New Haven cops, code enforcers and development officials gathered in the Hill North area Wednesday for a walk to identify blight, building violations, and crime problems with the help of neighbors.
It was the latest quality-of-life “clean and safe” neighborhood sweep that the Harp administration has already conducted in Fair Haven, Hill South, the Annex, and Newhallville.
Jake Dressler Photo
The city team convened at CTown on Greenwich Avenue and distributed trash grabbers to clean up the area while en route. The route circled around several blocks on Howard Avenue, Lamberton Street, Arthur Street, and Rosette.
“We’re working together as a team [on] blight and general routine maintenance,” said city transportation and parking chief Doug Hausladen.
One of the first issues addressed, which recurred during the sweep, was the overwhelming bales of fallen leaves clogging drains and flooding the sides of the streets.
City Engineer Giovanni Zinn said New Haven has put in bioswales and drywell systems citywide to intercept stormwater and direct more of it into the ground, evaporate a portion of it into the air, and release a portion of it slowly back into the sewer system. “It saves the taxpayers a ton of money” while helping the environment, he said.
Officials took note along the walk of unsafe trees, code violations, trip hazards on sidewalks, and repairs. It documented low-hanging branches at 138 Spring St. after a member of the crew bumped her head.
Inspectors from Livable City Initiative (LCI) peeked in the windows of a house on Dewitt Street, and hung a “notice to stop work” sign after noticing illegal construction taking place inside. LCI inspector Rick Mazzadra said he looks for unregistered vehicles, trash in yard, and the structure of the porches to evaluate potential hazards.
As the caravan moved across Howard Avenue, it spotted a home with the sign “not home” on the door. A police lieutenant familiar with the matter commented that over 600 bottles of alcohol were recently confiscated from the home, raising suspicions about what activity is taking place inside.
On Lamberton, the crew encountered “double posts,” which Zinn said are legal though unpopular.
Another citation on Lamberton Street came from demolition officer Jose Romero, who spotted a backyard overflowing with junk and scrap metal and called in the violation.
Neighborhood Alder Dave Reyes pointed to a deteriorating building on Howard Avenue. “This house has been vacant for many years,” Reyes said. “We’re going to make sure there are no blight issues. We don’t know who the owner is.
“The bigger picture is to let the city know that the city and the alders care about the streets being clean, and It’s important they see the partnership with us. We’re holding ourselves accountable to keep our streets clean.”
On Arthur Street, longtime neighborhood activist Johnny Dye complained about low-hanging wires entangled in the trees. The wires were not deemed an immediate safety threat, because they are not electrical, Officials promised to document the issue.
Dye then lent his winter hat to city economic development officer Carlos Eyzaguirre, who was feeling the cold.
Darien Smith, a construction worker who was required to show his permit to officials, said he appreciates the city’s concern. He said he didn’t feel as though they were being intrusive by asking to see his permit on the spot. “I think it’s necessary,” he said. “There’s a lot of dangers around here. A lot of unseen lead damages and roof damages. Garbage being piled up. Tenants complaining. So, it’s better for the city to come around and do these checks.”
Mayor Toni Harp joined the sweep mid-morning along with top cops. They took note of shoes draped over phone wires. “We’re looking at streets in the Hill neighborhood to make sure if there are physical things that can contribute to crime or the decline of the neighborhood … we set the appropriate departments working towards solving those problems” she said. “Little things like sneakers on the wires — we know that’s an indication that drugs are sold close. So we’re coming to take the sneakers down. We’re not going to make it easy for them to do business.”
Crime has been dropping in recent years in the Hill as well as across New Haven. “For us, the statistical story in terms of crime is just one part of the story,” said Assistant Police Chief Otoniel Reyes. “We realize there is another side to that narrative, and that’s the way people feel in the community. And to us, that’s just as important… There are just some basic quality of life issues that are really important. We need to address those just as much as we need to address the violent crimes.”