Re Mark
I checked it out briefly, but on the surface your comment (from the cover of the toolkit) seems in stark contrast to what I'm saying. The terms used focus on the negatives of gentrification. If you ask me New Haven (Fair Haven specifically) has already made QUITE a contribution to the betterment of its disenfranchised citizens. There have ALREADY been strategies put in place (maybe unintentionally) that ensure this particular population doesn't "loose their place at the table". I'm for the investor-driven revitalization via federal tax credits for historical preservation. This place needs something and quick.

I agree. The right kind of investments in our neighborhoods typically will bring jobs, encourage folks to invest even more of their time and money, make families more secure, and "lift all boats."

Rather than displacing populations, gentrification often produces the greatest benefits for the people who have lived in the neighborhood for a long period of time, and also to young families who live there.

Also, as you point out, the alternative to gentrification and reinvestment (at least some level of it) is rapid decline. Without constant renewal at least to some degree, neighborhoods will become empty shells in the long term.

Still, it's good to keep "a place at the table"and try to ensure that new developments benefit everyone. The 360 State project is a good example, where a proportion of jobs and housing units will be reserved for lower-income residents.

It is good to do things for the benefit of everyone. In Fair Haven, everywhere you look it is a benefit to low income households right now. The result is a seriously deteriorated physical environment and alot of quality of life issues. Now it's time to let some newer, wealthier residents benefit. The result will be less crime & safer streets, better quality of life and new everything. Raise my taxes, I don't care. As long as I get something for it. And my house doubling or tripling in value would be great too.

The problem with this area is that you have a handful of real estate owners that do nothing with there property. What ever happened to the Quinnipiac River Project to redevelop the area near the Grand Ave. bridge? 5 years ago this neighborhood was on the upswing. We had some great restaurants, a coffee roaster, florist...hopes of new retailers and condos. Now what? A junk dealer and a wine shop holding on.
There is a swarm of negative press from the media that surrounds this neighborhood. As soon as someone hears Ferry St. or Grand Ave, the next comment is usually not good. Who from out of town would have a reason to come down here? We need to make this area a destination for people. There has to be a reason why people would want to come down here and spend money in this community.

I love that part of Fair Haven - very scenic, great houses and sense of community, and at one point there were some awesome restaurants I would go out of my way to get to. The reconstruction of Quinnipiac Avenue this coming year will probably help fix things up a bit.

On the other hand, if I suggest going there to my friends, I often get the comment that you are taking your life into your hands by driving, biking or walking there, because of the dangerous traffic situation. Drivers are completely out of control on the streets leading up to that area. The Grand Avenue bridge is not very pleasant to cross. Foxon is a suicide run. Grand Avenue is a vibrant strip of businesses, but Chapel Street between Downtown and Fair Haven is a minefield of broken glass and drag racers (though the temporary speed humps by James Street have helped somewhat).

The area has a lot of potential though. Focusing on some of the key properties could help. Which properties do you feel are underutilized?

I'm researching what is going on here because this issue is REALLY important to me. We're combatting the end result of something that is going on without attacking the route cause. At first I was looking at it from the former perspective too. You may be right it's due to a handful of landlords that are causing this blight. That means somebody/some people in power are enabling them. Grand Ave is "VIBRANT"?? Where exactly is that? It has nothing for me. It's a dump, lets be real. Crazy traffic is a small part of it - how many cell phone vendors and bodegas can you have in one strip of stores? Between say where Ferraro's is and Clinton Ave half of it is empty or hanging on by a thread by the looks of it. Is Mark is referring to a different section?? I've lived alot of places and never seen ANYWHERE waterfront property (Quinnipiac Ave) allowed to collapse in despair. What's the REAL story here? Who or what is letting this happen?

Hey Detour1,

Glad you are using the site to suggest improvement. To use the site most effectively and within the context of the other content here it would be best to focus on single geo-specific issues that will make up your end result. Please feel free to post multiple issues. Hopefully the implementation of all of them will lead to the desired result.

As an example you might want to mark specific vacant or foreclosed property or land as an area where specific types of residences or businesses should go in.

I noticed that you mentioned the City Plan department. Are there specific things that City Plan might be able to do to guide Grand Ave in the direction you are suggesting?

Also, re flagging: its possible that you got caught in the mod. cue due to our error. I have not looked into it further to see if it was flagged.

Thanks for using SeeClickFix to talk about the way you want to see Fair Haven reshaped.

Everyone else, thanks for being respectful of each others opinions.

IMHO: Strong communities are ones where diverse cultures thrive without infringing on each others comfort levels.

Ben

Don't think Fair Haven is a horrible place. I bought here because it looked like it had potential and could go either way. I don't regret the purchase. In fact, I feel like I won the lottery compared to some addresses I considered. Including #293-299 Greenwich Avenue OMFG. Just think everybody could benefit by hammering away at the problems of Fair Haven. In a way that will make a real impact in short order. To me private investor dollars put into commercial & res RE in a way that changes things, not keep status quo is the way to go. You can have all the gov't programs you want aimed at ONLY low income and you end up with exactly what we have.

Thanks for that Ben. I guess it dawned on me calling the PD to say there are prostitutes hanging at such-and-such corner or a car doing a burn-out somewhere doesn't cut it with regard to change. What I'm saying probably doesn't have a place in this forum. I said 5 times at least I'm not sure how or where to accomplish what I propose. And I don't know there exact facts behind the current state of things in Fair Haven. I know what I see with my eyes which is pervasive deterioration. Do you have a suggestion where more big picture issues can be addressed by a common citizen?

I knew at some point the diversity/exclusion issue was going to come up. I clearly said I don't care who brings the money in, but change requires money. A nice place is a nice place to anybody.

There is a website called localocracy that can be used for more general civic discussion but it also revolves around policy issues.

I feel like your suggestions are totally valid here they just need to be guided at individual solutions.

I guess I would say document the things that make you feel at odds with Grand Ave and then look at what the possible resolutions are. Its likely small stuff that adds up to a general feeling of concern for the area.

As an example: are there specific buildings or businesses that you feel are bringing down the neighborhood.

vino5150

"There is a swarm of negative press from the media that surrounds this neighborhood. As soon as someone hears Ferry St. or Grand Ave"

We are the red note for the media and don't even bother to report the hard work and effort of some small group of people who live in the community and they’re really working and try to change that, for frustration, and anger The truth is that when they public so many red notes THEY are giving the power to this vandalism and circle of negativity. They are saying drugs, prostitution and everything ales is allow in this areas.

I worry for our children they growing up in a place that media specially said is not hope!
Our politicians should have a serious talk with the medias (special the locals) of the impact of the important role they playing in our society and not at all is a good impact to the most need areas.

Sorry CH, one more thing from me then. The media reports on negativity because a shooting or arson fire surely gets more attention then project taken on by a group to make improvements in a challenged area. And human nature makes more people want to see a train wreck instead of something positive. Although I think the Register(?) just printed article about community veg. garden on the corner of Rowe & English Sts. Think about this. If there were less crimes to report about in this community, they would have nothing bad to say. We're talking about the same thing, just how to get there different.

detour01
That’s the idea, Only because some ales is saying is ok to do wrong is NOT OK to make it wrong. is a battle and a possible solution will be to have limits of "good profits" to the media, Just take a closer look when the bad news happen in a respectable area, how many time the same news is repeated? They don't want to bring other people attention to their areas. Safety should always be first.

Different approach to get to the goal to get more homeowner and enforce the law to the properties that destroy and are part of the problem will help to create more community interest. Trust me is not easy to find volunteers on a dangers areas.

I wrote these before; I don’t know why my comments did not post, when I agreed with you about, only a few people of Grand Ave. think they are the hart of Fair Haven. Hard enough to accept the kind and quality of services we are receiving in Fair Haven.

Understand you exactly. And I agree you don't hear about much of the same on say Townsend Ave. But unfortunately a disproportionate amount of crime happens here - therefore you here about it more. Not much going on on Townsend Ave. It's hard for the cops to enforce 'quality of life' issues in what we call 'bad areas' because alot (not ALL) of the people are bent on one thing: to commit crimes against property & people and you can throw in a lot of non-violent but annoying life quality crimes. It seems they are there for one reason, to destroy the neighborhood. If you can't get rid of bad people one way, do it another way, ie: constructive eviction through high priced real estate.

"Constructive eviction" is a term I heard a lawyer use. It means to evict an unwanted person/persons without really evicting them. It would work something like the landlord says "your rent is going from $400 per month to $1,800 per month". The person leaves, landlord fixes the place up, then somebody moves in that can afford $1,800. Before you know it the neighborhood is filled with $1,800 apts. I'm done.

detour01

we are working with URI, LCI and we are a block watch too and for us is a lot more that planting trees and flowers, called LCI to pick up trash or call the police 24/7. We want to start with actions what we think will help to have more pleasant days to US the residents who live here.

We have some similar goals and ideas to improve our safety and quality of life in Fair Haven. We believe that we don't need the big $$$$ to start something mean full and we have a different point of view from outsiders instead the residents "we live here 24/7". We are home owner and share the pain of taxes and bad services. I’m agreed with you rentals are the key, too may and no real enforcement in so many safety regulations, the worst is that a little group of people claim and saying that the Gran Ave. is the hart of Fair Haven how pain full is that!! And now asked them how many of them live here and why they don’t live here. Funny answers you will hear.

The real money you are talking about is NOT going to come until the big $$ see a reason to invest an important asset for them. Politician are the one who should have a bigger ideas and picture for the families of Fair Haven because we like or not Fair Haven is growing and not in the good way.

Complain and report is nothing if the enforcement of the laws is not present. This Will be a great start up!

CH thanks for that. My ideas for improvement are way beyond my own capabilities unfortunately. They're more what I'd LIKE to see happen with investor $$. I think the positive things about Fair Haven are wasted and I don't get it. Waterfront community, historical buildings, easy commuter access. What would STOP investors from seeing these qualities and hundreds of opportunities in the form of vacant/foreclosed properties? Look at other places with similar qualities when they're transformed by investors. All the problems we're talking about magically disappear. Oh well.

CH,
the good news is that SeeClickFix is part of the way the new media will look. Old media is dying fast and more people's opinions are being represented more equally. Keep speaking up for improving FH.

Detour01 and CH,
It is clear that you committed to improving your respective sections of Fair Haven and that you see the importance of real-estate market in making this happen. Here is a link to information about a real-estate centered approach to improving communities that you might find helpful:
http://fallcreekconsultants.com/healthy_neighborhoods.php

REALLY interesting Lee. It sure is an old problem as per the comment by Rolf Goetz on the home page. From what I understand of New Haven it is a place that has relied on federal dollars for a long, long time to solve urban decay problems. If Fall Creek Consultants were to evaluate Fair Haven/New Haven at this moment they would probably say we have a start in the area of Neighborhood Management, but the other 3 areas - Image, Market, Physical Conditions - are seriously lacking. I would send an e-mail to them, but I bet I'm not the first person who's thought of this lol. It's probably an old rehashed story here, no? I would think decisions about where to go and how to do it in Fair Haven have already been made by "the powers that be". I'm still curious though.

Detour01, the conversation has not only begun we have results. Not counting myself, we have 9 new resident homeowners in our section of Fair Haven who purchased their home because of the community efforts based on this approach to community development. I say not including myself because almost two years ago I sold a condo in another neighborhood and bought the house I live in on Clinton Avenue. Just to be clear what we have accomplished is not the elimination of crime and annoying behavior, what we have accomplished is that we have removed crime and annoying behavior from the center stage of community life. When crime and annoying behavior is not at the center of community life (but still managed) prospective home buyers and good renters who want to live in a great neighborhood like our come in and stay. By the way they are also followed by good businesses.

Here is a breakdown of some statistics about the 9 resident homeowners: Five of then have children, 4 of them have children under the age of 5. Two families received subsidies from programs not affiliated with Yale University. Three of these families include Yale employees, one new homeowner is a nurse’s aide and among the families there are 3 teachers. I know this because in spite of the fact that these homeowners live as far away as 4 blocks from my house we have built a community.

If you are interested it would be easy to arrange for you to meet some of these homeowner. You are also welcome to speak with our partner realtors who have come to see that moving our community interest forward is in their economic interest. If you would like to continue this conversation in person let me know.

Together we can build a better Fair Haven than if we work separately.

Lee I always like when you refer research information help full and current.

I will look this website more carefully and I will definitely will be in contact with them is some way. For me, be or trying to be part of the positive solutions and tying to find different approach to find ways to improve our safety living and quality of life (in Fair haven) AND affordable homeowner ship it is a challenge! And it is obvious that get involve with a few ideas in just not enough. Have a better understanding of the real factors that will affect to improve and provoke actions to invest value, quality and better behavior from the community will be a Neighborhood strategy development, this can be the key to really start something solid.

Detour01
As a working mother and a home owner, I can tell you with a strong voice. Affordable homeowner SOULD NOT HAS TO BE in a neighborhood with destructive behaviors. Drug and prostitution are present because for a long time “minor behavior” have being allowed and let them go because (I love this part) is a “cultural thing”. No is not a cultural thing I’m from Mexico City and I agreed with you ,It should no matter where the money or cultural, statues or race is living it should be an equal mentality of respect the peace and right to be in a healthy and friendly neighborhood.

Still saying “Marketing” a dangerous neighborhood with out think thinking or taking any responsibility of the impact this will have it is silly. Media is making million of dollars for one reason “eyes ball” getting the attention, sold and a lot of profits. I think and I just dreaming .The Medias with this behaviors that fell they don’t have any responsibility with the community they are surround it. They should be helping with the “bill” of rebuilding the community. Hope the New Media Has More civilize conscious and fresh ideas to promote the news and information for the citizens in general. I’m a believer of go green.

Well I hope we're not dreaming, change happens all the time with or without "our" imput. I just want to do my part to keep things on the upswing here in Fair Haven. Of course our acts connot influence the state of the economy, which has something to do with the way things are. We can have some impact on real estate values through a more positive perception of Fair Haven backed by personal & group acts that continue to hammer away at the "bad" element. I hope I didn't actually say I thought things get "let go" because they might have a basis in "culture", therefore New Haven pussyfoots around the issue so as not to "offend" anybody. But I thought it might be so. Laws are laws for everybody to follow, period. If you want to be humanitarian and liberal on some issues of the "big picture", fine. But not traffic laws and quality of life stuff. To be clear, I just moved here after being in Atlanta for 3 years. I would cut off my right arm before I set foot in such a racist place again. I would take here and this neighborhood over it any day.

Lee, yes I do want to continue with this conversation. I would like to bring some of that over here to Dover St.

I heard you and I’m not taking any stand for racists or liberals and personally not taking any offence. Since I’m a Latina I can say that OUR culture DOSEN’T preaches such unacceptable behaviors of discredited or put down any other culture. What is clear to me that there is not a reason of why color, culture, religion or status should play an important role to make decisions and provide a good living for Homeowners and good renters since and we are the ones how work for a living and have family orientation as a reason to live in New Haven., regardless any other personal situation.

As an American Citizen also I can add that now days “with the economy” we should stop for a second and remember that everything that it shines it is gold. And this is not what we try to comment here. Simple inters for us to speck up for our benefit to have a decent place to live with our families and friends and avoid getting to any extreme of any case.

I have the same conversation with a home owner or renter, black, white, yellow or any color it doesn’t make any difference to me since culture is one of my favor subject. You don’t have to understand and believe it or practice JUST RESPECT OTHER POINT OF VIEW. And focus how we can work together as a community. If we can pass that we may be saving a lot of energy and effort to move forward.

Respectfully, CH

I heard you and I’m not taking any stand for racists or liberals and personally not taking any offence. Since I’m a Latina I can say that OUR culture DOSEN’T preaches such unacceptable behaviors of discredited or put down any other culture. What is clear to me that there is not a reason of why color, culture, religion or status should play an important role to make decisions and provide a good living for Homeowners and good renters since if we are the ones how work for a living and have family orientation as a reason to live in New Haven., regardless any other personal situation.

As an American Citizen also I can add that now days “with the economy” we should stop for a second and remember that not that it shine is gold. And this is not what we try to comment here. Simple inters for all to speck up for our benefit to have a decent place to live with our families and friends and avoid getting to any extreme of any case.

I talk in the same way with a home owner or renter, black, white, yellow or any color it doesn’t make any difference to me since culture is one of my favor subject. You don’t have to understand and believe it or practice JUST RESPECT OTHER POINT OF VIEW. And focus how we can work together as a community. If we can pass that we may be saving a lot of energy and effort to move forward.

Respectfully, CH

Lee
When I finished checking the website you posted I call you. Thanks.

sorry don't know what happen my massage show twice.

CH:
Great communication and would be nice to meet and work with you sometime. We seem to have same goals. My e-mail is tcliverylinkinc@aol.com if you get any ideas from Lee's Fall Creek Consulting website or anything else.

detour01

seems like a good opportunity for tomorrow afternoon to meet each other. Tomorrow we are going to have our first meeting of the year with URI, can be a good chance for you to meet my neighbors, take a look around our area and also meet some of the folk of URI ( our Yale inter this year and the manager of URI).
If you have a free time tomorrow around 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm you are invited to come and join us,the address is

49 Main Street
corner with Alton and Main.
I'm sure you know Lombard Street when you find Main going down 49 Main is a white building.

If you can't make it let's keep in touch to see if we can work, share and meet the people who has the same interest than us. come and share or get some ideas and I can give you Lee's information and you can get in contact with him too.

detour01

Our alderman Joe Rodriguez was walkig and talking people around your area today and he said that he meet you. Hope you can come tomorrow, I send you a massage to your email and you will have my too. You will see that their is hope in the air!

To me, this is a loosing battle sad to say. There is a vacant property across the street from me. Relatively nice house and property for this area. It was purchased by a non-profit and will be compltely gutted top to bottom. New everything. It will then be GIVEN to a family in need - all bills paid from what I understand. I listened to the rep from that non-profit last night and was thinking it was sort of a nice idea. Then I realized what will happen if it doesn't work out with said people in 'need' and they just turn out to be "more of the same" in Fair Haven. It's nice to do nice things for people but I'm afraid it will not help housing values in the long run and actually moves us futher away from what my point was in the first place. Se la vie.