Church Expands On Superblock

A State Street church is spreading its wings just as it is about to get some new neighbors.

City Plan Commissioners voted unanimous approval of a site plan that will allow the church, Trinity Baptist at 630 State, to raze an existing garage and build a two-story addition to another existing structure on site, the Trinity House, to give the growing congregation a bit more breathing room. Commissioners made that decision during their regular monthly meeting at City Hall this past week.

The Rev. Nick Lauer said the congregation has called the State Street location home for the last 12 years and on any given Sunday attracts on average 300 congregants, 50 of whom are children.

With a new development of apartments called Audubon Square rising around the church on three sides, the congregation saw a propitious time to build more space for the growing flock, make the church ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant and accessible while simultaneously adding more meeting spaces and classrooms. The church and the rising development fill a ​“superblock” created during the Urban Renewal era out of smaller streets to promote large construction projects.

“It’s been a joy for us to breathe some new life into this beautiful space as a church,” Lauer told commissioners. ​“And in addition to that, we hope to be a part of the ongoing renewal of New Haven’s downtown. It’s a joy for us to be here in the heart of the city.”

Lauer said the block is rapidly changing around the church and nice to be a part of that change.

“We won’t be alone anymore which is exciting for us,” he said. ​“We’re glad to see that happening.”

Jason Williams of Milone & MacBroom Inc. said the project requires removing existing asphalt around the church, building Trinity House, and demolishing the existing garage. The church has an agreement with Spinnaker, the developer of the neighboring Audubon Square project, to provide parking of up to 150 spaces on Sundays and 40 spaces Monday through Saturday.

The new two-story addition will house classrooms and meeting space and have an elevator and stairs. There also will be racks for 14 bike spaces, Williams said.

“The goal here for the building is to be a place where on Sunday people can move throughout indoors,” project architect Karin Patriquin said. ​“It also means … [the building] will be ADA accessible, which it wasn’t before.”

Architect Jennifer Shea added that the new addition includes a new entry lobby for the church as well as a dedicated space for children. The new addition will boost security since it connects back to the main sanctuary and will allow the church to host events simultaneously during its after-service coffee hour.