After a neighborhood meeting Tuesday night, activists in Beaver Hills are guardedly optimistic that Southern Connecticut State University is listening to their concerns about Southern’s proposed construction of a parking garage, but they also plan to keep all their options open as the process moves forward.
Beaver Hills Alderwoman Babz Rawls-Ivy (at left in photo, alongside park organizer Nan Bartow) convened a meeting at the Whalley Avenue police substation, at which almost two dozen residents heard the latest information and planned strategy. Most are members of the Friends of Beaver Pond Park, which abuts Southern’s campus. Over the past few years they have cleaned up and beautified the park, and they’re opposed to construction of a parking garage in close proximity to the pond that is the park’s heart and namesake.
Rhoda Zahler, who as a city official for a quarter century was often on the other side of the table from concerned or angry community activists, is now retired and is a concerned neighborhood activist herself. She feared that the university’s claim that the project is not finalized may evolve into a final plan without significant community input.
“We’ve been talking to them for a year. It seems the only thing that might make a difference is a public protest,” she said.
When Rawls-Ivy said she doubted that residents would stand with protest signs at the edge of the campus, Zahler said, “I will.”
Zahler acknowledged the validity of the issue. “We support their need for additional parking,” she said, “and we think it’s possible to find a site that will meet their needs but not impede the traffic flow or the viability of the park.”
SCSU spokesman Patrick Dilger said in a phone interview that the university is conducting a study to determine the best place for the new 600-car parking garage, adding, “In all of this we are trying to be sensitive to the needs of the neighbors and certainly to the environment. In all our planning, that’s a prime consideration.”
Karyn Gilvarg, executive director of the City Plan Department, attended the meeting. She is one of four high-level city employees charged by Mayor John DeStefano with improving town-gown relations with Southern. She said the mayor shares the group’s concerns, but since Southern is a state institution, the city has no direct leverage over the siting of buildings on campus.
Alderwoman Rawls-Ivy, who convened the meeting, is optimistic that a resolution can be found. “It’s a long process, but I think the university understands that this is a united, committed neighborhood where people really care about traffic and environmental issues.” She added, “I think they [the university administration] care too, but I think we might care more because, you know, we live here.” She said she has found Southern’s new president, Cheryl Norton, willing to listen to neighbors’ concerns.
As for next steps, Gilvarg said she will find out when the draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed garage is due to come out, which will provide an opportunity for public comment. And Rawls-Ivy will draft a letter to Norton asking specific questions about what alternatives the university is considering for siting the parking garage and the timing for the various steps along the way.