Developer Ancora selected New Haven for its first Connecticut project as it prepares to invest $4 billion in life science and tech projects in partnership with a British insurer. A 9-story, 200,000-square-foot lab building is part of the initial phase of the Square 10 project at the former New Haven Coliseum property. Image courtesy of Pelli Clarke & Partners and Jacobs

A planned life science tower took a significant step forward last week when lab developer Ancora bought a 0.78-acre slice of the former New Haven Coliseum site from the project’s master developer.

Ancora Partners paid $10.68 million for the land March 8 according to public records, where it plans a 9-story, 200,000-square-foot lab building as part of Norwalk-based Spinnaker Real Estate Partners’ “Square 10” project.

The New Haven Independent first reported the sale.

The North Carolina specialist biotech developer picked the New Haven project as one of many it plans to invest $4 billion from British insurer Legal & General into through 2026.

Spinnaker is currently under building Square 10’s first phase, including 200 apartments. Ancora’s lab building, up to 100 housing additional units and a 650-space parking garage are scheduled to deliver in early 2025.

The project will join Winstanley Enterprises’ two 500,000-square-foot lab towers on College Street and other smaller life science projects elsewhere in New Haven that have delivered in recent years.