street two-way.