Additional perspective from Jayuan Carter The article does no justice and does not reflect what actually happened in the meeting.
My perspective on rezoning included:
Which boats will rise? Where is the economic impact study? Data haven (great information btw) is not the study. Where is the raw data so we can interpret the findings collectively. This dialogue should have continued periodacally since 2014 so things would not be how it is currently. That's 5 plus years we could have worked on this collectively to create a viable sustainable plan.
In order to make housing affordable which requires time is the creation of interests through small popup stations, food carts, trucks, planned pop up markets to stimulate the local economy and attract/welcome neighboring residents and visitors.
Studies have shown housing before uplifting the economy will need incentives and public benefits to stabilize however if you work on the latter more locals can actually benefit from the process without too much tax or public incentives.
Updated building codes that are not grandfathered will require fire suppression, fire sprinklers, elevators, annual inspections once you build 4 stories or more. This alone will keep the cost high.
Across the country changes like this especially with ambiguous terms creates an example on how the next city or locale will adopt or develop its land. I suggested the Dixwell corridor need to be separated from the Grand ave. and Whalley ave. since we are organized and we know the buyers of The Plaza and The Elks. Let's work with them over the next seven months because the Q House will be the new home for many of the entities in the Plaza. However the other properties will be for the taking. I chose seven months because the Qhouse should be completed in 17 months. A year with the connections these exceptional three men (Highsmith, Clemons, and McCraven) have can get the funding needed to build their project.
Everyone points out the obvious social and economic issues however we are here to discuss the power of obtaining equity and increased ownership to actual participate in capitalism besides being the consumer as usual. I want to work on creating a land trust or a real estate syndicate or maybe a combination of other "economic vehicles" to include more access to capital and wealth among the residents.
In addition, community equity sharing can be another option so when buildings are flipped money is placed in a "coffer"
to only benefit affordable housing efforts or some sort.
to only benefit affordable housing efforts or some sort.
New Haven and The Dixwell Corridor can be on the right side of history if city planning can adopt what we are communicating as we meet. The black community does not retain and exchange its dollars long enough to have growth for the multitude. Let's show this nation what true coopaeration looks like. Small to large local businesses banking with local institutions to enhance the quality of life among its residents rather than what we see nationally especially in the black community.
When you look at the map The Plaza and the site for Brooks's project is not the entire corridors. We can own and control the other parcels of land because incremental developments adds value as well.
This is not about pitting us against each other. Its necessary dialogue to create compromise so more boats can lift when the rising tide instead of the exceptional handful while other boats will be recruited or travel here to fill in the voids.
Also y'all intentionally left the part where the owners and city employees apologized because they thought two public data collecting meetings such as the main street project held in 2014 and the business vision held in 2015 along with private behind the scenes meetings was inclusive enough.
Let's use Dixwell's glory days as motivation to bridge intergenerational gaps and increase the opportunities for residents to participate in economics besides being the consumer.
City Plan Director Aicha Woods and Deputy Director for Zoning Jenna Montesano were on hand taking notes and passing out cards for participants to formally put their two cents, and more, into the record. This Wednesday night, the City Plan Commissioners are slated to receive the plan from Woods and her staff, including changes that might result from public input, and then to take a vote.
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