A Grander Grand Avenue? $7.5M Funds Redevelopment, Revitalization Plan

NEW HAVEN, CT – Tuesday, Mayor Justin Elicker was joined by state, city, civic, and private development officials at the Fair Haven School, 164 Grand Ave., to celebrate two major redevelopment and revitalization projects along Grand Avenue. The roadway is one of New Haven’s busiest and fastest growing commercial and residential corridors that span the Fair Haven, Mill River, and Wooster Square neighborhoods.

First, the New Haven was recently awarded a $6 million CT Community Challenge grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development that will be matched with $1.5 million in city and American Rescue Plan funds for a total $7.5 million investment towards a host of new infrastructure projects along Grand Avenue.

These projects will include new streetscape improvements; the creation of a new Grand Avenue public plaza for community gatherings and events; and new roadway improvements that will help calm traffic and provide safer and improved travel for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation users along Grand Avenue as well as better connectivity to the downtown area and the Mill and Quinnipiac River waterfronts.

Second, this week, the city will officially formalize the Development and Land Use Agreement with Pennrose LLC and the Cloud Company. The company will convert and expand the historic and long-vacant Strong School, located at 69 Grand Ave., into 58 new affordable housing units and a community art space, all within an LGBTQ-friendly environment. The $27 million project will begin in late 2024 and construction will take 18 to 24 months to complete.

The event marks the latest progress on the multipronged “Grander Grand Avenue” revitalization effort. The 1.5-mile stretch of Grand Avenue is one of the most diverse and densely populated sections of the city and has experienced dramatic growth in recent years. It is currently home to approximately 20,000 residents and over 130 active businesses, many of which are minority-owned “brick and mortar” storefronts.

Explore the full project summary here:

2023 'Grander' Gran... by Ellyn Santiago