Markeshia Ricks Photo
Yale’s Kari Nordstrom points out details of the new science building.
Yale University can proceed with the construction of a new $120 million science building.
The City Plan Commission unanimously approved the university’s plan to build a 280,000-square-foot replacement for its J. W. Gibbs Laboratory at Whitney Avenue and Sachem and Prospect streets. The project will provide more lab space and common space for science graduate students, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff.
The project was stalled for months because of a new rule passed by the the Board of Alders, an amendment of Section 65 of the city’s zoning ordinance, that requires the board to approve a broader overall parking plan for all properties before Yale or Yale-New Haven Hospital can obtain regulatory permission for any new building projects. Yale officials argued that the project was not impacted by the new OPP rule because the building’s parking would not be impacted; alders disagreed. At a previous meeting this summer, City Plan Commission chose not to advance a recommendation on the matter until it was resolved with the Board of Alders.
Alders reached a compromise with Yale earlier this month that requires the university to make specific efforts to address parking in exchange for an approval of the OPP that allows projects like Gibbs to move forward.