Elks Detail Planned Move Up Dixwell

Noise and parking.

Those were the two main issues in a lively, sometimes heated, community meeting at the Q House about the Elks Club’s planned new Dixwell Avenue home.

Hosted by Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison and Newhallville/Dixwell/Prospect Hill Alder Troy Streater, the occasion was a community conversation on Wednesday night about the move of the Elks Lodge to a former church building at 329 Dixwell Ave. 

While it became apparent that a move-in date is not in the offing, the aim was to afford neighbors the opportunity to learn about plans for the building from the leadership of the historic Dixwell African American institution, as well as the site’s chief architect.

The other takeaway: the positive influence in the community by Elks’ East Rock Lodge #141 which, as part of the African American Elks — created when denied membership by the white Elks — has ​“provided its neighbors with financial, spiritual, emotional support, and other types of help as needed” since 1907.

In 2019, the Elks sold their former home at 87 Webster St. for $900,000 to ConnCORP as part of that local redevelopment agency’s plans to build up Dixwell Plaza.

In May 2021, city planners supported the Elks Club’s bid to purchase vacant city-owned land at 71 and 75 County St. Then, in October, the single-story church building on Dixwell Ave. near Munson Street became available. 

“Given our history and our mission, we opted to remain in the Dixwell area on Dixwell Avenue,” Exalted Ruler Gary Hogan, a third generation Elk, told the audience of 75 attendees, of the Elks Club’s purchase of Freedom Temple Holiness Church Inc. for $180,000.

“We’re here to build a facility that will serve the Dixwell neighborhood by providing a space for events, youth programs, and other community activities,” he said.

Daughter Ruler Arlice Brogdon, Pocohontas Temple, No. 55, head of the Elks’ women’s auxiliary, expanded on the programming offered by the group.

In addition to a Beauty and Talent program to train girls for pageants, the Elks will be adopting several senior housing facilities in the area. There’s also, she said, ​“our youth team, our civil liberties team, mentoring,” as well as other community-focused events, like an Easter Egg hunt, a back-to-school drive, and food and clothing giveaways.

“Our job is to serve the community,” she said.

With that, Hogan introduced lead design architect Dwayne Dancy of the Isoparm Design Group out of Brooklyn, N.Y.

“We thought it was important that the Elks hire someone who looks like us, was educated in New Haven, and has come back to New Haven to help build a community,” Hogan said. 

“All the consultants, engineers, architects working on the projects will be from here,” said Dancy, who has degrees in architecture from Howard University and Columbia. ​“They’ll all come from the same cloth so they can pretty much understand what the situation is.”

He said the facility will include a new banquet facility available for rent, a commercial kitchen, and meeting rooms. The plan is to build on one level, a nod to the greying membership.

“The building is spread along two different zones,” a commercial zone along Dixwell and a residential zone on Munson Street, Dancy said, in the midst of a slide show. ​“That makes design tricky, so the plan is to put the louder uses [like the banquet facility] on the commercial side.” 

Given the proximity of the residential street, noise is a primary concern. 

“Obviously, we could barricade the building with big walls, but that might become a surface for tagging,” he said. 

A more viable solution is to use trees around the site.

“Coniferous trees are perfect for blocking sound, and also perfect for letting light in,” he said.

Hogan agreed. ​“The first thing I asked Dwayne to do is to build a structure with internal soundproofing, with trees as a secondary line of defense.” 

Another issue was the parking lot, which will be in the back of the building, and opens onto Munson Street.

Munson Street resident Bridget Draughn, upon learning the space could accommodate 125 people, said the 26 parking spots currently allotted would not be enough and would overflow onto Munson, a one-way street with parking on one side.

“We’ve been going back and forth with the city to fit more spaces, so we’re going to have to figure that out,” Hogan said.

Alder Morrison said she is working with the city to get Munson residentially zoned. That will mean, she said, ​“the only way you can park there is if you have a pass in your car, and everyone else will be parking at their own risk.”

Germano Kimbro, while applauding the Elks for ​“trying to be part of the solution,” asked whether solar panels would be used. 

Hogan said they would. ​“This is part of our larger purpose to build a facility that is sustainable,” he said. ​“I don’t know where other facilities in the state will be in five to ten years, but I know East Rock Lodge with your blessings will be here for the next generation of Elks to grow old here in New Haven.” 

Asked about the involvement of local labor in building the lodge, Hogan said many of the members have recommended ​“a Black build. We will do our best.” 

To a question about how the Elks could do more for the young people at risk in the community, Hogan asked Elks members in the audience to stand up. ​“We can offer mentorships, scholarships, and brotherhood, but we can’t help you with that until you come through our doors,” he said.

Alder Morrison sounded a similar refrain.

“The Elks are coming to Ward 22, and they’re going to offer programming,” she said. ​“The Q House is going to offer programming, and as we all come together, hopefully we will save someone’s life.”

“There are no guarantees,” she went on. ​“The reality is we’re here today to talk about how we can live together harmoniously, and that’s all we can do.”