Alders approve $25 million for city, Long Wharf Mall

New Haven's Board of Aldermen brought the Long Wharf Mall closer to reality this summer while at the same time making provisions to protect local businesses. On Tues., Aug. 2, the board approved two $25 million bonds affecting future mall developments. One bond was a loan to pay for the development of the mall itself, the other a direct injection to revitalize downtown New Haven businesses, who fear the mall's competition will hurt them. In a later addition to the original mall agreement, the board passed a series of amendments further protecting the future mall's employees.

Passing the money required to finance the mall generated extensive debate, while the money allocated for downtown passed quickly despite the objections of Ward One Alder Jelani Lawson, MC '96, and Ward Two Alder Julio Gonzalez, CC '99. Lawson insists there was little indication of where the money would actually be used. "The budget submitted contained literally only six items," he said of the $25 million allocation. "By issuing this bond, we are putting city taxpayers in debt $42 million over the length of the bond; I just don't know if it is fair to ask for the bond without knowing what it is really going toward." Lawson also believed that the board should have deliberated longer before voting on the board. Of the 22 hours spent deliberating, it is very fair to say that no more than one hour was spent discussing and debating [the $25 million earmarked for the downtown area]."

The lengthy discussions about the loan to the mall, however, evinced the Board of Aldermen's determination to consider the mall's impact upon the city. Lawson cited the "diligence in debating" over the loan to mall developers as evidence of a deeply-felt concern amongst alders for the future of downtown New Haven.

A further indication of the board's commitment to ensuring that city residents benefit as fully as possible from the mall deal was an amendment passed by Lawson, Gonzalez, and Ward seven Alder Esther Armand. The amendment included a $2 million childcare subsidy for mall employees. It also created a hiring committee to ensure that city residents will compose at least 35 percent of mall employees. To address worries about the future of the downtown area as a vibrant commercial district, the amendment included an agreement by developers to advertise downtown New Haven businesses in four different places within the mall. "For me, this made the development agreement something that represents the type of vision and concern that we as legislators need to have when spending taxpayer money," Lawson said.

Back to News...