Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

October 29, 2021

Long Wharf residential towers clear another hurdle

RENDERING | CONTRIBUTED The proposed Fusco Long Wharf residential project, as seen from Long Wharf Drive.
By Liese Klein

Fusco Corp.’s ambitious plans for New Haven’s Long Wharf cleared another hurdle on Wednesday after a positive vote by two Board of Alders committees.

After three hours of presentations and discussion, 10 members of the board’s Community Development and Legislation committees voted unanimously to approve Fusco’s plan and send it on. The full Board of Alders is expected to vote on the project by the end of the year.  

Lynn Fusco, president of Fusco Corp., expanded on earlier remarks about the timing and promise of the as-yet-unnamed project, which would house 500 market-rate apartments in two waterfront towers.

“We believe that now, with the residential market as ginned up as it is and the equity market, it’s time to build,” Fusco said. Her company owns the parcel, now home to the defunct Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale, in addition to the neighboring Maritime Center commercial property.

“We wanted always to do something more than just having an office park here,” Fusco said. “We wanted to have more parkland, more public gathering spots, we wanted some commercial activity, a marketplace, and of course residential. We are in the business of helping towns and cities help shape their future. We have the track record,” she added. 

After lengthy discussion of potential risks of harm and damage from coastal storms, alders seemed to accept that Fusco’s design and evacuation plans would mitigate risk. 

“The question is, is this the right thing to do in a time of climate change and global sea rise?” Alder Adam Marchand said. “Good followup is going to be very important... We need to make sure it's executed very well.”

All of the officials seemed to agree with Alder Sal DeCola of Ward 18, a district which faces the proposed project from across New Haven Harbor. 

“This project can be a catalyst for the whole Long Wharf area, for the future of the city,” DeCola said. 

“This area needs absolutely positive growth,” agreed Alder Carmen Rodriguez of the Hill neighborhood, adjacent to Long Wharf. “This area needs a lot of refresh.”

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF