Ex-Factory Tax Break, Redev Plan OK’d

Alders approved a 17-year tax abatement for dozens of planned new income-restricted apartments in Science Park — along with a rezoning plan that could allow for even more places to live, shop, and conduct research at the former Winchester factory site.

Local legislators voted during the latest full Board of Alders meeting in City Hall Tuesday night to approve two taxation and zoning requests put forward by the developers of the Science Park Planned Development District. 

That’s a slate of specially zoned properties based around the former Winchester Arms Factory that private companies have been looking to repurpose since the 1980s. 

Read in detail about both of those now-approved proposals here and here.

The first piece of legislation OK’d by the alders on Tuesday granted a tax abatement agreement that fixes property taxes for the 57​“affordable” apartments at the planned 238-unit Winchester Green complex at $450 per unit per year — with a 3 percent annual increase — over the next 17 years. That complex is slated to be built by a Science Park redevelopment team made up of the New York City-based Twining Properties and the Larchmont, N.Y.-based L&M Development Partners.

The alders also voted unanimously to expand the footprint and update the zoning rules of the planned development district that encompasses the Winchester Green apartments to include a Munson Street surface parking lot, allow for the demolition of the former Winchester Factory buildings on the corner of Munson and Mansfield Streets, and permit potential biotech development along Munson Street and residential and retail use at the corner of Division Street and Winchester Ave.

East Rock Alder Anna Festa was the sole representative to vote against the tax abatement. The final roll call vote was 20 to 1 in support of the tax abatement agreement.

“I cannot support $450 per unit,” she said, until an explanation regarding how that precise figure was reached. ​“There’s no equation, nothing… No one has answers” to how the city calculates a just tax abatement, she said.

“Our taxpayers deserve better,” she said. Too many of New Haven’s properties are already tax-exempt, she said, and there’s ​“no guarantee these apartments will go to New Haven residents.”

Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison and Westville Alder Adam Marchand disagreed.

“Housing is one of the biggest issues countrywide,” Morrison said. ​“When it comes to affordable housing, we as a board have a responsibility. Doing our part is ensuring we use our tax dollars in a way that’s gonna help all people.”

Marchand, who is also the chair of the alders’ Finance Committee, said that given that the developers had pledged to set aside 20 percent of the new apartments at an average of 50 percent of the area median income (AMI), ​“we are getting a significant number of very affordable units.”

“There’s many reasons why city participation in this project is important,” he said. 

“Folks who’ve been able to see this area over the years are seeing a slow but sure transformation from an industrial site to a busy area,” he said.

In addition to establishing more housing opportunities, Marchand argued that ​“this project is gonna contribute significantly to the transformation of a former no man’s land” to a ​“vibrant,” mixed-use center.

The board also unanimously approved the developers’ request to alter the boundaries and rules of their current PDD. 

Marchand, who also serves on the City Plan Commission, noted that while he maintains certain concerns regarding the locating of a potential biotech laboratory amid extant residencies (read more about that here), site plan considerations will be dealt with later on down the line by other land-use bodies.

“My concern is assuaged,” he announced.

Following their review of the Science Park planned development district, the alders also voted unanimously in favor of another redistricting endeavor to allow a second tentative housing project on the East Shore.

Chuck and Marcella Mascola were granted the right to rezone the historic Townshend home into a ​“special heritage mixed use zoning district.” Read about what that means here and how it will suit the Mascolas’ overarching plans to build 50 single-family homes on the estate branching out along Townsend Avenue.