Ryan Chiao, Senior Photographer

Aiming to transform the distressed Union Square neighborhood in The Hill into a viable and sustainable community-oriented area, Elm City Communities is working in tandem with The Glendower Group to bring residents and local leaders together and implement a comprehensive revitalization plan.  

From Sept. 9 to 12, Elm City Communities, also known as Housing Authority of the City of New Haven, hosted multiple flexible drop-in sessions and evening presentations for residents to voice input and feedback on the development of the Union Square Choice Neighborhood Plan. The meetings allowed residents to engage directly with information they had received in previous Elm City Communities communications over the last few months.

“The overwhelming need is for housing that is quality and affordable,” Karen DuBois-Walton, the president of Elm City Communities, said. “We heard that in every meeting, in every conversation. Beyond that, residents want a neighborhood — a place where they belong and have connections and a place where they can access things for themselves, their kids and for the seniors in the community.”

The Robert T. Wolfe apartment building, which is a central focus of the plan, faces several urgent challenges, including outdated infrastructure and frequent breakdowns of key systems like elevators, which often leave them out of service. Residents have also raised concerns about the building’s accessibility, safety and security, as well as the ongoing issue of ensuring safe and reliable parking.

A unique feature of the programming was its “moveable feast” format, which allowed residents to attend workshops in various accessible locations. For the first two days, sessions were held onsite at the project location, at the Robert T. Wolfe homes. Not only was this location convenient for residents to stop by throughout the day to share their thoughts, but it also allowed planners to easily view the site and adjust plans based on the neighborhood’s layout and constraints. The second half of the week moved meetings to El Centro, a community facility that welcomed a larger audience and broadened the accessibility for Hill neighborhood residents. El Centro is a part of the larger neighborhood study area for the Choice Neighborhoods planning effort. 

These conversations build upon ongoing discussions with the community that began last winter. Many residents have been understandably skeptical about whether this project will finally bring change, given the numerous redevelopment plans that have come and gone over the years. However, DuBois-Walton expressed optimism, noting that the relationships formed over months of meetings have built a foundation of trust and hope for the future.

‘The concluding meeting on Thursday evening at El Centro was the clear highlight of the week,” Murphy Antoine, affordable housing specialist and president at Tori Gallas + Partners, Inc., said. “The turnout and enthusiasm for that meeting was more than we expected. The discussion from residents and community members was open and frank, and the meeting marked a milestone in the planning process where an intense week of input and collaboration saw plans come to life directly reflecting that input and real time feedback”. 

By Thursday, the planning team, led by Tori Gallas + Partners, Inc. and Kenneth Boroson Architects, unveiled a draft concept plan that connects the site to Union Station, downtown New Haven and the rest of the Hill neighborhood. The draft includes thousands of new housing units — both affordable and market-rate — alongside community spaces, bike paths, public parks and retail and commercial spaces. 

Supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant, this draft will form the basis of a Transformation Plan, expected to be completed in early 2025.

The revitalization plans for Union Square, developed during last week’s workshop, have become the cornerstone of the Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan that Elm City Communities and The Glendower Group will present to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. Early drafts and outlines of the plan are already in progress, and officials anticipate final submission to HUD by the first quarter of 2025. 

“Following last week’s charrette, it’s clear that the vision for Union Square closely reflects the community’s wishes for quality affordable and market-rate housing, along with commercial spaces and amenities, all within a vibrant, interconnected neighborhood,” Shenae Draughn, the executive vice president of Elm City Communities and The Glendower Group, said. “The involvement and enthusiasm of residents and stakeholders have been crucial, and we are eager to bring these collaborative ideas to life through a meaningful and impactful development.”

Once approved, this plan will serve as the blueprint for implementation, helping to attract and secure the necessary resources for its success. This initiative will guide future development and investment in the area, while also positioning the neighborhood for potential funding under HUD’s Choice Neighborhood Implementation grants.

The Robert T. Wolfe Apartments are located at 49 Union Ave. 

Lily Belle Poling contributed reporting.