The New Haven Awning Company on River Street has a fresh facade and a shiny new parking lot thanks to help from the city, which hopes to have businesses continue to thrive on the important industrial corridor.
Eight years later, Fair Haven’s industrial strip has been transformed from “a lot of blight” to “the picture of beauty.” So said local business leaders who gathered with city officials on River Street on Monday to recognize the achievements that have been made in a long-term overhaul of the area.
River Street, which fronts on the Quinnipiac River on the south side of Fair Haven, is the site of a Municipal Redevelopment Plan begun eight years ago by the city. The city has so far invested $10 million in the project, which is intended to create a thriving industrial center. The state has contributed over $5 million to the project.
Surrounded by fresh pavement, gleaming new curbs, and satisfied business owners, Mayor DeStefano hailed the revitalization of River Street.
“If you came here eight years ago, you would have seen 25 acres of largely vacated land,” said Mayor John DeStefano, standing in the newly paved parking lot of the New Haven Awning Company, at the corner of Blatchley Avenue and Chapel Street. The nearly-80-year-old awning business recently moved into the corner building, renovating the exterior with financial help from the city.
The mayor said that, “even in the midst of a recession,” industry on River Street continues to thrive. In addition to businesses like Fair Haven Furniture, Suraci Metal Finishing, and Phoenix Press, the city is working with Colony Hardware to build at 135,000 square-foot facility at former site of Hess. The new Colony Hardware operation will create 200 new jobs, DeStefano said.
Speaking ahead of the press conference, City Economic Development Officer Helen Rosenberg (at right in photo, receiving a round of applause) described the many improvements that the city has made to local infrastructure.
“This was dirt,” she said pointing to the freshly paved parking lot. She pointed out the freshly painted, resurfaced section of Blatchley Avenue, complete with new sidewalks, fresh granite curbs, and diagonal parking. Nearby Poplar Street, which “was all chopped up,” has also been redone and turned into a cul-de-sac, Rosenberg said. New sidewalks have been installed all along the south side of Chapel Street, she said.
Rosenberg said that the improvements will help to “retain and bring jobs to the inner city.”
“The River Street project is exactly what the state wants to be investing in,” said Peter Simmons, from the Office of Responsible Development in the State Department of Economic and Community Development. River Street development will help to keep jobs in the state, he said.
“We’re very excited to see the construction momentum,” said Lynn Mathis, a representative of Phoenix Press. “It was a lot of blight,” she said, describing the area prior to city and state investment. The press’ property value has increased as a result of other businesses moving in and because of the “massive street improvements going on, Mathis said.
“It’s the picture of beauty now compared to what it was before,” said Dan Barnick, co-owner of New Haven Awning Company.
The next step in ongoing improvements will be the construction of Colony Hardware’s operation, DeStefano said. Rosenberg said that the city is nearing completion of a deal with a buyer for buildings next to New Haven Awning Company. She declined to disclose the name of the buyer, for fear of “jinxing” it.