5. Notice of Scoping for the Hill to Downtown MDP

Municipality where proposed project might be located: City of New Haven

Addresses of Possible Project Locations: The proposed Hill to Downtown Municipal Development Plan (MDP) project area is located approximately 0.6 miles west of New Haven Harbor and is bounded by College Street on the west, South Frontage Road on the north, and South Orange Street on the east. The southeastern boundary of the project area is formed by a line that is north of and generally parallel to Columbus Avenue between South Orange Street and Church Street. The proposed project boundary continues north along Church Street South to Amistad Street at which point the boundary turns west to the intersection of Amistad and Gold streets. Gold Street forms the southwestern boundary of the project area.

Project Description:  The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) was awarded a $2 million Community Challenge Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (U.S. HUD).  Portion of the funds will be utilized to prepare the Hill to Downtown MDP in the City of New Haven. 

The proposed project would create infrastructure (roads, pedestrian and bikeways, and upgraded/new utilities) that would support private development of a mixed-use neighborhood by transforming many of the existing underutilized parcels and surface parking lots into vibrant community spaces, medical and research uses, retail and entertainment, and housing units.  A new street grid would improve connectivity and mobility throughout the proposed project area and improve connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods.  Improved streets and sidewalks would incorporate Complete Streets principles (such as sidewalks, bike lanes, accessible public transportation, and frequent and safe street crossing opportunities) to help create an urban environment that bolsters walking, cycling and increased transit use.  Key improvements to the street grid in the proposed project area include the realignment of Lafayette Street to connect College Street and South Orange Street, and construction of New Temple Street that will ultimately provide a new connection to downtown. The proposed realignment and redesign of Lafayette Street would involve the removal of one of the Church Street South Apartment buildings. The MDP includes a detailed description of how this property would be acquired and how residents of this apartment building would be assisted in relocation.

A central part of the development of the new street grid and new land uses in the MDP project area includes upgrades to the existing utility systems including storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water, natural gas, electricity, and telecommunications. These systems would be relocated, upgraded, or abandoned in several key areas to accommodate new, reconstructed, and deconstructed streets. 

The Hill-to-Downtown MDP is the outgrowth of the Hill-to-Downtown Community Plan that was prepared using the U.S. HUD Community Challenge Planning Grant. The community plan is the result of a 12-month collaborative effort between community stakeholders and the City to understand the challenges and opportunities facing this key city district located between Downtown New Haven, Union Station, the historic Hill neighborhood, and the medical district (which is comprised of the campuses of Yale School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital). The Hill-to-Downtown Community Plan is an extension of the City’s Downtown Crossing initiative which is healing the scars of urban renewal-era land clearance and replacing the divisive Route 34/Oak Street Connector with vibrant, transit-oriented development.

Project Maps:  Click here to view a Location Map of the project area.  Click here to view the Project Boundary.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  Thursday, April 17, 2014

Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public Scoping Meeting by sending such a request to the address below.  If a meeting is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the sponsoring agency shall schedule a Public Scoping Meeting.  Such requests must be made by Friday, March 28, 2014.

Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:

If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact: