State Sends $12M For Long Wharf Plan

We can all applaud improvements to possibly the most under utilized waterfront in the state! It's encouraging to see progress after so many years of discussion. Congratulations and thank you to all that have contributed to this project.

Is ClimateHaven going to do something about the increase in jet fuel consumption in New Haven?

...since they're "focused on a sustainable, renewable future.”

How much would it cost to keep the Long Wharf bike path free of glass?

Once demolished is there a plan for the old gateway site?

And just in time for an election year but wait.... is anyone concerned that a Democrat might not win the mayoralty race in New Haven??? Nahhhh....
In any case, I would have hoped that the planners looked to what other towns did with their harborfront. The total picture kind of escapes me because what they plan and what they end up doing are two different things....hoping everyone forgets what was originally put forth..... where's the green aspect? less tar and cement and metal??

I applaud the increased public access and use that the redevelopment of Long Wharf waterfront land will create. It will also serve as a beautiful attraction to travelers on I-95 passage through. It should have a 24/7 tourist kiosk with printable and apps maps with attractions, local food/beverage and other businesses, hotels and other important locations listed on it for visitors who come to our city or who pull off the highway to enjoy the waterfront.
It would be good if the NHI would update this article with the link to the articles on the city’s plan for the entire waterfront with the different sections being designated for different uses.
Having often visited and lived for a short while in Chicago, where their waterfront (both lakefront and riverfront) has beaches, parks, a zoo, festivals, museums, sports venues, food/beverage businesses, walking, biking, and jogging trails, rentable golf carts to travel the paths, flood protection measures, water craft docking and renting facilities and tours, recreational sports playing fields/courts, attractions and entertainment is a short distance away from their downtown and neighborhoods, with nearby bus and train service from all neighborhoods and accessed and enjoyed by all segments of society by going under or over the highway that runs between the lake and the city, I often wondered why my home town didn’t take full advantage of the precious waterfront we have.
The plans for the waterfront and the Green would benefit from public self sterilizing restrooms with security features, and public drinking water fountains, like the one that used to be functional on the Green at the corner of Chapel and Church that had person height as well as horse (and dog) height drinking stations. A playground would be great too.
Connecting the Farmington canal trail with the Shoreline Greenway trail past the airport and East Shore parks, and the West Haven boardwalk and beach would also make our city more accessible and fun.

Matterhorn, as mentioned in the previous article, part of the site would be used for the relocated Gateway automotive tech program.

CY2, as the article notes, this funding will be used for the “green aspect” of overall plan including closing much of Long Wharf Drive and expanding public green spaces.

Heather, I am an expatriate Chicagoan. When I moved here decades ago, I was struck by how much New Haven and other northeastern cities undervalued their waterfronts. The situation has gotten much better, and this plan is an important step in the write direction. And to be fair, Chicago has had quite the head start. The ruling that the lakefront be “forever open, clear and free” goes back to 1909. The cleanup of the Chicago River and its shoreline started in the 1970s.

"Adding on-site parking" -Elicker #RedFlagEmoji x3

We need more reliable bus links and bike paths, not more parking. What are they, gonna build a beautiful 10-story parking garage overlooking Long Wharf? I hope some decision makers read this comment section.

An otherwise welcome news for our beloved city.

Will this park be between the water and I-95 or on the IKEA/Gateway side of I-95? Thanks.

Johnnyc, this park will be south of I-95. Under the overall plan, other green spaces will be created north of I-95.

@EastWest:

Good point. Plus the fact that the new park will be right off the highway too.. but there should be some kind of "park & ride" lot or garage where people visiting the park (and/or) the district can go park to either walk or "shuttle" over to their destination.

Long Wharf probably should have shuttles or trolley buses to transport people between the park and other parts of the district. I also think that there should be more housing built with less parking because of the proximity to Downtown and the train stations.

So really, it would make sense to have the area be walkable with having shops, restaurants, offices, apartments, parks, etc: as part of making the city feel more connected to the waterfront and vice versa.

Eastwest, quinnchionn, I’m all for more bus service. How are you going to pay for it? The average CT Transit bus driver costs about $70,000 per year, and there would need to more than one FTE driver. (This estimate includes fringes and other indirect costs as well as salaries.) Fares typically cover about 20% of operating costs and no capital costs. A standard hybrid city transit bus costs about $500,000.

Asking how will we pay for a service is not intended to end the conversation. But it has to be part of the conversation.

Really hope that part of the redesign also raises the land a certain amount of feet to protect against future flooding. NYC is currently raising the East River Park in Manhattan 8 feet in order to protect that section of the city from sea level rise, there is an awesome opportunity to do something similar here.

@CityYankee:

I think that the plan to redevelop Long Wharf and the park would be split mostly between visitors and residents.

It's also possible that the Long Wharf district could be aimed towards welcoming commuters as well, but for the most part: I see it as being for people who already lives in the New Haven area, and for people who decide to visit from out of town by car.

I'm glad you had my previous comment in mind, but really the bigger picture for New Haven (in this case) would be to have Long Wharf plus the area around union station redeveloped to the point where it brings convenience and make things better for commuters, residents, visitors, and for the city of New Haven in general.

The bus seem to always be a good option, especially for people who rides them on a regular basis.. but in my opinion, it would be better if New Haven had streetcars for people who mainly lives in the city to have an easier way to commute to Work, School, Hospitals, (etc..) rather than only by bus.

Good streetcar routes between New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, and maybe also East Haven would go such a long way towards making the overall transportation system better within the area as well.

Can we move our police department to that old Gateway Community College site? Seems like that would be better usage of that area. It would also free up some space around the train station in order to make an even better roadway more accessible to the route 34 connector.