NewHavenBIZ

36 n e w h a v e n B I Z | M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 1 9 n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m W H AT ' S T H E D E A L For this deal, the new owner was dying to get in T H E L O O P 450 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT • (203) 469-9010 • AnthonysOceanView.com Not Your Ordinary Corporate Event F I N E C A T E R I N G By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo F or any real estate agent, selling a funeral home can pose a unique challenge — aer all, superstitious potential buyers might be spooked by the building's past. However, Kristin Geenty, Re- altor and president of the Geenty Group in Branford, on Feb. 8 sold 493-501 Whitney Ave. in New Haven, which includes the former Hawley Lincoln Funeral Home and a multi-family residence. e property's past didn't scare away the new owner, a local chiropractor. "It was a long process," Geenty said. "Some people are very super- stitious, and I suspect there were people we didn't hear from because of it." e funeral home building is nearly 5,000 square feet, whie the accompanying multi-family house measures 3,574 square feet. Both were built circa 1902, according to the original listing. In spite of its history as a funeral home, Geenty says it is a beautiful structure. "It is a very warm and inviting place — it just looks like a big house," she says. roughout its time on the market the funeral home was still operating. "We never showed it when they had a 'guest' or imme- diately before or aer a 'party,'" Geenty says. New Haven chiropractor Francine Freeman bought both buildings, and she plans to use the former funeral home facility for her practice. e additional house will remain an investment property. Freeman already obtained zoning approval from the city to use the facility for a medical office instead of a funeral home. "I think Francine's practice will be a great addition to the neigh- borhood," Geenty says. Freeman said she isn't fazed by the funeral home's past use or any specter of hauntings. "Everyone wants to know if I'm concerned about ghosts, but the building has a peaceful feeling," Freeman says. "It doesn't have a spooky feeling at all — it has a good energy." Initially, Freeman wanted to purchase only the funeral home, but she says the accompanying house is connected to key additional parking. Freeman expects to move from her current location on Court Street by June, possibly earlier. She is doing some cosmetic updating to the former funeral home, including taking down old wallpaper and removing carpeting. ere will be painting and repair work too, she says. A large room on the second floor is slated for use as a yoga studio, Freeman adds. "We want it to be a whole health and wellness center," she says. "It is going to be a really special place." Freeman is still investigating her options for the adjoining house which was part of the purchase. Hawley Lincoln had owned the property for more than six decades, since 1956. Going forward, the fu- neral home business will operate out

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