City Council approves sale of North End Field, Baggot Street playground to University of New Haven for $500,000

The West Haven City Council on May 27 approved the sale of North End Field and the Baggot Street playground — a combined 3.2-acre city-owned parcel — to the University of New Haven for $500,000.

The council accepted the offer after a public hearing and a favorable report from the West Haven Planning and Zoning Commission under Connecticut General Statute Section 8-24. Council members voted by roll call; seven members recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed.

George Sanote, vice president for finance at the University of New Haven, told the council the university is still developing plans for the property. “We are excited about this opportunity. I can't tell you that we have definitive plans. We're still working through that,” he said, adding that the university is inclined toward creating recreation space for students. Lou Annino, assistant vice president for facilities, joined Sanote at the meeting and confirmed the university owns the adjacent railroad salvage site that could affect access and future planning.

Mayor Dorinda Borer noted that previous attempts to market the property drew no bids because a narrow 10-foot driveway and neighboring uses limited access for potential buyers; she said ownership of adjacent parcels by UNH changes that constraint. Council members asked about traffic, construction access and potential community use; Sanote said he did not expect construction trucks to use Baggot Street and that the university would work to share plans as they develop. Councilman Steven Johnstone asked whether residents could use the recreation space in summer; Sanote replied, “The answer to that is yes.”

The council resolution authorizes Mayor Dorinda Borer to execute and deliver all documents required to complete the sale. The transaction was presented as a straightforward acceptance of the university’s offer; the council did not adopt detailed land-use conditions beyond the statutory referral process and the requirement that the sale comply with applicable state and local procedures.

Council members who raised procedural concerns were given responses by the city’s corporation counsel, who said deputy counsel completed due diligence before the purchase-and-sale agreement was drafted. Councilwoman Ruby Melton and others who were absent did not participate in the roll call.

The sale transfers the city-owned recreation parcels to a tax-exempt institution; council members and the city attorney explained that future tax—or PILOT—impacts depend on state PILOT calculations and specific uses the university ultimately pursues.

The council’s action concludes the municipal approval step; the university said it will return to the public and to city staff with more detailed plans as they are developed.