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RESOLUTION OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PURSUANT TO THE URBAN ACTION GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 TO PROMOTE THE REDEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION OF THE GOFFE STREET ARMORY.
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WHEREAS, the Goffe Street Armory (the “Armory”) at 290 Goffe Street in New Haven, originally built in 1930 by the State of Connecticut for the National Guard, has functioned as a center for civic life for nearly 100 years within the City of New Haven (the “City”); and,
WHEREAS, the Armory has a rich history in the City, having evolved to serve as a home for a variety of events, such as the New Haven Black Expo, concerts, mayoral galas, art shows, and other public events, and, most recently, was added to the Connecticut Freedom Trail for its significance to the civil rights movements in Connecticut’s black history; and,
WHEREAS, significant community input has led the City to the decision to renovate and revive the Armory, which has been closed to the public since 2018 despite its historical significance and its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places; and,
WHEREAS, it has been determined that the Armory could be redesigned to offer valuable resources to the local communities such as additional neighborhood amenities, employment opportunities for neighborhood residents, entrepreneurial start up support, event space, cultural installations and a meeting space for the promotion of community building and strengthening; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4-66c of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (the “State”) is authorized to extend financial assistance through the Urban Action Grant Program for purposes involving the promotion of community conservation and development and improvement to the quality of life for urban residents of Connecticut such as the proposed redevelopment and transformation of the Armory; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest that the City make an application to the State for the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollar and Zero Cents ($250,000.00) and to work with a locally identified partner(s) and the Armory Community Advisory Committee (“AC2”) to conduct a Phase 1 and Phase 2 Feasibility Study for the project (the “Project”) and to support the promotion of a financing plan for the next phase of the redevelopment of the Armory (the “Project”).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the New Haven Board of Alders that:
1). It is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for State assistance imposed by Section 4-66c of the Connecticut General Statutes.
2). That the filing of an application for State financial assistance by the City in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($250,000.00) is hereby approved (the “Application”), and that Justin Elicker, Mayor of the City of New Haven, is hereby authorized and directed to execute and file the Application with the State, to provide such additional information as may be required, to execute such other documents as may be required in the Application process, to execute an Assistance Agreement with the State for financial assistance (if such an agreement is offered) in the amount of $250,000.00 or such lesser amount (if any) as may be offered by the State (which Assistance Agreement may include an indemnification of the State and/or appropriate agencies of the State), to execute any amendments, rescissions, and revisions thereto, and to act as the authorized representative of the City with respect to all other matters pertaining to the Application.
3). It is affirmed that the City will work with a locally identified partner(s) and the AC2 to conduct a Phase 1 and Phase 2 Feasibility Study to determine the best plan of action with respect to the future execution of the Project.