As seen on the New Haven Register website

By Mark Zaretsky, Reporter Oct 31, 2023

NEW HAVEN, CT October 10, 2023 – Prepare to witness a remarkable change as the City of New Haven stands on the brink of a transformative revival, thanks to the resounding endorsement from the Community Investment Fund. The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is excited to reveal a recommendation for an award in support of the “Whalley Avenue Revitalization” project. This groundbreaking initiative is set to breathe new life into the Whalley Avenue corridor.

The Community Investment Fund (CIF) funding will be instrumental in realizing the ambitious vision of the “Whalley Avenue Revitalization” in the City of New Haven. This transformative initiative is designed to turn Whalley Avenue from a predominantly car-focused thoroughfare into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, and bikeable mixed-use community. A portion of the funds will be channeled to The Glendower Group (Glendower) and St. Luke’s Development Corporation (SLDC) to support the completion of the St. Luke’s affordable housing development project.

The City of New Haven, in collaboration with Glendower, has requested funds to bolster infrastructure enhancements and foster affordable housing within the Whalley Avenue corridor. This proposal encompasses three pivotal components aimed at transforming Whalley Avenue into a walkable, bikeable, and thriving mixed-use community.

Whalley Avenue serves as a crucial link between Downtown New Haven and several diverse neighborhoods. For residents, Whalley Avenue has long been a hazardous traffic artery. The allocated funding will facilitate improvements to street and sidewalk infrastructure, better catering to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation users, while also supporting the local small businesses that serve these communities. These enhancements will complement transit improvements anticipated by the City and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT). Additionally, the funding will contribute to affordable housing efforts, ensuring that as Whalley Avenue undergoes significant revitalization, it remains accessible to low-income and working-class New Haven residents. The plan also includes basic repairs and accessibility features to enhance walkability and improve the facades of numerous small businesses along the avenue.

The joint City/Glendower proposal targets three key investment areas:

1. Sidewalk and roadway infrastructure enhancements
2. Streetscape improvements and facelifts for small businesses
3. Gap financing to support the development of 55 housing units, with 49 of them designated as affordable housing

These measures collectively aim to transform a car-centric thoroughfare into a mixed-use, walkable, and livable community that caters to the needs of some of New Haven’s most underserved neighborhoods and their residents.

Anticipated Outcomes and Impacts of the “Whalley Avenue Revitalization” Project:

1. Creation of 55 housing units, with 49 of them being affordable
2. Addition of 3,843 square feet of commercial space
3. Generation of new job opportunities, including four on-site property management positions and two off-site positions
4. Implementation of over one mile of traffic calming measures, including pedestrian-friendly streetscape enhancements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and turning lanes, along with increased accessibility
5. Planting of new street trees and installation of planters
6. Expected increase in new business openings by at least 20
7. Growth in parking revenue
8. Boost in pedestrian foot traffic
9. Targeting a storefront vacancy rate of less than 10%
10. Enhanced public access and connectivity to Downtown and Edgewood Park

The Glendower Group is honored to be part of this collaborative effort to rejuvenate Whalley Avenue and is eager to contribute to the positive transformation of the community. We look forward to the official award and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on New Haven and its residents.

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SPECIAL THANKS: Mayor Justin Elicker, Former Mayor Toni N. Harp; Honorable Rosa L. DeLauro; Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Chris Murphy; Alderwoman Tyisha Walker; Alderman Aaron Greenberg; City/Town Clerk Michael Smart; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) staff: Suzanne Piacentini, Jennifer Gottlieb, Jeffrey Sussman, Susan Forward; Nancy Richards, and Harry West; Caroline Finger of Chase Bank; Lauren Henry, Rob Vest, and Peggy Bigeck of Redstone Equity Partners; Commissioner Evonne Klein, Nick Lundgren, Edward LaChance of the Connecticut Department of Housing; Commissioner Jorge Perez of the Connecticut Department of Banking; The Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority; the City of New Haven Economic and Development Administration, especially the following departments; Livable City Initiative, City Plan, Building, Engineering, Public Works, and Transportation, Traffic and Parking; as well as the wonderful residents of Farnam Courts.

About The Glendower Group: The Glendower Group (Glendower) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation established in November 2001 as an instrumentality to the Elm City Communities / Housing Authority of New Haven (ECC/HANH), located in Connecticut.  Glendower is at the forefront of those leading the private sector market in affordable housing.  Glendower provides comprehensive and integrated real estate development services specializing in affordable housing.  Together, Glendower and ECC/HANH have undertaken an aggressive redevelopment / modernization program allowing for the transformation of our housing portfolio throughout the City of New Haven.   Partnering with the City of New Haven, we have been able to close over 10 major redevelopments. Since 2009, Glendower has served as the sole developer or co-developer on 15 major affordable and market rate development projects. The Glendower Group has been awarded over $336 million dollars in redevelopment funds and has redeveloped over 2,250 units. To date, Glendower has efficiently relocated over 2,500 families working in concert with contractors and developers.  Glendower’s vision has always been high-quality, innovative, and fiscally sound housing for families. The firm has completed more than $336 million in development projects, and has orchestrated successful neighborhood transformations. Glendower has leveraged over $544 million.

About Elm City Communities / Housing Authority of the City of New Haven (ECC/HANH): We, at Elm City Communities, believe public housing is the foundation from which the American Dream will survive and thrive for generations to come. Our vision is a New Haven where every resident has a safe and decent home that they can afford and opportunities to fulfill their goals. Since becoming a HUD-designated Moving To Work (MTW) agency in 2000, Elm City Communities has become an incubator of innovation and an economic engine in New Haven, Connecticut. As a result, Elm City Communities has increased affordable housing choice, provided an array of self-sufficiency programs, created across the board cost savings measures, and spurred millions of dollars of indirect economic activity through redevelopment projects and job creation. Through the development and operation of affordable communities of choice and by providing opportunities for greater self-sufficiency in New Haven, we offer a lifeline to the American Dream.