Committee votes to let New Haven join Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority

The New Haven Community Development Committee voted Wednesday, March 19, 2025, to approve a resolution (LMD-2025-0074) authorizing the city to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority, a state agency created to provide financing and technical support for housing and redevelopment near transit nodes.

The resolution allows New Haven to become a member of the authority and to access the agency's flexible financing tools for projects within designated zones, committee members were told. The committee's action was unanimous; committee members voiced support and closed the public comment period before the vote.

City economic development staff and representatives of the New Haven Land Bank presented the measure to the committee. Michael Piscatelli, the city's economic development administrator, said the city has sought additional financing tools after issuing 570 housing credits in the prior year and still facing funding gaps in affordable housing production. "Last year, the city of New Haven, with the support of the board and many community development partners, we issued 570 housing credits," Piscatelli said.

Sunita Neil San Giorgio, executive director of the New Haven Land Bank, and a representative from the state authority described the Municipal Redevelopment Authority's role. The agency said it is designed to provide gap financing and other supports to help developments reach financial close, especially projects located near transit and downtown. The authority representative said the entity is intended to supplement — not replace — local planning, zoning and permitting authority: "We do not usurp any local role," the representative said.

Presenters identified an early geographic focus the authority can support: overlapping zones within about one-half mile of the 8th Street station and the downtown. They said the authority is newly standing up operations and that an early tranche of funding — described by presenters as roughly $60,000,000 statewide — is available but limited; earlier municipal participation increases the chance of capturing funds for New Haven projects. Staff gave illustrative project numbers during the presentation, saying an identified parcel might cost about $200,000 with land valued at roughly $50,000, and that small land-bank-led transactions could be handled through the land bank consistent with statutory guidance and the resolution.

Committee members spoke in favor. Alder Aldo Edwards called the opportunity "a great opportunity for our city." After brief public comment and no objections, a motion to approve the resolution was made and seconded by Megan Hudson. The motion carried with the ayes prevailing; a roll-call tally was not specified in the meeting transcript.

Next steps described in the meeting: city staff will coordinate membership and follow the authority's project-specific terms and conditions if New Haven requests MRDA assistance. Presenters said the authority expects to hire staff later in the year and to mobilize on-call consultants while building capacity.