Laura Glesby Photo
265 Dixwell, former home of Monterey Cafe.
The concept for the two buildings.
Ocean Management hopes to transform two vacant Dixwell Avenue properties into apartment buildings with three- and four-bedroom units, including 40 percent subsidized housing.
An owner’s representative shared a concept for the project with the Dixwell community management team — and heard back concerns about the well-being of the children who might move in.
269 Dixwell.
Melissa Saint of Ocean Management presented the early-stage plans to the management team at the Community Resource Center on Ashmun Street on behalf of Ocean, one of New Haven’s major landlords.
Ocean-affiliated limited liability corporations bought the two properties — one of which once housed the legendary Monterey Cafe jazz nightclub — in 2016.
Saint said she has been keeping in touch about plans for the project with Serena Neal-Sanjurjo, the director of city’s anti-blight Livable City Initiative (LCI), to “help fill the corridor and bring more activity to it.” According to Saint, Neal-Sanjurjo had initially proposed that Ocean donate the properties to the city, but the development company declined.
The two buildings, 265 and 269 Dixwell, currently have vacant storefronts. Ocean had initially hoped to convert them into entirely residential buildings, but discovered that the buildings’ mixed-use zoning mandates a commercial space on the first floor, according to Saint.
Now Ocean plans to keep the first floor of each building commercial and add two floors to the existing structures. There are no precise plans yet for the makeup of the residential floors. But Saint said that each building would likely include approximately 10 three- and four-bedroom apartments. Ocean wants 40 percent of the apartments to be for tenants receiving subsidies.
The concept for the two buildings.
As neighbors asked questions and offered feedback on the proposals, Saint emphasized that the plans are in an early stage.
Alder Steven Winter, whose ward includes the opposite side of Dixwell Avenue, asked Saint to elaborate on “what level of affordability” the units would be.
Saint responded that the apartments’ rent hasn’t been determined yet.
Melissa Saint presents.
Dixwell resident Jean Jenkins, who works at the Gateway Early Learning Center preschool, called attention to the potential for three- and four-bedroom apartments to attract families with kids.
Lisa Milone, a social worker and Morris Cove resident who came to Dixwell’s management team in order to present on the foster care program where she works, asked whether the parking lot slated to go behind the building would include a grassy area for the kids.
“We don’t want these kids to wind up on Dixwell Avenue doing what we don’t want them to do,” she said.
“Again, we’re just at the conceptual stage,” Saint responded.
Jean Jenkins looks at building plans.
“Dixwell Avenue is a thoroughfare,” said Crystal Gooding, the vice chair of the management team, stressing that any children who live in the building should not be placed “in harm’s way.” “If they’re not playing in the back, they’ll play in the front,” she said.
The businesses that would occupy the buildings also matter, said top neighborhood cop Lt. Manmeet Colon.
“We don’t need any other corner stores” in the neighborhood, she said.
Neighbors said that the buildings are across the street from a “hotspot” for crime in the neighborhood, which might also make the buildings less ideal for children. “We don’t know the longevity of the hotspot,” said Jorge Lopes, the management team’s secretary.
Gooding, peering at the plans, asked Saint whether the buildings’ facades would be “in keeping with the neighborhood.”
Saint responded that the projected designs were “clean-cut” and “simple,” adding that a few balconies would give them some “character.”
“I like that you’re staying within three stories,” the classic height for New Haven buildings, said Roxanne Condon, the assistant secretary for the management team.
Management team officers consider the proposal. From left: Jorge Lopes, Peter Gadsby, Crystal Gooding, Roxanne Condon.
After the meeting, Gooding opined that the building plans did not fit into the neighborhood’s character. Condon recalled that the building at 265 Dixwell Ave. once housed the renowned Monterey Jazz Club, giving it historical significance.
Condon told Saint she is glad that Ocean consulted neighbors on the project. Gooding underscored that more presentations to neighbors would be necessary in order to fully hear residents’ input.
“This is only a slice of the neighborhood,” Gooding said of the management team meeting.
It would be great if the developer could find commercial tenants for the ground floors of these buildings. But I suspect it will very difficult to do so. In many spots across town, newly built or rehabilitated ground floor space has sat vacant for months or years. The second storefront at the Novella has been empty for four years. The retail space at Mill River Crossing (neé Farnham Court) has been vacant since the development open. I value "eyes on the street." But Ocean might be better off seeking a special exception to permit an apartment downstairs at one or both buildings.