Leo Nyberg, Contributing Photographer

A flurry of new businesses have popped up on Grand Avenue and are opening in the next few weeks, but city officials say they will have to contend with homelessness, drug use and crime on the Fair Haven corridor.

Maria Hawke Lopez, the district development manager for the Grand Avenue Special Services District, led New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and other city officials on a walking tour of Grand Avenue on Oct. 14, pointing out new and soon-to-open businesses. Hawke Lopez estimated that six or seven businesses will open or have opened this year, replacing others that moved out of Fair Haven or went out of business.

While Hawke Lopez’s tour focused on the growing Fair Haven business scene, local officials stopped multiple times to observe vacant lots and other areas that have become sleeping places for homeless people and hubs for drug use. 

“I’m not going to lie to you, it’s really tough here,” New Haven Police Sergeant Christopher Alvarado, the Fair Haven police district manager, said. “Businesses here are dealing with a lot of quality-of-life stuff. Obviously violence can spark tons of problems, but for the most part, there’s a lot of drug consumption.”

While walking along Grand Avenue, Elicker asked business owners if they had any concerns that the city could help with. Some said beggars outside their shops could deter potential customers. Others mentioned smoking, loitering and excessive noise from cars and speakers.

The predominately Latino neighborhood saw a downturn in business activity earlier this year amid fears of federal immigration authorities in the area. Shop owners told the News that local drug dealing and drug use also negatively impacted their businesses.

“We’re a very progressive city, we care about drug treatment, that’s paramount to our legislative priorities,” Carlos Eyzaguirre, a deputy administrator for the New Haven Economic Development Agency, said. “But at the same time, in the most left-wing cities — which are open to drug use, open to sex work — it’s really hard on the neighborhood. Especially if you have your kids walking by, so it’s a fine line.”

Elicker and Alvarado told business leaders they were happy to address any complaints about loitering and beggars outside their business but emphasized that some activities, though possibly disruptive to business, are not illegal. 

In a conversation with a Fair Haven barbershop owner, the tour group discussed a handful of homeless New Haveners who help clean up the sidewalk, encourage other homeless people to move away from the businesses and occasionally direct traffic.

“We try to provide services for them, but they have to accept those services. We can’t force them,” Alvarado said. “They’re grown people. We can’t make them do anything. It’s not a crime to be homeless.”

The tour stopped by new businesses as well as institutions that have been open for over 30 years. At each business, city officials asked about owners’ concerns, discussed potential solutions and gave contact information for follow-ups.

The tour concluded at Grill-Mon, a soon-to-open Jamaican restaurant taking over a long-vacant and troubled corner. Jamiel Bowen, the store’s owner, greeted the group with smiles and handshakes, while his mother, Eulita Clarke, gave hugs and danced.

“That’s a property where having a good tenant like Jamiel will be very refreshing,” Alvarado said.

Hawke Lopez and Alvarado both said the Grand Avenue corridor has made substantial progress in the past year. Eyzaguirre added that storefront vacancies are rare on Grand Avenue.

The News spoke to seven business owners and employees on Grand Avenue. Two said they did not notice crime or drug use affecting their business, while five others said it was a major factor in deterring customers.

“The surrounding is a lot of people hanging out, doing some drugs and illegal stuff,” Luis Escobar, who opened a barber shop on Grand Avenue in early September, said. 

Escobar, who said he recently moved to Fair Haven, said he had heard the neighborhood had a reputation for high crime and drug use. However, he added that his neighboring shop owners and customers are “pretty good.”

Maria Capelo is opening a spa and beauty store next to her already running salon. The yet-to-be-named spa is taking over 254 Grand Ave., previously occupied by a furniture store. According to Hawke Lopez, the furniture store was inconsistently open and the owners are not based in the city. 

“The more businesses that are open, the more opportunities we have for people to come discover the area and see our Latino community keep growing and getting stronger,” Hawke Lopez said.

Two restaurants, Grill-Mon and Lima 32, are slated to open in the coming weeks.