New Haven officials are applying for cleanup funds to unlock the potential of five dirty properties across the city as sites for housing development and new commercial space.
The five projects were outlined Wednesday at the regular meeting of New Haven’s Development Commission, held via Zoom.
State Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) grants were targeted for four of the projects, with applications submitted and decisions on the funding expected by early next month. The fifth project is in the process of consideration for federal brownfields funding by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
New Haven Economic Development chief Michael Piscitelli said, “These are projects of significance to the entire city, moving through our pipeline. [Wednesday’s meeting] is a public information session providing an opportunity for comment on remediation activities, but also a lens for some of the excitement around it.”
The four properties under consideration for DECD funds include:
The former New England Linen site at 147 Derby Ave., where a developer has proposed to construct 67 units of affordable housing. The city has asked for $985,000 in grant funds to remove contaminated fill from the property.
The former Dixwell Plaza site, consisting of 11 parcels on Dixwell Avenue between Webster and Charles streets. A developer has proposed 174 housing units for the property; the city has asked for $2 million in grant funding to remove soil containing hazardous chemicals.
A large building at the former Winchester firearms factory at Science Park that can’t be renovated due to seepage from oil and solvents. Developers Winchester Partners and Science Park Development Corp. plan to demolish the structure to make way for parking for an adjacent biotech lab building; the city has asked for $2 million toward the expected $8.6 million needed to knock the building down and deal with hazardous materials.
Property at 16 Miller St., a 1.5-acre parcel proposed as a site for 56 units of affordable housing. The city has asked for $1.3 million to help clean up the site, part of the state’s abandoned plan to extend Route 34 which contains paved-over basements and oil tanks.
The final cleanup plan discussed was for a 0.8-acre site at Orange and George streets currently used for parking. The city is asking the EPA for $2 million in federal brownfields funds to deal with centuries of pollution at the downtown site, including the operations of a blacksmith’s shop and gas station.
The property is adjacent to Ninth Square and has potential for affordable housing and commercial development, said Helen Rosenberg, special project manager at the city Economic Development office and lead on brownfield projects.
“We’re really excited because it’s centrally located directly to the neighborhood,” Rosenberg said. “The goals for the property are affordable housing developments and some kind of commercial development that creates a number of quality jobs.”
Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.
