An abandoned 20-unit condo development on little- known Dell Drive, which borders Bishop Woods and the town of East Haven, may have a savior in a new team led by Chris Vigilante.
Vigilante, owner of Christopher Martin’s restaurant on State Street, came before the City Plan Commission Wednesday night seeking minor changes in rules governing the property in order to turn it into 20 units of marketable housing for first-time home buyers.
He got the permission he needed, with a condition.
The site, originally developed for 20 units of age-55-and-over housing some seven years ago, was abandoned with one unit complete and four foundations.
Currently the forest is making its move on the built environment.
The changes Vigilante’s plan proposes would see basements added, a bedroom shifted upstairs from down, but no change in density. Because the property has a special zoning designation known as a planned development unit (PDU), the law requires a City Plan appearance for a developer to change plans.
The commissioners seemed amenable. But there was a slight hitch: a letter from New Haven State Rep. Robert Megna asking for the item to be tabled so the community can review the plans.
City Plan Executive Director Karyn Gilvarg had described the history of the 110 Dell Drive project as “tortured.” Vigilante said he did not know the specific reason behind Megna’s letter.
In a phone interview the following day, Megna said a constituent had called him with rumors that changes were afoot. Not even knowing what they were, Megna said, he shot off a letter to City Plan for tabling because there was a long chronicle of concern among Dell Drive neighbors.
The development was originally designed for people 55 and older. That was OK with Dell Drive residents. That restriction was suddenly removed. That disturbed neighbors, Megna said. They were agreeable to older people — fewer drivers to contend with the small street and entering and leaving Route 80. Removing the restriction meant more cars.
As it turned out, the no-longer-age-restricted units failed to sell. The Housing Authority of New Haven considered buying them to fulfill its scattered-site housing requirements.
Megna said the community did not want that. The deal with HANH, which Megna described as a bad landlord, fell through. Neighbors felt increasingly ignored. “Given the history,” Megna said, “I was concerned that changes were being requested again.”
Back to Wednesday night’s City Plan meeting: Vigilante agreed to a community meeting. “We’re doing a positive thing,” he said.
However, he also needed the commissioners’ approval Wednesday night to keep the deal moving forward.
“So there is time pressure?” asked Commission Chair Ed Mattison.
“Yes,” Vigilante replied, “it would be difficult.”
So the commissioners approved the changes and the new plan, on the condition that Vigilante meet with the community before he closes with the bank.
A Positive Side to the Foreclosure Crisis?
Two months ago, Vigilante said that the bank that holds the note on 110 Dell Drive had called him to say the debtors can no longer pay. “You want to buy?” the bank’s representative asked.
Vigilante did not want to identify the bank. He said it was Connecticut-based institution and that he is a customer there.
Before the property went into foreclosure, he seized the opportunity and assembled a team to make a go of property that he described as having languished for years.
With the changes, he said, he hopes to build houses for first-time buyers and sell them from anywhere between $200,000 and $250,000
Megna said that homeowners on Dell Drive can’t sell their houses for that amount. However, if the changes in the project were indeed minor, he said, he believes the neighbors will assent.