Paul Bass Photo
Started young, still painting: Matt Bleythings and Robert Picagli at work site Wednesday.
In their fathers’ footsteps, Robert Picagli and Matt Bleything picked up the tools to prepare a century-plus-old Dwight building to house new generations of renters.
The two were among the painters on site Wednesday preparing to spray fresh coats on the interior of a three-story, seven-apartment building at 58 – 60 Kensington St. at the corner of Edgewood.
They were the latest crew working on the building as part of a larger housing rehab effort: Phase 2 of the upgrading of the Kensington Square Apartments scattered throughout Dwight. The Community Builders (TCB), owner of the 216-apartment federally subsidized low-income development, is in the process of renovating a total of 96 units in 19 buildings as part of Phase 2 on Kensington, Orchard, Garden, Chapel, and Beers streets. The historic renovation-focused work includes structural work, facade and stairs and railing restoration, roof replacements, asbestos abatement, and all new bathrooms and kitchens and floors; TCB is temporarily relocating tenants as each building gets its turn. (Read more about that here.)
New Haven-based Oliver Painting & Construction is handling the painting phase. On Wednesday morning, Bleything (pictured) was cleaning the filter of the paint sprayer before he and Picagli began applying one of three planned coats on the walls at 58 – 60 Kensington.
Matt’s father Wesley Oliver began working painting and construction in D.C. in 1976. He came to New Haven and opened Oliver Painting & Construction in 2001, working on jobs including Yale’s Payne Whitney Gymnasium and Timothy Dwight College dorms and master’s house. Matt began working with his father on jobs at 12 years old. He is now the company’s assistant construction manager.
Paul Bass Photo
Picagli, (pictured) too, was born in a painting family: His grandfather Dominick worked as a stone mason in New Haven in addition to painting. His father Robert started his own company, B&R Paint Restoration. Growing up on Lloyd Street in Fair Haven, then Lenox Street in Fair Haven Heights, son Robert was working with his father Robert on jobs on weekends by the time he turned 10, he said. They, too, worked on Yale jobs, as well as on churches including St. Mary’s.
When work slowed down, B&R closed its doors. Robert kept painting. Forty years later, he’s with Oliver.
The secret to doing the job well?
“Being neat. Make sure that your work is quality work,” he said during a conversation on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.
While some of the technology has changed — along with the paint, from oil-based to acrylic, Picagli still uses this hook knife. He calls it a “5‑in‑1” tool for its five functions: He uses it to scrape rollers to clean the pads, scrape walls, pull nails, open cans, putty holes. You can also “use it for target practice on a tree,” he quipped.
Over four decades, Picagli has gotten to know the city where he grew up and still works. He knew that 58 – 60 Kensington has an unfortunate, history, for instance: two Crips members shot at the front porch there in 2012 and struck a 16-month-old baby in the back, through his chest, fracturing his pelvis.
Robert turned 60 on Sunday. He said he has no plans to retire. “I’d rather be working than staying idle,” he said. “When you stop moving, you lose it.” His father was able to keep working into his mid to late 70s. He died in 2019 at the age of 85; his son, who was taking care of him at the Lenox Street homestead, then moved into a house his grandfather had owned in the Hill.
Matt Bleything is 41. He plans to stay in the business, too. And perhaps take over his father’s company one day? “If things go right,” he said.
Meanwhile, there was a sprayer to finish scraping, and a circa-1900 house to bring back to life.
Click on the video to watch the conversation with Robert Picagli on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.
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Click here and see below for previous“Word on the Street” episodes and write-ups.
The Word On Maple Street: STEM?‘Snow Sweat
Word On Crown Street:“Warehouse Guy” Hops In The Truck
Word On The Street: Ashes Mark New Life Chapter
The Word On County Street: Greg Weighs His Next Move
Surprise Drop-Off Turns Bottle Man East
Word On Boulevard: Love’s On The Menu
Old-School Chainsaw Comes Through
During Dwight Detour, Dominique Discovers Eden
Dreams Flagged on Ellsworth
Word On The Street: ICU Crew Lands At Bella’s
Pizzeria Raises Dough For Turkish Earthquake Victims
Word On Springside: Hot Pile, Cooler Planet
Park Trees Preserved
Word On Winthrop: Mom/Daughter TCBs
Word On Whalley: Wings Rise; Neon Fades
Word On Beers Street: That’s The Drill
Word On The Street: Sisterhood Is Wow-erful
Word On The Street: 1st Step Taken
Word On The Street: New Loos Arrive
Word On The Street: Kash Starts Fresh
Word On The Street: The Gig Cycle Spins
Word On The Street: Dumped Trash Disappears
Word On The Street: Job Interview Awaits
Word On The Street: Callaghan Suits Up
Officer McKernan Refuels For Double Duty
Word On The Street: Fred Keeps Moving
Word On The Street: Mimosa Mania
Word On The Street: Terry Hands Over The Brakes
Safety Hunter Keeps Eye On The Rising Tiers
Leather’s Grandson Returns To The Soil
Jorge Opens A Door
Word On The Street: Dad Awaits The Call
Word On The Street: Bridgette Beats The Sun
Word On The Street:“Blessed,” & Ready For Busy Barber Season
The Word On Brownell Street: Call Luciano
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Word On The Street: Groom Plans Hectic Holiday, Needs Car Back
The Word On Garden Street: Turkey Times Two
Dr. J Clears The Way
Estelita Makes The Journey Back Home
Butts, Burger King Wrappers Vanish At Wendy’s Drive-Thru
Skateboard J Does A 360
Word On The Street: The Banana Vote Emerges
Word On The Street: Sprinkler Heads
Word On Orchard Street: Cheap Gas
Word On The Street: Keep On Truckin’
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Word on the Street: Coach Lance Called It
Word On Dixwell: Scooter Saves Gas
Budding Architect’s Word On The Street: New Haven’s More Laid Back Than Hong Kong
Word On Street:“Smell Good In Your Hood”
Blood (Pressure) Talk Comes To Barber’s Chair
Word On Street: Rizzo Can Stand The Heat
The Tomato Plot Thickens
Without Illusions, Lamont Stewart Makes The Most Of His Morning Walk
Pro-Punk Poet Prof Starts Summer Stretch
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Word On The Street: Park Pre-Work Workout Sets The Tone
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Aldo Salazar Does The Circuit
Brisa Mendoza STEMs The Graduation Tide
Timmy Turner Takes The Long View
Bike To Work Week Pulls Up To State Street Station
He’s Making Sure Soldiers Won’t Be Forgotten
Legion Ave. Rite Aid Closing; Actor Bummed
Word On Church St.: Drugs Are Everywhere
Indoor“Sunrise” Breakfasts Resume For The Hungry & The Homeless
“VillaFame” Has Designs On The World
Cherry Trees & NFTs Blossom In Wooster Square
9th Square Grows On New New Havener
Warbler Watcher Waits In The Woods
Reggie Gibson Makes A Clean Sweep
Sorry, Wooster Street: This New New Havener Has His Eye On Whalley Pie
Demons Stalk Methadone Run
Surveyor Bundles Up
Grandpa Boyd’s Toes Froze
Jay Jordan Shows Up Early For First Day At Mickey D’s
Track Champ Sets Sights On Firehouse
Can Collector Seeks Redemption
Reborn Stetson Library Opens Its Doors
Mom Prays To Pause Violence
Commuter Rolls With Switch To Train
Word on the Street: Math
Word At The Barber Shop: Ukraine Needs Our Help
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Hamden’s Female Leadership Team Marks International Women’s Day
Taylor Picks Up Her Step
Wednesday’s Word on Grand:“Survival”
Turbocharged Community Soup Kitchen Plans Return To Indoor Dining
Prof On Track To Put Pain Behind Him
Word on The Street: New Beginnings
Lyric Hall Goes With The Flow
1 Valentine’s Day Later, Love Survives
Budget Airline Celebrates 100 Days At Tweed
Bobby’s Not Snitching »Grill Goes Cold After Inspector’s Visit
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Word On The Street: Love Rides On Metro-North
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Word On The Street:“Level Up”
Word On The Street: Paying Rent, Staying Safe
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Word On The Street: Caffeine
Word On The Street: 10 AM Georgia Hots