Will The Circle Be Unbroken?

On March 12th of this year, the New Haven Independent posted a story regarding the sale of two and a half acres of land located on the former Townshend estate in New Haven's Annex section. The buyer, Townsend Avenue Development North LLC intends to construct eleven single family homes with a starting price of $875,000.

The intent is to provide "a diverse range of home styles...from active adults and city residents looking to downsize, to newcomers seeking a seamless single-family home experience."

The developer's website goes on to invite you to "embrace a living experience that is nothing short of remarkable...providing an ideal setting for your lifestyle and aspirations...in this exclusive and sought-after neighborhood today!"

What the Independent piece and the prospectus don't say is that the proposed development is located in close proximity to Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport. (The irony here is that the sellers include one who has a history of being a vocal opponent of Tweed. "Misery loves company"?)

I wish I could say that this was a new incident, but truth be told, this sort of thing has gone on for some seventy-odd years now, ever since New Haven mayor John Murphy ignored airport manager Jack Tweed's exhortations to "Buy the land! Build to the water! Don't let the houses go up!"

Oh, sure, Tweed's foes will tell you that "there were houses here before the airport was built," and they'd be correct to say that. Not many, but they were there. But, knowing what we know about how dangerous aviation was in its infancy, why didn't the residents who were living out there then object to the airport even being built? They don't seem to have an answer for that.

The postwar era brought with it a massive migration from the cities to the suburbs, made possible by the interstate highway system and the shopping mall. New Haven was no exception. Families who couldn't spend money during the war (largely due to rationing) now had enough for at least a down payment, and returning soldiers were able to capitalize on the GI Bill to finance their dream homes as well. (Sidebar: Many of the houses sold during that time came with "covenants," restricting just to whom they could be sold. And while we're on the subject, how come the Independent, which likes to champion "the downtrodden," is silent regarding The Residences At The Estate's high price tag, and not decrying the lack of affordable housing?) Those who had the means were able to move to towns such as Woodbridge and Orange. Those with lesser means were limited to East Haven and the Morris Cove.

One of those who benefited from this mass exodus was Arthur Barbieri, a former ice cream salesman who found greater success in insurance and---wait for it---real estate! I don't know how many houses he sold in the Annex and Morris Cove neighborhoods, but he wound up moving out to the Annex himself. As many boomers know, Mr. Barbieri parlayed his good fortune to become the Town Chairman of New Haven's Democrat Party for many years. (Could this be why Tweed's development was stunted for decades?)

Even after Eastern Air Lines introduced jet service to New Haven in 1967, the influx of new residents continued. In the late 1970s, Raynham Hill, which sits behind the Townshend estate, was sold off for condo development. I believe it was because Henry Townshend felt the tax bills were getting to be too much. Anyone who has traveled the road leading up to the Raynham Hill Condos knows that it is impossible not to see Tweed. And yet, folks bought condos there.

Even on the East Haven side of the line, we're seeing the former Long's Florist property being developed for residences, and a developer is proposing an apartment complex right on Long Island Sound. (Attention Save The Sound!)

Given the choice between airport development and more taxable residences, the powers that be in both New Haven and East Haven have gone with the latter every time.

How sad that there will be another generation of home buyers-turned-airport opponents. Is it possible that after more than seventy years, they still don't "get it"?

What's different this time is that Avelo Airlines has a much greater frequency of service at Tweed versus past air carriers, so it is to be hoped that prospective home buyers will know beyond any and all doubt that there's an airport nearby.

Here's what I propose: All real estate closings within, oh, let's say one mile of Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport, include a document to be signed by the buyer recognizing the existence of the airport and acknowledging possible impact by the airport's operation, airside and landside. I like to think that the real estate community will cooperate in the name of transparency, but it's not a slam dunk that they will. (And who's the realtor thinking about? The buyer who's looking for a "lowball" offer to buy a house? Or the seller who's paying his commission based on the best price they can get for their home?)

It's like going after a weed; if you pull the part above the ground out, the root remains and the weed will grow back. You must go after the root. And the root in this case is the home purchase. Otherwise, you will continue to have opposition stifling airport development for years to come.

Who knows? There may be folks who move out there because the like to be next to the action.

Hey, it can happen.