New Haven Galleria
Encyclopedia
The New Haven Galleria at Long Wharf
was a shopping mall
proposed for construction in New Haven
, Connecticut
by mayoral candidate Wally Grigo in 1993.
Although Grigo did not win the election, his idea was embraced in a March 1996 announcement by Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.
for a $500 million project that would have been completed by 2001. In September 1997, DeStefano spoke of the Galleria as a "high-end mall that will not just make the city proud, but will serve the entire region with distinction."
Although "developers from around the world competed to build the mall", the mayor insisted that the winning developer use a local construction family, the Fuscos, who were "major political fund-raisers for the mayor". The contract was eventually awarded to New England Development of Newton
.
, Macy's
, Filene's
, and Lord & Taylor
had committed to the project. The mall was estimated to create 3,000 jobs and bring in $7 million in annual property taxes. It would have been encircled by a newly constructed road, Galleria Drive., and connected with Downtown New Haven
by an electric trolley system.
A unique feature of the mall was to have been a "retail academy", used as a "training ground for people who want to work for the stores and management".
newsroom to play down any negative news". Support for the mall also came from opponents of the proposed University Place
shopping center in Downtown
New Haven.
The Galleria was strongly opposed by the rival Westfield Connecticut Post
, which filed over 15 lawsuit
s against its construction. Westfield also formed a group called the "Save Our Downtown Alliance", allegedly defending the interests of local merchants, while simultaneously threatening potential anchor stores and national chains with 'site retribution' if they located at Long Wharf. Mall opponents characterized it "as a corporate welfare-bloated traffic and environmental nightmare that would kill downtown shops." In December 2000, Nordstrom withdrew its offer to anchor. Westfield bought the site for $20 million in a 2001 settlement of litigation over the failed plan to build the mall.
New Haven had used a similar strategy decades earlier to defeat neighboring North Haven
's plans to build a mall
.
store, which broke ground in 2003. In 2004, DeStefano said, "In some ways, IKEA is the mall that was never built. There's no doubt that IKEA really answered the question of what [the site] can be."
The attention given to the Galleria has been credited with stalling, and eventually giving way to, the revitalization of Downtown
New Haven.
Long Wharf (New Haven)
Long Wharf is a waterfront district and neighborhood of the city of New Haven, Connecticut, United States.-Location:Its location can be defined as the area stretching inland from the west side of New Haven Harbor northwest to Union Avenue, west to Hallock Avenue and Cedar Street, and north to the...
was a shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
proposed for construction in New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
by mayoral candidate Wally Grigo in 1993.
Although Grigo did not win the election, his idea was embraced in a March 1996 announcement by Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.
John DeStefano, Jr.
John DeStefano, Jr. is the current mayor of New Haven, Connecticut. He was the Democratic candidate in 2006 for Governor of Connecticut, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell. He was also the named defendant in the landmark 2009 U.S. Supreme Court case of Ricci v...
for a $500 million project that would have been completed by 2001. In September 1997, DeStefano spoke of the Galleria as a "high-end mall that will not just make the city proud, but will serve the entire region with distinction."
Although "developers from around the world competed to build the mall", the mayor insisted that the winning developer use a local construction family, the Fuscos, who were "major political fund-raisers for the mayor". The contract was eventually awarded to New England Development of Newton
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
.
Features
The Galleria was to have been 1200000 square feet (111,483.6 m²), housing at least 150 stores. NordstromNordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Filene's
Filene's
Filene's was a Boston-based department store owned by Federated Department Stores , and May Department Stores . It operated throughout New England and in New York.-Early years:...
, and Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
had committed to the project. The mall was estimated to create 3,000 jobs and bring in $7 million in annual property taxes. It would have been encircled by a newly constructed road, Galleria Drive., and connected with Downtown New Haven
Downtown New Haven
Downtown New Haven is the neighborhood located in the heart of the city of New Haven, Connecticut. It is made up of the original nine squares laid out in 1638 to form New Haven, including the New Haven Green, and the immediate surrounding central business district, as well as a significant portion...
by an electric trolley system.
A unique feature of the mall was to have been a "retail academy", used as a "training ground for people who want to work for the stores and management".
Support and opposition
Local newspaper, the New Haven Register, supported the mall - to the point of a "publisher's memo ordering thenewsroom to play down any negative news". Support for the mall also came from opponents of the proposed University Place
University Place (New Haven)
University Place was a shopping mall proposed for construction in Downtown New Haven, Connecticut. The city spent 1987 and 1988 courting would-be anchor stores, but could not garner support. The site would have utilized space from demolition of the New Haven Coliseum and The Edw...
shopping center in Downtown
Downtown New Haven
Downtown New Haven is the neighborhood located in the heart of the city of New Haven, Connecticut. It is made up of the original nine squares laid out in 1638 to form New Haven, including the New Haven Green, and the immediate surrounding central business district, as well as a significant portion...
New Haven.
The Galleria was strongly opposed by the rival Westfield Connecticut Post
Westfield Connecticut Post
Westfield Connecticut Post, originally the Connecticut Post Shopping Center and later the Connecticut Post Mall, is a three-story shopping mall, located on the Boston Post Road in Milford, Connecticut. It is currently the largest mall in the state of Connecticut and is owned and operated by The...
, which filed over 15 lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
s against its construction. Westfield also formed a group called the "Save Our Downtown Alliance", allegedly defending the interests of local merchants, while simultaneously threatening potential anchor stores and national chains with 'site retribution' if they located at Long Wharf. Mall opponents characterized it "as a corporate welfare-bloated traffic and environmental nightmare that would kill downtown shops." In December 2000, Nordstrom withdrew its offer to anchor. Westfield bought the site for $20 million in a 2001 settlement of litigation over the failed plan to build the mall.
New Haven had used a similar strategy decades earlier to defeat neighboring North Haven
North Haven
North Haven may refer to:Places in United Kingdom:* North Haven, Shetland, an inlet on the east of Fair IslePlaces in Australia:* North Haven, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide* North Haven, New South Wales, a small town near Port Macquarie...
's plans to build a mall
North Haven Mall
The North Haven Mall was a shopping mall proposed for construction in North Haven, Connecticut.-Land acquisition:A North Haven town meeting authorized sale of land for the mall at $18,000 an acre, for a total of $507,600 in 1973. Developer Mall Properties, Inc. of New York began paying the town...
.
Aftermath
A portion of the land is now occupied by a 306000 square feet (28,428.3 m²) IKEAIKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
store, which broke ground in 2003. In 2004, DeStefano said, "In some ways, IKEA is the mall that was never built. There's no doubt that IKEA really answered the question of what [the site] can be."
The attention given to the Galleria has been credited with stalling, and eventually giving way to, the revitalization of Downtown
Downtown New Haven
Downtown New Haven is the neighborhood located in the heart of the city of New Haven, Connecticut. It is made up of the original nine squares laid out in 1638 to form New Haven, including the New Haven Green, and the immediate surrounding central business district, as well as a significant portion...
New Haven.