Rendering of McKinley convent/chapel to housing conversion.
A long-vacant convent and an adjoining chapel are set for conversion into 10 Westville apartments.
City Plan commissioners voted last to week to approve the second plan broached by architect Fernando Pastor of SEEDnh over the past decade to bring new life to a former home of Catholic nuns at 351 McKinley Ave.
“It’s a beautiful site,” Commission Chair Leslie Radcliffe said of the English Gothic style building. “The reuse of this building is fantastic.”
The convent and chapel, which developers are set to start converting in April.
Pastor said he plans to install back-wall balconies as well as dormers on the convent while largely maintaining the current exteriors of both buildings, which are part of the broader St. Aedan Church campus.
The basement of the convent will serve as storage space for residents and house one three-bedroom. The first floor will include one three-bedroom and one two-bedroom, in addition to a one-bedroom occupying the attached chapel. The top floor will feature four duplex apartments.
There will be eight parking spaces in a lot situated immediately behind the two properties.
A view of the planned parking lot.
Pastor has previously said residences will be targeted towards New Haven seniors. He said the apartments will be “high-end rentals” for older residents hoping to downsize without leaving their neighborhood.
Pastor first pitched a plan to turn the convent into nine condominiums back in 2016, but reportedly left the project a few years later after his client ditched the idea. Now, Pastor has returned as the architect for the development following local landlord Schneur Katz’s purchase of the property under the title of Klugkatz LLC from the St. Aedan’s Church Corporation for $375,000 in 2021.
Read about the project, which received zoning relief from the Board of Zoning Appeals back in October, in more detail here.
The site plan approval marked the last OK needed by the developers to start work on the project. The work is expected to begin in April and wrap by July.
I lived on Alden Ave. for many years across from the school and church. That area is really very nice. High expectations that the project turns out great. Yes, "It’s a beautiful site" indeed.