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March 23, 2023

Developer breaks ground on State Street apartments

Photo | Liese Klein Developer Alex Opuszynski speaks at the ground-breaking of a new apartment complex at 793 State St. in New Haven on March 23, 2023.
By Liese Klein

A New Haven apartment building that began with a derelict lot and a stretch of abandoned street got a few shovelfuls closer to completion on Thursday with a ground-breaking ceremony at 793 State St.

Developer Alex Opuszynski gathered dignitaries and family members to mark the start of construction on the site of a 17-unit complex, which will house 15 apartments and two retail spaces.

“It will be called the Vanguard on State, which seemed fitting as I like to think of the building design as actually making us a vanguard by way of the design implementation,” Opuszynski said.

Designers and architects on the project took care to create a structure that will fit into the neighborhood of older homes and small businesses, he said. Two of the apartments will be set aside as affordable, with the rest to be rented at market rate, he said.

Photo | Liese Klein
Alex Opuszynski (center) gets help from his son Atlas at the ground-breaking of a new apartment complex at 793 State St. as Mayor Justin Elicker, Deputy Economic Development Director Carlos Eyzaguirre and Alder Eli Sabin look on.

The new building is also unique in that it will rise in part on land once paved as a section of Pulaski Street, abandoned after it was cut off by construction of Interstate 91. The fenced-off section of street and a derelict building sat for years at the site, long considered the most blighted in the area, Alder Eli Sabin said. 

“Thank you, Alex, for investing in our neighborhood and beautifying the spot,” Sabin said. 

Citing the city’s planned State Street corridor improvement project, Sabin said the new complex will add to work improving both upper and lower stretches of the major route. 

“We’re really connecting this whole stretch of the city, bringing more housing and more restaurants and businesses and more opportunities for people to get around safely and connect with our amazing community,” Sabin said. 

Opuszynski announced the State Street project in 2021 at a celebration of Upper State Street businesses. 

Opuszynski said he had also launched a new company, Atlas Building and Consulting, which has also been active on developments in New Britain. His Vanguard Private Client Group real estate company will occupy retail frontage in the State Street building.

“It’s through collective efforts that we beautify the city, build a strong base of local and minority-owned construction businesses and provide a mix of both new and affordable housing,”  Opuszynski said. “We're looking forward to bringing both of those to a city near you.”

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.

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