"Let's dig some dirt!" declared Mike Piscitelli - and New Haven took a step out of its urban renewal past into its New Urbanist future.
Piscitelli, city government's acting economic development administrator, made the declaration Monday afternoon while presiding over a groundbreaking for Phase II of "Downtown Crossing."
That's the three-part project stitching downtown and the Hill back together by gradually filling in the former Route 34 Connector mini-highway-to-nowhere, which the government built during the mid-20th century ill-fated urban renewal effort to revive the city by demolishing neighborhoods and redesigning the landscape to enable suburban drivers to drive in and out of town as fast as possible.
Phase II involves making Orange Street a through road again to South Orange Street by filling in the highway at its first exit. The plans call for the state's first protected bike lane at an intersection plus a pedestrian safety island mid-way through and restricted turning lanes for cars and trucks. The project frees up 10 acres of former infill land (plus the 4.5-acre former Coliseum site) that the city can sell to private developers to build on. A group called Site Projects is preparing a mural for the State Street underpass near Union Station as part of Phase II. The overall philosophy behind Downtown Crossing draws on new urbanist principles that call for making urban renewal-ravaged city streets walkable and bikeable again with mixes of uses on every block. Read More
Gateway, Housatonic students could be guaranteed Quinnipiac admission under partnership
Certain students who graduate from Gateway and Housatonic community colleges will be guaranteed admission at Quinnipiac University under a new agreement announced Wednesday.
The agreement also allows students at the community colleges to take one Quinnipiac course per year for free, with a maximum of three courses per student. The partnership goes into effect immediately.
Gateway and Housatonic students who graduate with a GPA of 3.0 will be allowed to transfer to Quinnipiac for their junior year. The students must earn an associate degree in arts or an associate of science in business, college of technology engineering science, nursing or an allied health degree. They must also meet other Quinnipiac requirements for their intended major and transfer students.
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Tweed growth would more than triple its economic impact, study says
Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport's economic impact on this area of the state would more than triple if service to three new destinations were added, according to a study conducted for the Tweed Airport Authority.
The current economic impact, based on 2017 data, is $78.86 million, according to the study. That includes $35.32 million in wages paid to airport employees as well as workers whose jobs benefit either directly or indirectly from Tweed's operation.
If three new destinations were added, it is estimated Tweed's economic impact would grow to $275 million.
Discussion of Tweed's economic impact has taken on a new sense of importance following a federal appeals court decision earlier this month that ruled in favor of the airport's longstanding lawsuit seeking to strike down a state statute limiting the length of the main runway.
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Malone Engineering Center
Michael Marsland/Yale University
Architect César Pelli dies after a storied career designing iconic buildings
From the United States to Malaysia, Cesar Pelli's legacy looms large in skylines around the world.
The famed architect, known for his innovative skyscrapers and use of colored glass, died at the age of 92.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of our founder, mentor, and great friend, César," his business partner Fred W. Clarke tweeted Sunday.
"He was a gifted architect and teacher, two callings he effortlessly combined as one. I am profoundly grateful to my great friend and partner."
César Pelli won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for designing the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Argentine-born architect amassed more than 300 awards and 13 honorary degrees during his illustrious career, his firm's website says.
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