The industrial district of New Haven known as the Mill River district, little-explored by outsiders, is on its way to becoming a destination for home improvement and restaurant services companies that want to locate in its manufacturing, food and construction-oriented and environs.
The city of New Haven is trying to push the area even closer to the vibrant, business-filled district that planners envisioned as part of their economic development scheme for the 206-acre area.
Mill River is already home to a host of construction contractor supply companies and restaurant services vendors that keep the area abuzz on weekdays.
City officials have started the planning efforts, entering the first phase of a four-part plan to identify what’s currently working in the area – light industrial manufacturing, food service and construction uses – and where opportunities for improvement exist. The plan’s main objectives are to highlight the success already happening for businesses, and to focus eyes on potential places for companies to relocate or expand their footprints.
City officials describe the goal to create “an industrial village promoting light industry and live-work spaces; a home improvement marketplace that capitalizes on the multitude of home products already available in the district to create a shopping district competitive with suburban big box stores; and a mercantile food hub to grow the robust food manufacturing and distribution sector in the area, which currently ships products across the county.”
The area is bounded roughly by Interstate 91 to the north, Interstate 95 to the south, the residential neighborhoods of Fair Haven to the east and Wooster Square to the west. The area attracts businesses because of its relatively affordable rents and location to major highways. Mill River is home to food processing and distribution, precision manufacturing, design and construction support and specialty building supplies fabrication businesses. Combined, the area’s companies employ about 3,000, according to information provided by the city.
Rejuvenating Brownfield Sites
While that number sounds good, on paper, city estimates say about a quarter of the total land in the Mill River district is vacant or underutilized. By engaging in the planning process, the city says it is encouraging “the cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfield sites, bringing jobs back into New Haven and reducing urban sprawl.”
The second part of the planning project has been long under way. That portion of the plan is seeking to identify in greater detail the district’s features, like architectural styles and urban design context, opportunities for temporary uses to activate and enliven vacant parcels, grant and funding opportunities, a streetscape revitalization plan and an assessment of potential need for zoning and land use policy changes. But the city’s economic development officials refused to speak with a reporter asking for an update on the project.
Even Al Lauro, general manager of Ferraro’s Market, which has operated a neighborhood grocer in New Haven for the past 55 years, said he hasn’t heard anything about the city’s plans, and his buddies at work say that if anyone in the area would have heard about it, it would be Lauro. Ferraro’s current iteration is at 664 Grand Ave., just about the smack dab middle of the Mill River district.
While he hasn’t heard any ideas to revitalize the area from City Hall, Lauro, a Ferraro’s employee of nine years, said the Mill River section is usually buzzing with activity. And with more and more Yale students remaining in New Haven after graduation, real estate prices have ticked up in neighboring Wooster Square, he said.
“It’s obviously good for the area, with more residents there are more shoppers in the area,” he said. “There are schools, churches, theaters, a downtown life. The area seems to have it all.”
Email: jcronin@thewarrengroup.com
