Media Clips

New Haven Register

April 9, 2008

Knights to purchase city parcel
By Mary E. O'Leary
Apr. 9--NEW HAVEN -- The city's Development Commission voted Tuesday to sell a small piece of property on the former Coliseum site to the Knights of Columbus
The 25,003-square-foot parcel on the west side of South Orange Street is directly behind the Knights' headquarters, at North Frontage Road and Church Street.
The Knights already have two easements over the parcel for two driveways that lead from South Orange Street to a delivery and parking area under their building. They also have a license agreement for a security booth on the parcel adjacent to the driveways.
The commission voted to approve the sale for $1.125 million based on an appraisal done by Arthur Estrada Associates.
Patrick Korten, spokesman for the Knights, said they have wanted to acquire the parcel for some time.
The city also recently entered into an agreement with the Knights where it has given the insurance company two years to decide if it wants to build on a nearby1-acreparcelalongGeorge and South Orange streets.
The city currently leases this site, plus an additional 4.5-acre lot across Orange Street, to ProPark for a parking lot.
Korten said whether the Knights, one of the largest businesses in New Haven with more than 725 employees, ever builds a structure on the 1-acre site depends on how flexible the city is.
"To the degree our options are limited, we are less interested. It's really a function of flexibility," Korten said of any future building plans.
The city recently extended the filing date to April 22 when a request for qualifications for developers interested in the 4.5 acres is due to the city.
The development commission Tuesday also elected new officers, with Jonathan Koppell, a professor at the Yale School of Management, as the new chairman; Alderwoman Frances "Bitsie" Clark, D-7, is the new secretary.