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December 12, 07 - Fire Envelopes former Kresges Department Store Building
On December 12, 2007, a major fire enveloped and destroyed much of the former Grants and Kresges department
store buildings bounded by Chapel, Orange, Center, and Church Streets. Northside Development Company president,
Paul L. Denz, has expressed his condolences to those affected by the fire, especially his tenants and their employees,
"It is truly a blessing that no persons were injured," said Mr. Denz in a press release.
Denz has also expressed his ongoing admiration and heartfelt thanks to the City of New Haven, especially the firefighters and policeman, as well as department heads and staff, who responded promptly, professionally, and comprehensively to the needs of everyone affected by this fire. Their actions prevented this situation from becoming a major disaster. Tenants directly affected by the fire include Footlocker, Madrags, Expressions, Chinatown, New Haven Furniture and Linen, New Haven Variety, and Brass Monkey Saloon. See News Story in the New Haven Independent here.. The future of the buildings and the site has become the subject of intense discussions between the City of New Haven and Mid Block Development, LLC, which purchased the former Grants and Kresges department store buildings in February of 2007. The City has expressed a desire to acquire the property, directly, and manage its redevelopment. Mid Block Development, LLC also has plans for the site and the buildings, and discussions and negotiations are underway to resolve these differences. According to Denz, "Both the City and Mid Block Development, LLC are interested in developing the site as promptly as possible for the benefit of everyone in New Haven and as a major improvement for the downtown area. The goal is to get the space back into public service and use as promptly as possible." In addition, the fire itself has caused some controversy with respect to the speed at which the City decided to tear the buildings down, assess expenses for these activities, and take some other unilateral decisions. The City insists that it is operating completely within its authority and responsibility for public health and safety. According to Denz, "There are some important questions that remain to be resolved about how the fire and subsequent events transpired, and a number of decisions the City made about the site beginning the day after the fire was put out." For a review of communication between Mid Block Development, LLC and the City of New Haven, with respect to this project and the fire, please view Here. As you scroll down below, you'll find a chronologic list of documents that have passed between Mid Block Development, LLC and the City of New Haven. As more documents pass between the City and the company, they will be added to this Web site. Should you have questions about any of these documents, please email Paul@northside-development.com.
February 1, 2007 - Mid Block Development, LLC purchases the former Grants and Kresges
department stores buildings
On February 1, 2007, Mid Block Development, LLC purchased properties on
Chapel, Orange, Center and Church Streets, the former Grants and Kresges
department stores buildings. The former Grants building had been recently
renovated into an enclosed garage and retail, including Footlocker, Inc.,
which was substantially empty at the time of the purchase. The second floor
space, also empty, was the subject of letters sent to the city as Mid Block
Development planned to renovate the space into between 18 - 22 new luxury
apartments.
Additionally, Mid Block Development was working with their architect and engineer to devise plans to renovate the second floor space of the Kresges building on Chapel Street. This space could potentially include 75,000 s.f. of mixed use residential, office and retail. Communication between Mid Block Development LLC and the City of New Haven in relation to this project may be viewed Here | ||
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