West River Crossing Meeting on Tuesday

Accord to the West Haven Voice,

Tuesday (I assume this is October 10)
7 pm
Harriet North meeting room

the City Council will meet with West River Crossing LLC, as well as New York-based Ginsberg Development Corporation (who developed Haverstraw, NY), who reportedly has a join venture agreement with West River Crossing LLC.

Apparently, there is a two page advertisement (which isn't in the online version, which is what I read) that is trying to drum up support for the meeting.

It sounds like there are lots of politics going on; West River Crossing, LLC was originally the devloper pegged for the project, but that was rescinded by the current administration, who apparently wants to put the project out to bid. Carlo Centore, who runs West River Crossing, LLC, has been trying to at least be able to present his ideas to the city council, and this looks like it will be his chance.

The most interesting part of the article (to me) is the last paragraph:

If the council allows the firm to come back in as the preferred developer, it would be able get things in motion almost immediately, according to Centore. The project that they have planned would be very expensive townhouses along the harbor. They could bring and estimated $12 million yearly in new taxes. If the project goes back out to bid, both sides agree it will set the project back another 2-3 years.

$12 million in tax revenue is, of course, very tempting. However, I've voiced my concerns previously- high end housing requires services and ammenities that high end owners will expect. Most concerning, is that the riverfront is currently one of the less favorable waterfront districts of West Haven, with views of the gas depot, and the highway. There is a LOT of work tht would have to be done to clean up the area in order to attract the high end crowd, and crime would have to be reduced.

Easy transportation to NYC for commuters has to be put in place, and the train station project isn't yet fully funding, and won't start construction for several years yet. A ferry service to Long Island might be needed as well. Believe it or not ,but the coastline of West Haven is starting to be considered the most affordable for the NYC set who is looking for a home in the country. I know of real estate agents who place ads in NYC papers for waterfront property -- and who are getting bites.

There has to be sufficient marina resources, too - high end housing on the water requires places for the rich to play. That's a business that might bring some new business revenue to the area -- and should be acccounted for. Thankfully, New Haven has a fashionable theatre district, but I'd like to see our arts council come alive, too. The Milford boutiques would appeal to the high end crowd -- but wouldn't it be nice to have them in West Haven, too?

This isn't going to be a quick fix, and it won't happen overnight -- but if it can all be pulled together, and timed properly, it would be a HUGE asset in the long term. Remember, the delays on the work on Sawmill Road? It's my understanding that a large part of the delay was because the highway work was delayed - why open a hotel, restaurant or store, when the infrastructure needed is still years off - so it waited. The highway project is nearing completion... and so is Walmart, and Texas Roadside Grill, with the hotel work not far behind.

So let's hope that this is considered a LONG term fix (and I think we might be longer than a 5 year plan)... and let's hope that it's one long term vision that will help bring life back to this town.