by Thomas Breen The New Haven independent
The Elks Club plans to build a new 6,000 square-foot cultural center with classrooms, a computer lab, and spaces for “intergenerational connection” on Dixwell Avenue between Henry and Munson streets.
The group’s new home is slated for a site four blocks up from the historic African American fraternal organization’s former home, which has since been demolished and is now at the center of ConnCORP’s Dixwell Plaza redevelopment.
The Elks Club’s new-construction plans are on the agenda for Wednesday’s City Plan Commission meeting. The group is seeking site plan approval for the development of the new East Rock Lodge #141 building at 321, 325, and 329 Dixwell Ave.
Those three properties — all of which are owned by the Elks — currently contain an empty single-story church building and two vacant lots.
Elks Club Exalted Ruler Gary Hogan, who is also the alder for Beaver Hills’ Ward 28, told the Independent on Monday that the new cultural center should cost around $3.2 million to build. He said that the Elks had applied for a state grant through Round 8 of the Community Investment Fund 2030 program, but were not successful.
“We are actively seeking to increase our membership and funding” for this project, he said. Construction should begin in March 2027 and complete 16 to 18 months later.
Hogan said the project’s architect is ISOPARM Design Group’s Dwayne Dancy, and that the development’s design derives some inspiration from iconic local Paul Rudolph-designed building’s like the Temple Street Garage.
The group’s site plan application describes the Elks as “a Dixwell Historic African American Institution [that] has been the cornerstone of community service and leadership for more than 100 years.” It states that the Elks are committed to “uplifting the community through youth mentorship, family engagement, and senior services, it has provided programs that strengthen lives and foster unity across generations.”
Click here and here to read recent articles about some of the Elks’ programs for seniors and kids on Dixwell Avenue.
The Elks sold their former home at 87 Webster St. in 2019 to make way for ConnCORP’s First Haven project, which is currently under construction and will include a new office building, apartments, retail space, and much more. Dixwell Avenue is also home to the recently rebuilt Q House community center and Stetson branch library.
“Given the Elks’ history and mission, it has remained committed to serving Newhallville and acquired 321, 325, and 329 Dixwell Avenue to newly construct a 6,000 sq. ft. cultural center that will preserve the cultural heritage of The Elks, promote community engagement and provide vital safe spaces where the community can gather,” the Elks’ site plan application states.
“This new facility will enable the Elks to triple its program capacity, host a wider range of community activities, and expand its reach to youth, families, and seniors throughout the region. For decades, the [Elks have] addressed these needs through mentoring, volunteerism, and charitable outreach. A new cultural center will address these challenges by: 1) providing spaces for mentoring, after-school tutoring, and youth leadership activities; 2) offering meeting rooms and wellness areas for seniors to connect and stay active; and 3) creating a multipurpose venue for community events, workshops, and celebrations.”
The applications describes this new venue as a “modern, multi-use facility designed to promote intergenerational connection and community vitality. The facility will feature a youth and mentoring wing with classrooms where tutoring, mentoring, and leadership programs will be offered, a computer lab that will offer digital literacy and workforce readiness programs, and a space for seniors that will be accessible and be used for recreation, wellness, and fellowship. Lastly, it will include a multipurpose room for community meetings, celebrations, and events.”
The application also states that the Elks plan to demolish the existing church building at 329 Dixwell — formerly home to Freedom Temple Holiness Church — as part of this redevelopment project, which will include 32 on-site parking spaces.