Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

johnsonutah t1_j5af9cv wrote

Reply to comment by suburban_mom_jeans in Train station safety around midnight? by AdNormal7071

To be clear I’m not just talking about the station itself but the area around it. Union Station is among the top ten busiest train stations in the country, and CT’s most important crossroad between bus transit, Amtrak, Metro North, the Hartford Line, the Shoreline East, and local university shuttles.

Despite being so important to the state:

  • there is essentially no housing around the station whatsoever except for what appears to be a low income complex. They finally tore down the dilapidated church st projects across the street…and now that huge lot just sits empty. There should be a significant number of market rate apartments surrounding the train station so that people can live nearby and use public transit, creating a walkable neighborhood

  • There is zero mixed use development around the train station - no offices, no shops, no coffee bars, no restaurants…literally nothing. This could be a vibrant neighborhood. It makes logical sense to have offices - employers would locate there because their employees could commute to the station for work or commute from the station to FFD County / NYC for meetings. It’s insane that the only food options people using the train station have are Sbarros and Dunkin Donuts…

  • The actual layout for traffic around the station is terrible. I commute from Union Station at least three times a week - the local shuttles park out front blocking one full lane of traffic and leaving any oncoming traffic completely blind to card exiting the drop off out front

Those are just some ways this important price if CT infrastructure is being wasted

5

suburban_mom_jeans t1_j5aj8qp wrote

I dont think all of that is needed. Use station for what it's for and go home, work or whatever your intended destination is. Building market rate housing will further displace long time residents. Build affordable housing to house the folks that have lived here for generations.

1

johnsonutah t1_j5aop3p wrote

What long time residents? As I already said there’s no housing in the east or west lot, and now there’s none across the street.

All of what I described is needed if you want New Haven to be a more prosperous, safer, nicer, and modern place to live

Here’s some detail on preliminary plans none of which is moving fast enough:

https://unionstationnewhaven.com/

2

suburban_mom_jeans t1_j5b9wfx wrote

I've lived many places and New Haven by far is one of the safest. It's not hard to figure out what a long time resident of New Haven would be. Someone who didn't move here for because of a job offer. Someone whose family has lived here for generations. Those people are being consistently priced out by ppl who insist on building market rate housing. More affordable housing is necessary. Market rate≠affordable.

2

johnsonutah t1_j5fdqw8 wrote

Statistically New Haven used to be one of the most dangerous cities in the country. It’s better today but safety could be improved.

My recommendations are primarily about increasing economic opportunity and prosperity in the city and for the state.

Also market rate housing is what the market (majority) can afford

2