Changes are coming to the former New Haven Coliseum site and officials announced $21.5 million in state funding for the second phase of the Downtown Crossing project.
The funds will go to infrastructure improvements necessary for the $395 million redevelopment, according to the governor's office.
“The Coliseum site redevelopment is a vital component of the Downtown Crossing project and is a once in a generation opportunity to rebuild 5.5 acres of prime land in the heart of New Haven,” Gov. Dannel Malloy said in a statement. “We have worked hard to establish Connecticut as a world-renowned life sciences hub. New Haven has had that foresight to plan and provide support for this growing workforce. As a result, the city has a prominent global presence in these expanding fields and is front and center in creating quality, high-paying jobs for its residents.”
Phase II of the Downtown Crossing project will remove a highway and replace it with urban boulevards.
The state funding will rejoin South Orange Street across the current Route 34 toward Union Station and allow Union Station, the Medical District and the Hill neighborhood to connect with Downtown New Haven.
New Haven Mayor Toni Harp said the old Coliseum site off Orange Street will be made more walkable by shifting blocks from the corner of the downtown area into the middle of it.
The project is expected to bring in 35 to 40 new small to mid-sized year-round businesses and up to 25 seasonal incubator businesses. It will also bring a mix of housing, ranging from market rate, low, moderate, workforce and affordable housing, according to the governor's office.
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This will be a major change along the 34 corridor, but business owners said they welcome the new development.
"It's going to create a density back into the area that's going to be fabulous for all the business people here," Robert Greenberg, of ACME Furniture, said.
The announcement will be made at 11:30 a.m.
