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The Future Is Now
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Business New Haven
1/8/2001
By: BNH
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What must have felt like a crushing failure to New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. is in fact a terrific opportunity.
When troubled Nordstrom decide to bail out of the proposed Long Wharf mall, the project collapsed. Now what? asked New Haveners. Reincarnate Chapel Square Mall? A theater at the former Macy's?
Perhaps all of the above, perhaps none. The principal argument against the mall (along with traffic congestion) was that it would suck the life's blood from New Haven's downtown. Thus, when it was announced that a deal was in the works to sell the former Pirelli site to erstwhile mall foe Westfield of America, it was feared that the buyer might erect big-box retail there - which would bring with it the same dangers to downtown as the mall itself.
Fear not, says City Plan Director Karyn Gilvarg. The deal with Westfield, she says, stipulates no retail development at the site. That leaves office use, a hotel or some sort of biotechnology facility - all of which would improve the site and the community at large.
Gilvarg says plans for revitalizing the harborfront remain on the front burner. Those include moving the former Yale boathouse to the water's edge, and converting part of it to exhibit and classroom space to be used in conjunction with the Amistad replica, already is a hit with sightseers. With a marina and perhaps retail development, the harbor could again become New Haven's shining jewel.
The time is now for the city to get serious about concluding the bitter litigation with Baltimore developer David Cordish over his option to purchase the 900 Chapel/Chapel Square Mall property. It is time to actively explore redevelopment options for that block, as well as for the adjoining former Macy's and Malley's blocks.
A renewed downtown and harbor are within New Haven's reach.
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