Paul Bass Photo
Malloy (at right): No deal. Nemerson (center): Yes deal.
The state will finally build a second parking garage at Union Station — but not if New Haven insists it include retail shops and a bus depot.
So declared Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday.
Malloy made the declaration during a press conference at Union Station about new Metro-North bike racks and a new smartphone app.
The declaration was the latest twist in a tale of remarkable government inaction that goes back two decades.
Since the 1990s, New Haven has clamored for a second garage at Union Station to ease the parking crunch for commuters who have to hunt for spaces elsewhere if they don’t arrive extra early in the morning. Political fighting between a former Democratic New Haven mayor and a former Republican governor held up that project year after year after year.
Then Democrat Malloy got elected. He still didn’t get along with the old mayor. But he did get along with the next mayor, Toni Harp. He put the plan on track. Money was approved. Plans were drawn up for a $40-$60 million, 1,000-space, seven-level garage to be constructed on a current 260-space surface lot next to a perpetually full existing garage.
And then … Harp’s City Hall officials and community activists who on other occasions argue with each other united to demand the state change the plans. They complained the design flew in the face of modern urban design as well as the concept of “transit-oriented development.” At a public hearing and in subsequent comments to the state Department of Transportation, opponents called for the new garage to include better bike storage facilities, first-floor retail, preservation of trees, a pedestrian bridge to Long Wharf, and a depot to replace the Green as the main switching point for CT Transit buses.
Ain’t happening, Malloy bluntly announced when asked about it Thursday.
And he’s tired of hearing about it.
He told New Haven to put up or shut up: Accept the design, or lose out on a new garage.
“We’re trying to build a garage. This is not intended to be an economic development effort,” Malloy said.
That effort will take place across the street with the Church Street South housing development is rebuilt into a mixed-use, mixed-income complex, he said.
Malloy used the word “frustrated” several times.
“I’m expressing frustration with the process,” he said.
“At some point you get frustrated over the project. … What we’ve agreed on is to build a parking facility. What we’re being asked is to build a lot of other things besides that,” he said.
He also used the term “economic development” several times. As an epithet.
“We don’t see this is an ‘economic development’ project,” he said.
State DOT’s design for the new garage.
Standing behind the governor, listening to the remarks with interest, was Matthew Nemerson. He serves as the Harp administration’s economic development chief. He has led the charge for a garage redesign into one that promotes transit-oriented economic development at a gateway to the city.
Nemerson didn’t speak at the event. Afterwards, he was asked for his reaction to Malloy’s comments.
In diplomatic terms, he insisted the prospect of a redesign is not dead yet.
DOT Commissioner James Redeker wheels his Odyssey into Union Station for Thursday’s press conference.
“We are already working at the level below the commissioner and below the mayor — me — to try to figure out how we can accomplish the things that we’re trying to accomplish and they can accomplish what they’re trying to accomplish,” Nemerson said. “There are smart and reasonable people around the table. There are a lot of conversations going on.”
A community meeting is taking place Thursday night in Trowbridge Square, where activists and local officials plan to renew the call for a garage redesign.