Mill River

Fed Gun Strategy Goes On Trial

by | Jan 10, 2020 2:51 pm | Comments (29)

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Jamie Middlebrook: Guilty on two charges, not guilty on a third.

In prosecutors’ telling, Jamie Middlebrook was a hardened crack dealer who carried a semi-automatic in his jacket pocket, ready to blast anyone on Grand Avenue after his stash. He’d rather be judged by 12 jurors, he said, than carried by six pallbearers.

The evidence from a three-day trial this week, where Middlebrook faced federal gun and drug charges, suggested that the 20-year-old defendant was more small fry than big fish.

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“Mill River Crossing” Signs Up

by | Dec 15, 2019 9:19 pm | Comments (1)

Laurentano Sign Group

Rendering for the sign.

The housing authority’s old Farnam Courts at Grand Avenue and Franklin Street — now the unfolding new Mill River Crossing development —is about to get a spiffy new sign.

The four-part grouped column, standing about ten feet high with a design of a meandering blue sash running through it — think Mill River — will not only let people know where the 13 buildings of the complex are when complete. It will also help to brand the new enclave and the neighborhood.

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Chapel Developer Lashes Out

by | Dec 13, 2019 8:58 am | Comments (10)

Thomas Breen File Photo

Chapman with a proposed design for 433 Chapel St.

Thomas Breen Photo

The still-vacant building years after deal.

Peter Chapman came out swinging.

He said the city stonewalled” and obstructed” his planned factory conversion — and now seeks to extract” $350,000 before he can proceed.

City officials swung back, accusing Chapman of leaving his property derelict for years, then of negotiating in public after reneging on a sweetheart deal.

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God Advances. Art Falters

by | Nov 15, 2019 1:28 pm | Comments (2)

Allan Appel Photo

438 East St., future home of the 180 Center Corp church.

An application to turn a long vacant industrial building on East Street into a church and refuge for those struggling with addiction won approval for zoning commissioners this week.

At the same time a plan to convert an old garage on Lombard Street in Fair Haven into a community arts and crafts center stumbled.

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River Trail’s 2nd Leg Comes Into Focus

by | Nov 11, 2019 5:00 pm | Comments (5)

Allan Appel Photo

Save The Sound’s Nicole Davis at site of future green pocket park, Haven and Exchange streets.

So long to the ziggurat of discarded tires and the dumped detritus of a section of abandoned street that pours dirty storm water into our harbor and Long Island sound

Hello to a beautiful pocket park full of green infrastructure, a pollinator garden, and lots of kids playing in it, having fun, and learning science.

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Gentrification Fears Stall Rezoning Quest

by | Sep 19, 2019 8:03 am | Comments (31)

Thomas Breen photos

Skeptics testify: Ming-Yee Lin, Jayuan Carter, LTania Wiles (top row); Alexander Kolokotronis, Lillie Chambers, Patricia Kane (middle row); Mona Berman, Melissa Singleton, Johnny Shively.

Nearly two dozen critics of gentrification, market-rate housing, Yale expansion, and city-led planning initiatives stalled a rezoning project designed to rekindle commercial development along portions of Dixwell Avenue, Whalley Avenue, and Grand Avenue.

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New Director Pitches Improved Shelter

by | Sep 18, 2019 3:54 pm | Comments (4)

Thomas Breen photos

Aaron Haley (above) of Grand Ave. shelter (below).

The new director of the Grand Avenue homeless shelter has grand ambitions for the oft-maligned social service space: a full interior and exterior building rehab, better connections to permanent housing and jobs, and an expanded footprint with a new program space and full laundry room.

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Mill River Office Building Sold For $4.65M

by | Sep 17, 2019 8:16 pm | Comments (8)

Thomas Breen photos

414 Chapel St.

Builder Mendy Paris with attorney Ben Trachten.

Local builders purchased a Mill River office building for $4.65 million and plan to hold off converting it to market-rate apartments until they’re convinced the neighborhood warrants the investment.

Among other land transactions, a sale has been completed of the Lesley Roy studio in Westville Village, where an agency aimed at foster children plans to take over.

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Promise: Rezoning Won’t Zone People Out

by | Jul 29, 2019 3:28 pm | Comments (34)

Thomas Breen photo

LCI Executive Director Serena Neal-Sanjurjo and City Plan Director Aicha Woods.

Allan Appel Photo

Grand Avenue as it points towards downtown.

City officials promised to examine the potential impact that a rezoning project might have on low-income black and brown communities as they move forward with longstanding retail revitalization plans for Dixwell, Whalley, and Grand Avenues.

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Homeless Youth Quest Prevails

by | Jun 20, 2019 8:23 am | Comments (41)

Brooks and Dickinson photo and rendering / Thomas Breen photo

924 Grand Ave. before and after the proposed Y2Y buildout. Below: Y2Y supporters at Wednesday’s meeting.

A temporary housing facility for homeless youth won approval — and dodged a potentially contentious future public hearing — in its bid to build a 12 to 20-bed rooming house atop a single-story social services building on Grand Avenue.

The operative phrase is rooming house.” Not shelter.”

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Vegas-Style Strip Club Pitched For Mill River

by | May 15, 2019 8:06 am | Comments (13)

Thomas Breen photo

Peter Forchetti pitching plan Tuesday night: Planet Venus will bring a little Las Vegas to the Elm City. Below: Vegas strip club.

The owner of a soon-to-close Mill River strip club is looking to open a Las Vegas-style” entertainment complex just around the corner that will include a restaurant, a speakeasy-themed bar, and a live performance venue for comedians, magicians, and dancing topless women.

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