Downtown growing as city meets Challenges.
Pictured above is Ken Gleason, Chairman of The Downtown Wooster Square Community Management Team, who kicked off a public forum of over 75 individuals at the Omni September 25th. Focus of the discussion was on the Quality of Life for its downtown residents, students, visitors, workers and businessmen. The guest panel of city officials espousing their opinions and suggested solutions to the challenges that the Downtown faces include Sean Matteson the Mayors Chief of Staff, Bitsy Clark Alderwomen for the 7th ward (Downtown) Lt. Martin Tchakirides a 13-year New Haven Police veteran and currently District Manager for the downtown district, Christine Bonanno, Deputy administrator of Economic Development and Winfield Davis, the Town Green Special Services District Operations Director. The meeting was attended by a cross section of area residents, business owners (particularly club owners) and representatives from Yale, Southern, Quinnipiack and New Haven Universities.
“People are seeing an expansion of Downtown by beginning to connect with other areas of the city such as the Union station area and the Medical District. Christine believes that the evidence of a successful Downtown can be found in the number of investor’s dollars pouring into the city even as the country’s economy falls on financially difficult times” Says Bonanno adding “We are proud of our selection of Becker Associates as our developer for the $165 million dollar project now known as 360 State Street. (Shatenburge) “They have proven to be a financially sound partner to the city and we are “We are also pleased with our selection of Northern Development Corporation for the collusion site another well financed organization”. “we currently have 3,728 housing units downtown” “That is up over 1,000 units over the past 5 years with another 1,300 planned to be introduced into downtown over the next 5 years” “This combined with 140 new businesses that have opened over the past 5 years signals a confidence on the part of investors, residents and business owners wanting to do business in an ever growing New Haven.”
Davis says “We work very hard to keep the Downtown and the Green clean, safe and inviting. And the Green Clean Team by keeps the area as rubbish free as possible. At its inception in 1997 the Green Team picked up 30 thousand pounds of rubbish in the 27 square block area they guardian. This year the Team is on target to pick up over 70 thousand pounds of rubbish in the same area”. “We also run the downtown ambassador program which is an on street league of liaisons that are visible and available to help people with directions, recommendations for businesses and restaurants, escorts to parked cars and they even provide an umbrella if one is caught in the rain”. The hospitality part of the group’s mission also includes the Info New Haven store front on the corner of Chapel and Temple where information on anything New Haven is readily available along with New Haven gifts and novelties. The community leaders rely on community input to help work toward and strive for goals to create and maintain a vibrant downtown community.
Meanwhile, the Downtown area’s Alderperson is Bitsy Clark and has lived in New Haven since 1956. Bitsy remarks “The downtown population is very interesting in that it has an unusual make up of residents. There are four main groups. We have students, young professionals, empty nesters and retired people. There are many people in the area that do not vote because they are workers, businesses owners and developers that do not live in New Haven” “Never the less, I have to represent their interest and address their concerns because they are vital to New Haven’s growth and prosperity” “My job as an Alderperson is to respond to you and address your concerns”. Sometimes it is helping you navigate through a particular city department or help you understand why certain laws or rules exist” I am only a phone call away and happy to help anyone to better understand what is happening New Haven and particularly the downtown area.
According to Police Lt Martin Tchakirides “The biggest problem I have right now in Downtown is the noise complaints at night. This is a very vibrant downtown between the clubs and restaurants especially on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday nights. College kids and other patrons visit the place and this enthusiasm sometimes spills out into the streets and often during late hours of the night”. “I am working on it” Better communications, balancing expectations with what is realistic and identifying areas for improvement were among the list items Gleasman wanted to address for the evening. The evening forum went very well, I feel good about what the public had to say and the panel’s response” Gleasman said. An e-mail exit survey of people in attendance that night showed a favorable reaction to how the City, Police services and the Town Green Special Services District are meeting the challenges of Downtown New Haven. The Downtown Wooster Square Community Management Team consists of members of the community who are concerned citizens with the zeal to serve as a forum for problem-solving, information exchange, and decision-making centering on neighborhood quality of life and public safety issues
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