Tech Philanthropist Buys Union League Building

A local tech CEO and ascendant ​“patron of downtown New Haven” plans to undertake a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Union League Cafe’s historic home — after buying the Chapel Street property from Yale for more than $4.3 million.

According to a Feb. 2 filing on the city’s land records database, Yale University sold the Union League building, 1032 Chapel St., to 1032 Chapel Street LLC for $4,325,492.

The university has owned the four-story retail and office building — also known as the Roger Sherman House, and home to the celebrated three-decade-old French restaurant, the Union League Cafe — since 2004. 

The city’s tax assessor last appraised the property and an adjoining slice of vacant land with the same address as worth a combined sum of $2,125,800.

The new owner of 1032 Chapel St. is a holding company controlled by Alexander Clark, the founder and CEO of Technolutions, a college admissions tech company headquartered on Church Street.

The university is usually an avid buyer, and infrequent seller, of downtown real estate. Asked why it disposed of this property, Yale Associate Vice President for New Haven Affairs and University Properties Alexandra Daum responded that Clark, a 2004 Yale grad, is ​“a significant supporter and patron of downtown New Haven.”

In 2019, Clark and his wife Jennifer donated $1.5 million to the Shubert Theatre. Earlier this year, he gave $250,000 to Elm Shakespeare Company. In 2021, he spent $2.8 million to buy the home of another downtown fine-dining staple, ZINC, and then bought the ZINC restaurant business itself in May 2022. Clark’s name also now adorns the main outdoor stage for the International Festival of Arts & Ideas as well as that of the annual Edgerton Park-based ​“playhouse” for Elm Shakespeare.

“Clark plans to continue to operate the award-winning Union League Café while elevating both the property and restaurant to new heights, further contributing to a strong and vibrant New Haven,” Daum said about the 1032 Chapel sale.

In a separate email comment, Clark — whom this awestruck Chronicle of Higher Education profile described as a higher ed ​“Wizard of Oz” and as sometimes looking like ​“a young Beethoven on Red Bull” — embraced his commitment to investing in New Haven. 

He called himself ​“an active and enthusiastic supporter of New Haven and its vibrant culture.” He said he believes ​“that New Haven is the greatest small city in America, and with the right investments and philanthropic support, we can all help make New Haven an even more exciting place to live, work, and play.”

As for 1032 Chapel, Clark celebrated the property’s history as the homestead of Roger Sherman, New Haven’s first mayor and the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. He recognized Union League Cafe as ​“the site of many significant milestones in our community, from birthdays and engagements to weddings and anniversaries to business dinners and holidays with family and friends.” In addition to buying the Union League Cafe building in February, Clark said he bought the Union League Cafe restaurant in October 2023.

Now that he owns the 1032 Chapel property, Clark continued, ​“we’ll thoughtfully undertake a multimillion-dollar preservation and renovation of the historic Roger Sherman House and continue to elevate the experience and 30-year legacy of Union League Cafe.”

Clark said his restaurant group is led by David Mancini, the former managing director of a Michelin-starred New York restaurant called Le Bernardin. He said Oliver Durand ​“returned to Union League Cafe as our new Executive Chef, and we’re excited to work with the incredible team at Union League that have led it to win countless awards throughout its history.”

“The changes will be intentionally gradual,” Clark concluded about his plans for 1032 Chapel, ​“honoring the past while ushering in a new era of hospitality and fine dining in New Haven.”