West Haven Receives $250K Downtown Planning Grant From State

Written by Michael P. Walsh

WEST HAVEN, CT — The state Community Investment Fund 2030 Board on Tuesday approved a $250,000 grant for development planning in the city’s downtown Village Improvement District, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.

The board vote gives the green light for the State Bond Commission to consider the next step of approval.

Borer, who initiated the grant, said the city will use the funding to hire a consultant to conduct feasibility and market studies to support a renewed and vibrant West Haven Center.

To support the mayor’s vision for the district, the proposed project will include consulting fees, comprehensive community engagement, environmental assessments and renderings of the downtown area reimagined, Borer said.

Planning consultants hired with the funding will evaluate the district focusing on the Main Street and Campbell Avenue corridor.

“The Downtown District has been an area of focus for us, and in order to properly address significant changes, a professional plan is required,” Borer said. “This will consist of evaluating potential traffic impacts, the remediation of brownfield concerns and an overall comprehensive plan of smart development. This will allow us to be better positioned to request large-scale grants to help lift up the area.”

The mayor added, “I want to thank our entire General Assembly delegation for their unwavering support of this initiative.”

State Rep. Bill Heffernan, a Democrat representing West Haven’s 115th District, said: “I’m happy that the CIF Board has approved the request for $250,000 for the city of West Haven for the West Haven Revitalization Planning. The development planning for the West Haven Village Improvement District moves the city in the right direction.

“I want to thank Mayor Dorinda Borer for her vision for the future of West Haven. The next step for this funding is approval by the State Bond Commission.”