Laundymat on Whalley in Walgreens Plaza

The WEB has started a sub committee called Whalley Avenue Revitalization (WAR) that reports their activities to the WEB on a monthly basis. This group consists of:

The president & executive director of WASSD
A representative from the City Office of Economic Development
The Police District Manager
The president of the WEB
Two resident representatives of the WEB (one of which is the co-chair)
An Alderman

We focus on the issues facing Whalley Ave and how to overcome them. One issue was the cleanliness of the street. WASSD increased their payment by maximum amount allowed by their charter and will do so for the next 2 to 3 years to bring in enough revenue to service the district properly. The city is coming forward with funds and city resources to augment what WASDD is doing. Simple things like fixing the street lights that are out to trimming trees that have not been trimmed in years. The city is also helping out with façade program money that many other parts of the city already get.

All of the stakeholders mentioned above are working on a vision for Whalley to make it a place where everyone will want to shop & dine at and feel safe doing it. This is a massive undertaking and it will take time for some of the grand vision changes but small changes have taken place. The closing of Newt’s Bar on the corner of Whalley and Winthrop and the rebuilding of Chucks Luncheonette are some of the immediate changes.

When the shopkeepers on the strip know that people care they will start to take pride in their work. For the first time in years Minories is taking care of his property and has started working on a new façade and signage for his store. This was in good part to the combined efforts of WAR. We are not stopping with him.

An integral part of this all is making sure that we get quality stores to move on the strip. I agree that we can not have any more “brown bag” liquor stores or connivance stores that sell crack pipes, Philly Blunts and other drug paraphernalia with impunity. We also need to make sure that the stores don’t become hangouts (like L & A Deli, Whalley Pizza, Sam’s Store, just to name a few).

WASSD is working on a “Leakage Study” – a study showing what the residents of the area are buying outside the area because they can’t be serviced here. It is my hope that this study will be taken seriously and we can fill some of the open storefronts with what the community and WASSD wants and needs, and that the property owners look at what they are putting in and not just jump on the first call.

In order to change Whalley we need to put a higher caliber establishment in that takes pride in their store and neighborhood. If it can't happen with this store let us make it happen in the future.

131 Colony Road House is up

Dear Friends & Neighbors:

I was in contact with Andy Rizzo of the New Haven Building Department with regard to the construction on what is now known as 131 Colony Road or “the Stein House”. Andy is having an inspector down at the site on a regular basis to check and as of now there are no violations. In fact Mr. Stein turned the house around and has the front door facing Colony now (that is something we asked for).

I would like to thank Andy for the extra steps he is taking in keeping an eye on this for usually the inspector will only come out once just prior to issuing the CoO. We must remember that Mr. Stein has a Constitutional right to improve his land within the Zoning regulations of the City.

He will keep me updated as things progress and I will be sending everyone updates as well as posting this to my blog at www.motisandman.blogspot.com.

Yours truly,

Cautiously Optimistic Update on 131 Colony Road…

Dear All:

I have some news to share with everyone. Once again we were able to get the building permit on 131 Colony Road issued to Daniel Stein rescinded.

The reason I am cautiously optimistic is because he was able to work his way out of this in the past. But the order was issued August 8th and he did not get out of it yet so you never know.

Please inform me ASAP if you see ANY work being done on the property.

A big thanks to all the folks in the various offices in the City that were able to turn this around so quickly.

Thanks,

Update on 131 Colony

I just got an update on 131 Colony Road.

The Modular is going to becoming in within the next 4 weeks.

I asked about fencing and was not able to force them to put anything up.

Yours,

How the meeting went

Dear All:

I believe that we had a good meeting on Tuesday about 131 Colony & what is a Historic Commission. It was covered by both the Register & the Independent. I think that they covered most of the issues but I would like to add what I posted on the comment section of the Independent.

I would like to thank Andy Rizzo and Elaine Brafman of LCI, Robert Grzywacz from the Historic District Commission & David Barone of City Plan for coming out and laying out the facts and helping to clarify what we can do to protect our neighborhood and at what price.

I really hope that we don't stop here and ask that all that are able to come to the WEB Management Team meeting held at the Whalley sub station on the corner of Norton 5/15/07 at 7pm.

Yours,

This is what I posted at the New Haven Independent

In response to Dana B & Jonathon Hart’s concern of the “prohibitively expensive” cost of living in a Historic District, that exact issue was brought up. A neighbor asked a hypothetical question: The family has a slate roof on their beautiful Tudor home. If & when the roof needs to be replaced would the commission force him to put a new slate roof on? A full slate roof can cost over $100,000. The answer was that the Historic Commission would probably have the homeowner do the part of the roof that is visible from the “public right of way” in Slate or Faux Slate (which is cheaper but not as cheap as asphalt) and perhaps allow the balance be done in asphalt.

This then lead into a discussion of the fact that yes we will be giving up some of our property rights and to an organization that we only we one seat on as well as the fact that this will force us to put more money into our homes then we may have done without the designation.

I believe that the folks of Beaver Hill that attended understand the consequences of their actions. This process is not one that we can rush into blindly this must be and will be a deliberative thoughtful process.

To Cedarhill & All other interested parties – Please come to our next WEB Management Team Meeting this Tuesday May 15th, 7pm at the Whalley Avenue (corner of Norton) Police Sub-Station. The Historic District will be discussed and your input would be greatly appreciated.

Notice of Meeting Re 131 Colony & Historical District

Dear All:

Over the past few weeks there has been much talk and wonderment about the building going on at the corner of Dyer Street & Colony Road. To help explain the issues and start the process of what it means to create a Historic District I have arranged to have different department heads to come down and give us a clear picture what can and can not be done.

Therefore, I would like to invite you to a Beaver Hill community meeting at Hillhouse Highschool. We will cover the building going on at 131 Colony and what it would take to set up a Historic District.

Date: Tuesday May 8th, 2007
Time: 7pm
Place:Hillhouse Highschool – Sherman Avenue
2nd Floor Library

Yours truly,

Moti Sandman

Update on Historic District

Hi Everyone:

It appears that most people want to have some kind of control over what kind of homes go into our neighborhood. The best way to accomplish this is by setting us up as a Historic District.

I have gotten a lot of positive feedback about moving on this. I have contacted City Plan and am looking in to what it will take to get the ball rolling. I hope to have some news early next week.

Yours,

Moti

Historical Neighborhood

Dear All:

With regard to the building going up on 131 Colony Road, I have been asked why didn't City Plan review the plans and reject it? Or at least give us a forum to express our feelings & concerns.
The answer is that the City has a no site review for projects as long as there are no zoning variances. The only way that City Plan can look this over if the builder is requesting a variance or the area is a Historic District Neighborhood.

This brings me to my question to you - Do we want to turn our Beaver Hills Neighborhood into a Historical District Neighborhood?

On the positive side it will make sure that the character of the area is preserved and give us a say in what happens here.

On the other hand it will restrict the individual homeowner from making exterior changes to their home with out permission from the Historic District board.

There are many more details that I need to find out and will share them here with you over the next few weeks but in the meantime let me know what you think about this all. You can leave a comment or email me at ward28@snet.net.

Yours,

Update on 123 / 131 Colony Road

Hi Everyone:

Just to give an update on the building going on at the lot at 131 Colony Road (corner of Dyer & Colony).

The owner of the lot has met all of the zoning and building requirements. He has a legal right to build on his property and he is. The city has no mechanism to stop this or review the plans as long as he follows the law.

A building inspector came down yesterday to check out the project and to make sure that they are within the parameters of the law - they are. The building department is on top of this and will be coming out for visits though out the project.

I would like to personally thank Andy Rizzo & Elaine Brafman of LCI for all the their work and quick turnaround on this project.

All the best,

123 & 131 Colony Road

Hi Everyone:

I got a number of calls with regard to the apparent building that is being done on the corner lot of Dyer Street & Colony Road - what is now designated as 131 Colony.

As I understand the situation the land is owned by Daniel Stein. He asked City Plan for a Zoning variance to build over the allowable footprint back in June of 2006 - it was rejected.

The rejection only meant that he is not allowed to over build but he IS allowed to build within the zoning laws. I have been in touch with LCI - who runs the building department and will make sure that they obey the law.

I will keep you posted as this develops.

Yours,

City Plan Meetin Re I-95 & Other issues

Hi Everyone:

Below please find the link to the agenda for the upcoming City Plan Meeting for this Wednesday. I will not be making this one. But if any one goes please share your thoughts and insights with the group.

Thanks,

AGENDA FOR MEETING 1401
NEW HAVEN CITY PLAN COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2007
NEW HAVEN CITY HALL, 165 CHURCH STREET
Meeting Room 1 & 2, 2nd Floor Atrium
NEW HAVEN, CT
WORKSHOP from 4:00 to 6:00 PM:
Tabled item:
1401-01 I-95 LONG WHARF IMPROVEMENT PLAN (Project #92-572), Evaluation of Alternatives proposed by Connecticut Department of Transportation through an Environmental Assessment Process.
PUBLIC HEARINGS at 6:00 PM:

http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/CityPlan/SchedulesCPC.asp