Selling a Neighborhood Eyesore
By Samantha Moore, Matthew Morris and Sarah Harris
Plans are finally in motion for the former Hamden Middle School along Newhall Street, a building sitting on contaminated soil that has been closed for nearly a decade. On May 4, members of the town’s legislative council approved the sale of the building for $1, explaining that their options were limited. The property will be developed by the Mutual Housing Association of South Central Connecticut and turned into 99 apartment units.
Download the legislative council's minutes from the May 4 meeting here:
Plans are finally in motion for the former Hamden Middle School along Newhall Street, a building sitting on contaminated soil that has been closed for nearly a decade. On May 4, members of the town’s legislative council approved the sale of the building for $1, explaining that their options were limited. The property will be developed by the Mutual Housing Association of South Central Connecticut and turned into 99 apartment units.
Download the legislative council's minutes from the May 4 meeting here:
lcminutes-05-04-15.pdf | |
File Size: | 85 kb |
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A share of the mostly one and two-bedroom apartments would be rented under the state’s affordable housing statutes. There are also plans for a community center, including a gym, a garden and green space. Currently, construction is set to begin in early 2017 and completed in 2018.
The sale is part of a larger “housing, recreation, jobs” initiative for the community, an area with more than 240 homes that have been undergoing soil cleanup for several years.
Dale Kroop, a local politician and long-time Hamden resident serves as the town’s Director of Economic and Community Development. Kroop spearheaded the “Newhall Project,” as the remediation has come to be called.
“Our hope is to help rebuild the community," Kroop said. "Some residents have not been fans of this new plan, but our hope is once it is completed, they will see the benefits and be able to reap them."
Local residents have been looking forward to the day when the abandoned building is given new life. Donald Carter, a lifelong resident lives close to the old school, hopes the renovations will be valuable for the community. He attended the former middle school during the 1970s, back when it was known as the Michael J. Whalen Jr. High School.
He views the property as an eyesore. “It’s been closed for many years now and it’s just been basically a blight,” he said.
Dale Kroop, a local politician and long-time Hamden resident serves as the town’s Director of Economic and Community Development. Kroop spearheaded the “Newhall Project,” as the remediation has come to be called.
“Our hope is to help rebuild the community," Kroop said. "Some residents have not been fans of this new plan, but our hope is once it is completed, they will see the benefits and be able to reap them."
Local residents have been looking forward to the day when the abandoned building is given new life. Donald Carter, a lifelong resident lives close to the old school, hopes the renovations will be valuable for the community. He attended the former middle school during the 1970s, back when it was known as the Michael J. Whalen Jr. High School.
He views the property as an eyesore. “It’s been closed for many years now and it’s just been basically a blight,” he said.
Some residents have serious concerns about the plan to convert the school into housing units.
Linda Shultz, who can see the former middle school from her house, said she isn’t looking forward to having additional construction in the area, since they have been dealing with trucks and other construction for years now.
“I would love to see it taken down, leave the field, leave the basketball courts, add tennis courts and just mow it,” she said.
“I haven’t heard anyone from this area say that they think it’s a good idea.”
Since the Hamden middle schoolers and teachers moved out in 2007, the building has been used sparingly. For a short time, it was a Hamden Police Department substation. But after flooding concerns and damage to the building forced Hamden Police from the building, the middle school has sat vacant.
Old police coffee cups lay empty on shelves and scattered across old classroom floors. Vines and leaves cover walkways and the walls. Signs pointing to the gym and the principal's office still hang on the wall. Dust covers the floors and windows, making a location that was once for students to learn, a home for rodents.
Even Kroop acknowledged that the area needs change.
“There are many iconic buildings and sites in this site that have been sorely neglected," he said. "I was at a meeting last night about the middle school site and I was driving back about 10:00 at night and I was struck by how dark this key area of the neighborhood really is.”
The transfer of ownership to MHASCC is expected to take two years. In the meantime, residents hope they will have more say in the process.
“The government is of the people, for the people, and they will not even talk to us about this," Schultz said. "They didn’t listen to our concerns.”
Shultz has had difficulty getting in contact with the town councils about the selling of the former middle school and wonders who came up with that idea. She has sent a few letters around but has yet to receive a response.
“I asked them to at least resurvey the current residents on how they feel about this sale.”
Photographs by Sarah Harris and Rebecca Castagna. 360 image by Samantha Moore.
Linda Shultz, who can see the former middle school from her house, said she isn’t looking forward to having additional construction in the area, since they have been dealing with trucks and other construction for years now.
“I would love to see it taken down, leave the field, leave the basketball courts, add tennis courts and just mow it,” she said.
“I haven’t heard anyone from this area say that they think it’s a good idea.”
Since the Hamden middle schoolers and teachers moved out in 2007, the building has been used sparingly. For a short time, it was a Hamden Police Department substation. But after flooding concerns and damage to the building forced Hamden Police from the building, the middle school has sat vacant.
Old police coffee cups lay empty on shelves and scattered across old classroom floors. Vines and leaves cover walkways and the walls. Signs pointing to the gym and the principal's office still hang on the wall. Dust covers the floors and windows, making a location that was once for students to learn, a home for rodents.
Even Kroop acknowledged that the area needs change.
“There are many iconic buildings and sites in this site that have been sorely neglected," he said. "I was at a meeting last night about the middle school site and I was driving back about 10:00 at night and I was struck by how dark this key area of the neighborhood really is.”
The transfer of ownership to MHASCC is expected to take two years. In the meantime, residents hope they will have more say in the process.
“The government is of the people, for the people, and they will not even talk to us about this," Schultz said. "They didn’t listen to our concerns.”
Shultz has had difficulty getting in contact with the town councils about the selling of the former middle school and wonders who came up with that idea. She has sent a few letters around but has yet to receive a response.
“I asked them to at least resurvey the current residents on how they feel about this sale.”
Photographs by Sarah Harris and Rebecca Castagna. 360 image by Samantha Moore.