NewHavenBIZ

16 n e w h a v e n B I Z | O c t o b e r 2 0 2 1 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m H e won't take a stand on which city makes the best pizza, but New York developer Darren Seid is a big fan of New Haven. "I see a lot of promise," Seid said of the city, describing it as ideal for new residential projects due to its universities, transportation network and vibrant biotech industry. With New Yorkers continuing to migrate north, he added, "I don't see how someone doesn't move to New Haven." Seid has high hopes that new arrivals to the Elm City will consider his brand-new Olive & Wooster apartment development, slated to welcome its first tenants in November. e 299-unit project near the heart of the Wooster Square neighborhood offers luxury rentals ranging from studios starting at about $1,900 a month to four-bedroom apartments starting at $5,700 a month. Online marketing for the complex is in full swing, with ads featuring Residential development boom set to transform New Haven's Wooster Square Urban Renewal By Liese Klein attractive young people scarfing pizza. "At #OliveandWooster you'll be located in the heart of Little Italy with all of your foodie needs close to home," reads one promotional post. As of late September, Seid was lining up businesses for about 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space at the complex and is heartened by the strong interest from potential tenants. His company, Epimoni Corp., built Olive & Wooster with a New York-based partner, Adam America. "I could not have picked a better location," Seid said. "With the charm and the beauty and history of the Wooster Square neighborhood, I could not be more excited about that project and where we fit into the community." Little Italy building boom ose venturing to New Haven's Wooster Square pizza hub in recent months have noticed the extensive construction at the neighborhood's gateway along Olive Street. Hard hats are swarming to complete Seid's Olive and Wooster project, along with another luxury development just around the corner on Chapel Street. "It's become a very popular place to live," said Carlos Eyzaguirre, deputy economic development administrator for the city of New Haven. A former resident of the area, Eyzaguirre has seen Wooster Square transform over the decades from slightly rundown to a magnet for both renters and buyers. Upcoming development in the area includes e Whit, a set of luxury buildings at 630 Chapel near Seid's complex. Set to be completed soon aer Olive & Wooster, the 230-unit rental project is being developed by Hines, a Houston-based firm. Farther down Olive Street, a 31-unit complex is taking shape on the lot once occupied by the Tobin & Melien law firm. at historic structure will remain and anchor an L-shaped residential project set back on the street. On the commercial front, workers have broken ground on a state-of-the- art distribution center at 50 Ives Pl., on the far side of Wooster Square at the site of a former chemical factory. Due to its past, the 4.4-acre property was best suited for another industrial use, Eyzaguirre said. e new structure will feature trees and an attractive design. Retail-wise, outdoor dining structures erected at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic have proven to be a boon to the neighborhood's pizza and other Italian restaurants, drawing new fans even as social media has made New Haven a foodie destination. Under new ownership as of 2018, Sally's Apizza erected a huge outdoor dining structure that is hopping on warm weekends. e restaurant has also launched a statewide expansion plan, with a 4,000-square-foot location set for Stamford and plans afoot for a Greater Hartford Sally's. New businesses have also been drawn to Wooster Square: Albanian immigrants trained in Naples opened Zeneli Pizzeria e cucina Napoletana in 2019 and have built an outdoor dining area right on Wooster Street. Entrepreneur Chidi Onukwugha launched Kaiyden's coffee shop at 595 Chapel St. in late September, drawn by Wooster Square's beauty and history. "I truly feel connected and I feel very welcome," Onukwugha said. His neighbor on Chapel Street, architect Ben Ledbetter, moved to Wooster Square in April aer years downtown. He said he loves not only the architectural landmarks that dot the neighborhood but the convenient parking for his business. History of diversity Although now known mostly for its Italian enclave, Wooster Darren Seid The new Olive & Wooster rental apartment complex in Wooster Square is slated to welcome tenants as soon as next month. PHOTOS | LIESE KLEIN

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