Minutes: August 2014 Meeting

[Christel Manning]

The Economic Development group met on Monday, August 11, 2014, from 6 – 7 pm at 333 Front Street. Present: Christel Manning, Lee Cruz, Natalie Coe, Kathleen Flynn, Melissa Waldron, David Hunter.

Items discussed:

1. Blighted Housing: Christel got a commitment from Eric Johnson (LCI director) and Laurie Lopez (LCI Neighborhood Specialists) to attend our next meeting on Sept. 8^th. Lee spoke with Amy Marx (New Haven Legal Aid) about an initiative to take legal action concerning the problem of government/banks sitting on foreclosed properties. Natalie wrote to Amy describing her own frustrating experience dealing with various agencies responsible for #15 Lewis street. Lee will follow up with Amy on this. Discussion followed about how to structure our meeting with Eric. Ideas included:

• Main problem seems to be that government/banks sit on foreclosed houses for a long time, aggravating blight. How can we get these homes to the market more quickly?
• CSNA might organize a summit on how to address these kinds of regulatory problems; ask Eric who are the people we need to bring together?
• How common is the problem in other New Haven neighborhoods? What, if anything, is being done about it in those neighborhoods?
• Would the city be willing to lead/participated in a legal action to address this?
• What is Eric’s vision for addressing this problem? What are some tangible outcomes against which success of this vision can be evaluated? How can CSNA help realize this vision?
• Ask for a follow-up meeting.
• Meeting could be held at Mary Wade Home or at Christel’s house. We should announce event widely; Christel will write something up and post it.

 

2. Dining Out Night: Wednesday, August 27, 6-8 pm at the restaurant formerly known as Salsa; it now has a very long, unpronounceable name.

 

3. Middletown Ave. Bridge: Garden has been planted and area outside fence cleaned up; we are waiting on state regulators to give permission to take down fence perpendicular to street on water side. Dave Steinhard (Fair Haven business owner and former resident of Front Street) has agreed to donate tarp to cover fence.

 

4. Other announcements:

• David said Mary Wade Home is looking to fill several positions including Administrative Assistant, Property Manager, and Nursing Administrator. 
• David is president of local Rotary Club; would like ideas for RC to get involved in Fair Haven.
• Lee gave a walking tour to two realtors interested in the area; is willing to do same with other interested realtors.