Local government debates proposed New Haven mall

In April, the State of Connecticut allotted $60 million to fund the construction of a proposed new mall on New Haven's Long Wharf Drive. While the city believes the new mall would spark urban renewal and create jobs, suburbanites are not sure the state's investment is worthwhile.

PATRICK MCGARVEY/YH SHOPPERS' PARADISE?: New Haven's Long Wharf Drive could be the home of a new $60 million mall if city government has its way.

Michael Kuczkowski, spokesperson for New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., estimated that the mall would probably produce 2,800 new jobs. He explained that the Long Wharf site was chosen because there was no room for downtown development.

But State Representative Richard Roy of Milford questioned the ability of the mall to produce quality jobs for city residents. "Retail jobs are usually part-time, with low pay and poor benefits," he said. " I would like to see people given the opportunity to move up economically. If the mall will just replace some downtown part-time jobs with new part-time jobs, then I do not think the project is worth it."

State Representative Raymond V. Collins of West Haven added, "If the city wants to revitalize downtown, it should invest in the center of New Haven."

A retail academy would be linked to the proposed mall in order to encourage businesses to hire New Haven residents. Currently, the Enterprise Community program offers training for prospective Omni Hotel, Shaws, and Super K-Mart employees. A similar program would make city residents employable for the jobs the mall would create.

Most malls in the area are privately owned, but the proposed Long Wharf mall would be owned by the state of Connecticut and paid for by Connecticut citizens' tax dollars. Companies like Westfield, Inc., which owns malls in Milford, West Haven, and Meriden, see state support of the mall as unfair. "I am opposed to public tax dollars being directed to private retail. We have never been given the same advantage," Westfield representative Gary Karl said.

The state's funds would also help attract big-name retailers. "I don't think it's fair for [the state] to bribe megastores like Nordstrom into coming [to the Long Wharf Mall] with public tax dollars," Roy said. "Why do they need public tax dollars when these stores already have that much money in the bank? Milford doesn't give stores incentives to come here."

The mall proposal has created concern that it might compete with other shopping centers in the New Haven area. However, this effect is difficult to gauge. "It depends on what kind of stores the new mall puts in, what kind of clientele it attracts," Brian Deis, an employee of Foot Locker at the Chapel Square Mall, said.

"Each New Haven neighborhood is distinctly different and shops in its own specific market," Kuczkowski said. "The [proposed] mall will not compete with the specific types of retail in downtown New Haven."

"I'm not an expert on the need for a mall, but I think it will bring jobs [to the area]," North Haven First Electman Tony Rescigno said. But North Haven has no mall of its own; suburbs with malls worry that the proposed new mall would detract from their business.

In addition, a mall at Long Wharf could exacerbate the city's traffic problems. "Any increase in traffic is bad. By noon in the summer, [Interstate 95] is already ridiculously backed up," Roy said.

Rescigno, who supports the mall, said the traffic problem would have to be dealt with. "We must redo some major roadwork on I-91 and I-95. Otherwise, it'll be a big mess."

Next month, the city will submit a development agreement to the Board of Aldermen, the first of many committees that must review the proposal before it can be executed.

But according to Roy, the mall just isn't the answer the city's problems. A successful urban renewal project, he claimed, would capitalize on New Haven's greatest assets: its arts, its restaurants, and Yale. "It appears the city is deserting downtown," Roy said. "There is this perception that cities are dangerous, and by building a mall, it seems we are building a fortress to keep this danger out. This means the bad guys are winning."

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