At the former New Haven Clock Company factory on Hamilton Street, is time running out for the only remaining tenant?
A housing developer has a $38 million plan to revitalize an old industrial building in New Haven, but Scores Gentlemen’s Club and Steakhouse is challenging an eviction notice.
“I think it’s good to develop a building that’s been sitting dormant for a long time and we need affordable housing,” Ellen Keane from New Haven said.
Scores is located in one corner of the 130,000-square foot property purchased by Oregon-based Reed Realty at the end of June.
“I specialize in redeveloping historical buildings,” local developer Bill Kraus told NBC Connecticut.
Kraus said the plan is to transform the industrial building that became a home for artist and musicians into 130 new apartments.
“A significant portion of it will be for artists, musicians, creatives of all kinds, makers, as well as the general affordable housing community,” Kraus said.
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In court documents, the developer’s lawyer said Scores’ lease became month to month after expiring on March 31, 2017. He argues Scores should be evicted because, as of July, the lease had expired due to a lapse of time. The attorney for Scores is pushing back as the case goes through court.
“We don’t comment on ongoing litigation,” Kraus said, “but I will say our plan for that space is to create residential lofts.”
The project is receiving public funding from the city and state for environmental remediation that has already begun, Kraus said. He added construction on the new apartments should begin in the first quarter of 2019.
NBC Connecticut spoke briefly with the attorney for Scores and is still waiting for comment on behalf of the club’s owners.
