New Haven Proposal to Take Down Fence Raises Hamden Ire

A prospect of the removal of fence that separates a Hamden neighborhood from an area of New Haven that is home to several public housing projects has some town residents upset.

A meeting will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Keefe Community Center to discuss the New Haven Housing Authority's proposal to take down the fence the separates the Hamden neighborhood from the West Rock public housing projects -- Brookside, Rockview and Ribicoff.

Taking down the three sections of the fence would open Woodin Street near Elliot Drive and at two locations between Belden Road and Westwide Drive, according to information sent to residents last week.

According to the announcement, "Mayor Scott Jackson, Councilman-at-Large Jack Kenelly and 7th District Councilman Michael Colaiacovo, Jr. will be hosting an informational session for Hamden residents on this subject next Wednesday, August 29th, 7:00 P.M. at the Keefe Community Center, 11 Pine Street (Pine and Dixwell).

"Residents are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting to learn more about the Housing Authority's proposal," it says. "A brief, informational overview will be given and the floor will then be opened up to those in attendance to ask questions and express their opinions."

The New Haven Housing Authority has invested millions of dollars rebuilding several of the housing projects and tenants have recently started moving in. The fence makes it difficult for them to access needed services such as shopping areas, they say, and since many rely on public transportation, they must take alternative routes around the closed off area or avoid Hamden all together.

But those living on the Hamden side of the fence fear that the opening of the projects, along with the removal of the fence, will bring crime into their neighborhoods. While New Haven authorities assure that tenants will be carefully screened, they can't control who the tenants allow in their homes, many say.

But the New Haven Housing Authority says there is no reason why the fence should remain and has told the New Haven Independent that it will go as far as suing the town of Hamden to have it removed.

"We believe the New Haven Housing Authority must engage in robust communication and outreach with residents of Hamden to identify concerns and whatever possible to seek to address these concerns," Jackson said. 

"The bureaucratic process for removing the fence are pretty clear," he said. "We believe the Housing Authority would be well served in obtaining the same support for the development on the Hamden side of the line as they have successfully done in New Haven."