NewHavenBIZ

n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | M a r c h 2 0 2 3 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 27 By Hanna Snyder Gambini N ew Haven city officials are moving forward with efforts to revitalize the Dixwell Avenue corridor with a recent vote to acquire four key properties for redevelopment. e city Board of Alders in early February unanimously approved a proposal to acquire 262, 263, 265, and 269 Dixwell Ave. from Ocean Man- agement company affiliates using $1.3 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, city officials said. e next step is for the city to close on the deal. Among the properties is the famed former Monterey Club at 265 Dixwell, "a neighborhood landmark that drew jazz greats Duke Ellington, Ella Fitz- gerald, Nat King Cole, John Coltrane, Charles Parker, Billie Holiday, and oth- ers to New Haven," city officials said. e properties include two occupied multi-family homes and two vacant mixed-use residential-commercial buildings. In January, when announcing the intent to secure the properties, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker was joined by New Haven Livable City Initiative Executive Director Arlevia Samuel, Dixwell neighborhood community leaders and local jazz aficionados highlighting the larger revitalization effort of this key neighborhood corri- dor on Dixwell Avenue. Once the properties are acquired, the city will host a community input forum to help determine how the city will redevelop the property, which also includes a former deli. e city will work with a neighbor- hood partner on the housing units and to convey the properties for them to redevelop, city officials said. is initiative is a key piece of the city's investment in the larger Dixwell Avenue vision, which includes the new Dixwell Community "Q" House, Con- nCAT Place at Dixwell, and 70 new affordable housing units under con- struction at 340 Dixwell by the Beulah Land Development Corporation. e "Q" House, originally estab- lished in 1924 and revitalized in 2021, served as a center for the historic Black community in the Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods for gen- erations, providing community-based services for residents of all ages, according to its website. e new Q House includes the Cor- nell Scott-Hill Health Center, the Stet- son branch of the New Haven Public Library, and the Dixwell/Newhallville Senior Center, in addition to spaces managed by Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership, Inc. (LEAP). In January, ConnCORP officials announced a $10-million allocation from the state Bond Commission to replace a shopping plaza with a mixed-use development with hous- ing, commercial, entertainment and cultural centers on Dixwell corridor properties. ConnCORP CEO Erik Clemons said Dixwell and Newhallville sec- tions of New Haven are neglected parts of the city that need aggressive redevelopment plans. v B u y e r s & S e l l e r s W h a t ' s T h e D e a l New Haven secures key Dixwell Avenue properties eyed for redevelopment 263 Dixwell Ave., New Haven. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Manufacturing eyed for former Miller Co. plant e owners of the former Miller Company property in Meriden are looking to open a new manufacturing operation. e property at 99 Center St. and 275 Pratt St., Meriden, was purchased by Jin CT 275 and principal Liangdong Jin, with business addresses in Stamford and Flushing, N.Y., from e Miller Company for $4.8 million in a deal recorded Jan. 27, according to city land records. e former metals factory, which dates back to the mid 1880s, produced metals such as copper and brass, manufactured lamps, and was a major employer for the city and surrounding towns for decades. It closed permanently in September 2021. Meriden Economic Development Director Joseph Feest said he and other city officials have been in continuing talks with Jin CT 275 officials who have expressed their intent to open a manufacturing operation on the site. e building, roughly 177,000 square feet, sits on nearly 20 acres in the city's industrial area and "is an excellent location for manufacturing use," Feest said. e exact use is not yet known, but it will be something permissible within that industrial zone, Feest said. e company will still need to gain approval for building permits along with any upgrades planned for the property. Feest said city officials are optimistic about the new prospects for the site. "It's always a good thing when we bring back manufacturing. We're hoping to have some jobs come out of this, some employment opportunities, and an economic development boost" that will help the community, Feest said. 275 Pratt St., Meriden. PHOTO | COSTAR N.Y.-based bakery opening North Haven site A New York-based bakery has pur- chased a warehouse in North Haven for $5.1 million. Betsy Henley-Cohn, principal of 424 Chapel St. LLC, sold property at 50 Devine St., North Haven, to Devine Realty LLC and principals Peter An- dolino and Michael Sparrazza in a deal recorded Feb. 2. e two are affiliated with A&M Bronx Bakery, headquartered in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., which "specializes in traditional, contemporary and custom breads since 1945," and has clients such as Key Foods and ShopRite, according to the company website. e 5.6-acre property features an office building and a warehouse, and is zoned industrial. e property has a total appraised value of $2.1 million. 50 Devine St., North Haven. PHOTO | COSTAR New car wash planned in Wallingford A new, modern car wash will soon sit along the busy commercial stretch of Route 5, Wallingford. Gerald Gallo of 654 North Colony Development LLC bought a 1.5-acre site at 654 North Colony Road from 654 North Colony LLC and principals Brian and Bruce Bennett for $1.5 million. Dating back to 1900, the main build- ing on the property has 6,600 square feet of commercial space. e property was sold as a redevelop- ment site, and the new owners plan to build a new car wash there, according to Toby Brimberg of Rocky Hill-based O,R&L Commercial, who represented the sellers and the buyers in the deal. e previous business owned by Bruce Bennett at 654 North Colony Road specialized in coating, caulking, and weather, water and fireproofing since 1987. e property has a total appraised value of $516,000. n 654 North Colony Road, Wallingford. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED

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