Ribbon Cut On 42 ​“Modern” Historic Apartments

A new East Rock luxury apartment complex called the Whitney Modern has opened its trio of buildings on the former Red Cross headquarters on Whitney Avenue.

The 42-unit apartment community, originally envisioned by lead developer Nancy Greenberg, has filled 31 of its market-rate apartments since its delayed opening this past October.

Greenberg, the development team and city officials cut an official grand-opening ribbon at the site Monday afternoon. They played up the historic component of the project: All three of the buildings incorporate elements of the historic Abner Hendee home formerly at 703 Whitney Ave.

Mayor Justin Elicker, Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli, and East Rock Alder Anna Festa thanked the development team for the completed project, which will put the property back on tax rolls and offer jobs and homes to New Haveners.

“It’s sites like this that help us move our city forward in a direction that can benefit everyone in our city,” said Elicker.

Greenberg is known for redeveloping historic properties and adding ​“density in an environmentally sustainable manner,” said Piscitelli.

The development team created the complex’s mix of old and new designs by repurposing historic doors and light fixtures of the 116-year-old mansion.

Greenberg bought the property in 2018 from the New Haven chapter of the American Red Cross, which operated out of the home for 60 years. Greenberg and the team decided to restore the building, then ​“integrate it into a development”, she said.

The pandemic created problems with supply chains, delaying the originally planned summer opening of the complex.

“At one point we couldn’t get any refrigerators for any of the apartments,” Greenberg said.

Leasing opened in October. The one and two-bedroom apartments range from 632 to 2,225 square feet. Rents range from around $2,000 to around $3,000 a month, according to the complex’s website.

The Cottage Building was renovated into seven boutique apartments. The Modern Building is three stories and across the way with 35 apartments. The Carriage Building is behind the cottage and has been transformed into a community amenity space for residents, featuring a children’s game room, lounge, and gym.

Lead architect Charlie Kaplan of GLUCK+, worked with the team to create a property design aimed at fitting in with the historic look of the neighborhood. ​“We wanted to have respect for what came before this,” he said.

The building process came with unanticipated upgrades, like the need to replace outdated pipes, said Kaplan.

The design of the Modern building was made to ​“be in conversation with both the historic project and the historic neighborhood,” Kaplan said.

More than 70 percent of the apartments are leased, Greenberg said.

By March or April Greenberg expects to fill the remaining 11 homes in the Modern building.

“With the cost of the property and location, this is the kind of project that’s strongly suggested to be market rate,” Greenberg said. ​“It’s modern while still being convenient but slightly out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the city,” Greenberg said.