Year
2009-2011

Client
City of West Haven

Working with the City of West Haven through its Office of Planning and Economic Development, the Yale Urban Design prepared redevelopment strategy a comprehensive master-plan and for a former industrial waterfront area at the mouth of the West River between New Haven and West Haven. Formerly filled with tank farms and manufacturing, the last industrial tenant had recently moved manufacturing operations out of the area, leaving this dramatic stretch of waterfront property without any active uses.

The redevelopment strategy centered on creating a new commercial gateway to the City on the site, using parcels north and south of the Kimberly Avenue Bridge, which gives direct access to Interstate 95. By realigning Water Street - an industrial street running north south parallel to the waterfront - the masterplan created and connected new development sites north and south of Kimberly while opening up the waterfront for public access as a major new waterfront park.

Proposed uses included a major waterfront hotel, hockey facility, marina, entertainment pier, and restaurants, all connected through a new piece of pedestrian and water oriented public realm.

As part of the project, the YUDW developed a complex phasing strategy that allowed the relocation of Water Street in sections, allowing redevelopment of City-owned parcel to occur first, before any road alignment was built. A detailed design for an office building, inspired by the former industrail buildings, was prepared for that parcel.