Description
I don't know where this issue belongs. We have a beautiful riverfront with a lot of potential but the desolate space by Grand Vin is depressing. I'm not sure who owns the land but keeping it empty will not make them money or help the community. For all the time that space has been abandoned (since Bare Beans left and the flower shop burned down and who knows what's going on with Martin's) the developer could have offered free rent to small businesses and allowed them to get started and establish themselves. They would have made the same $0 they've made over the last year, but could've helped the community.
I believe we have enough families who would go there every day if there was a small Nicas-like market, a nice restaurant on the water and some kind of outside seating where we could sit by the water and have lunch, coffee, etc. Build a parking lot, plant some trees and put some tables outside, like Nica's. You don't need a lot to make that a nice space- the river and marina view is enough.
We desperately need a coffee shop that opens early in the morning, before 9am; a good small market; and a convenience store. The entire neighborhood would shop there IF there was adequate parking and traffic signs.
PLEASE do something with that area. Not developing this property and allowing it to remain unoccupied, or occupied by unappealing businesses (sorry, Ziggy) is so detrimental to our neighborhood.
I hope Grand Vin never leaves. It's the only decent place there.
10 Comments
a lot of potential (Guest)
"I'm not sure who owns the land "
Joel Schiavone : QUINNIPIAC RIVER VILLAGE LLC, DRAGON POINT LLC.
MISSY 2 LLC = QUINNIPIAC RIVERVIEW PROPERTIES LLC = TOEL SCHIAVUNE (really, I'm not making it up).
darwin (Guest)
FairHavenHeights_Parents (Registered User)
L (Guest)
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/waterfront_condos_near_completion/
Some other reading, about a stalled condo dev't just down Q Ave a bit, another stagnant area:
http://newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/condos_remain_a_dream/
Our neighborhood seems like such a potentially great place, w/ potential being wasted. We just need the EDC or something to draw businesses over here. We need a cafe, ice cream shoppe, a little seafood shack, nice food market, etc.... I am not sure what Schiavone's deal is. I have heard he has done great things w/ our neighborhood in the past, but I see no obvious evidence of recent, positive, pro-action. I don't know why he's hanging on to property that someone else would use better.
Gent (Guest)
The owner almost got away with burning the other building down that sits right on the river. They were filling -- no, PACKING -- it with old tires. It was posted here on SCF:
http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/39090-arson-prep-work-in-progress
The fire marshal went down there a little while later and caught them in the act. He made them stop and remove all the tires. Sorry Joel.
The property should be removed from the hands of Joel via eminent domain. All we need to do is band together and form an LLC and come up with a plan. Eminent domain is real. Unfortunately, people accomplishing anything these days is slim to none. I'm here if anyone is interested.
harleyinnewhaven (Guest)
Paul Pasquaretta (Guest)
Paul Pasquaretta (Guest)
"and how is this website supposed to do any of that what you are hoping for ?"
The website by itself is not going to do anything. The website needs to be a spring board to community organization. Obviously, there are enough cranky people out there to make a difference. Problem is, they're just venting, not channeling their energy. But to channel, I think, we need to know who we are. How can I/we engaged in a productive dialogue with an anonymous online alias? Are we afraid of reprisals for speaking out? Isn't that what we are supposed to do, as ourselves, and not the moniker we might use for a personal ad?
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FairHavenHeights_Parents (Registered User)
Hi Paul,
We have a Facebook page now, where people are less anonymous. We can hopefully connect there and use it as a tool for the community organization you're talking about:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fair-Haven-Heights-neighborhood/220826811290441
Closed City of New Haven (Registered User)