by Alina Rose Chen The New Haven independent
Alders gave a preliminary green light to the city accepting $4 million from the state to make the New Haven Green safer for pedestrians and less traveled by vehicles in the center, while promising to keep the public in the loop about design details.
The approval came at a hearing Thursday night of the Board of Alders City Services and Environmental Policy Committee (CSEP). The matter now goes before the full board for final approval.
The grant, part of the U.S. Congress’s Directed Spending program, would fund the installation of raised crosswalks and intersections at key entry points along the Green’s four bordering streets. These improvements aim to enhance pedestrian safety by slowing vehicle traffic and increasing ADA accessibility. The federal money would come to the city via the state Department of Transportation (DOT).
As part of the plan, the city intends to reconfigure Temple Street into a more “historic cross section.” The proposed changes would convert the current three-lane road into a one-way, single-lane woonerf (a formerly car-centric space converted into a more mixed-modal, pedestrian-friendly route) with space for parking. The street would be elevated to match the level of the Green in order to increase accessibility. Meanwhile CT Transit bus routes currently running along Temple Street would be relocated to Church Street.
Throughout the meeting, city officials and alders repeatedly clarified that the vote was solely to accept the $4 million grant, not to approve a final design. Several noted the urgency of securing funding amid uncertainty at the federal level. Once the funds are released, the city will have 36 months to complete the project. If all goes well, construction is expected to begin in 2026.
Still, much of the conversation focused not on the funding itself, but on the project’s potential impact on the Green, the surrounding churches, and the broader community.
Chief Administrative Officer Justin McCarthy, along with Deputy CAO Rebecca Bombero and Assistant City Engineer Dawn Henning, emphasized that city staff have been in ongoing dialogue with the Proprietors of the Green (a self-perpetuating quintet that owns the park), area churches, Yale, and members of the Board of Alders. McCarthy reiterated that the plans currently available online are conceptual and that the grant in question is restricted to roadway safety rather than changes to the Green’s open space.
“I think the question you’re asking is, ‘Will [the development] continue to have community and alder engagement?’ And the answer is yes, but it will occur in sections as they are approved for funding,” McCarthy said in response to the committee’s concerns. “Right now, I think there’s this conversation that this is all one big project, and that’s a misnomer. There are a lot of projects being funded from a lot of different places, and they’re all very specific. This one is getting lumped into the big Green project, but this is strictly a roadway project.”
Several community members voiced concerns about being left out of the broader planning effort.
“I appreciate the sentiment that there is intent to have conversation and dialogue, but I have not experienced enough since Dec. 2, when we received an email letting us know about the the first public meeting on December 10th, eight days away during Advent, the busiest time of year for churches,” said Rev. Ashley Cleere of Center Church on the Green. “We felt blindsided — and we’ve had three meetings in the mayor’s office since. I think there’s a need for greater engagement and dialogue.”
Rev. Cleere said that the safety of the church and its members depends heavily on Temple Street. She expressed concern that the redesign could impede access for emergency vehicles — a pressing issue, given the number of elderly church members. In response, New Haven Fire Chief John Alston reassured attendees that emergency access would be preserved.
“We are actively part of the planning process for any street modifications,” Alston said. He acknowledged that while the redesign would affect fire department operations, it would not reduce safety or hinder emergency response.
Anstress Farwell of the Urban Design League voiced concerns raised during recent walking tours she organized with local leaders. The concerns include potential impacts on historic preservation, environmental conditions, the health of the elm trees, and broader issues of equity, civic participation, and transportation access.
“The consensus coming out of these discussions is to recommend that the CSEP Committee establish an open and comprehensive community planning process for the Green as a condition for accepting the Connecticut DOT funds,” Farwell said. “Our purpose is not to object to the city receiving these, or other, funds.”
During the voting process, Downtown Ward 1 Alder Kiana Flores, whose ward includes the Upper Green, addressed concerns raised by church representatives.
“The New Haven Green is a very integral part of the city, especially in Ward 1. I know we’ve had some discussion between me and Ward 7 Alder Eli Sabin [whose ward includes the Lower Green] with the churches — and I can assure you that we will continue to have those discussions,” Flores said to the representatives of the churches gathered at the meeting. “You are integral to this process, and I will make sure that we include you in all decisions as we would for all the stakeholders in this conversation.”
East Rock/Fair Haven Alder Caroline Smith also called for more meaningful opportunities for public participation.
“It sounds like the engagement that has taken place is one, a broad-level community engagement session; two, an open website forum where people can submit feedback; and [three], many small-level stakeholder meetings,” Smith said. “We can do better than that. What I really heard was this hunger for a more comprehensive, energetic, and exciting community engagement process that includes specific focus groups, especially key stakeholders, the churches, and young people.”
Alina Rose Chen Photo
Deputy CAO Rebecca Bombero, Asst. City Engineer Dawn Henning, and CAO Justin McCarthy testify at alder hearing.