Demolition and clean up underway on last piece of contaminated land part of New Haven redevelopment project

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WFSB) - The final piece of a puzzle to help rehab and transform an Elm City neighborhood is now underway.

New Haven’s Science Park, the 3 acre site of 9 abandoned and blighted factory buildings, is the former home of the Winchester Gun Factory.

The old Winchester Arms Repeating Company left New Haven decades ago.

Over the years, the old factory buildings were rehabbed and repurposed.

Demolition and clean up is underway on the last piece of contaminated land that’s part of the Science Park redevelopment project.

“Unlike the other buildings we were able to remediate, this particular building, due to the processes that Winchester employed, the very foundation and structure was inundated with oil,” said David Silverstone, Science Park Redevelopment Corporation.

This project started decades ago.

“I remember how Science Park was built, set up, when Winchester was still here, with my grandparents working there,” said Alder Kim Edwards, (D), New Haven. “I used to walk by here. I worked at Science Park as well, always had a connection to this site.”

The demolition and abatement of the PCB contaminated site marked the final step in New Haven’s Science Park project, clearing the way for what will be the latest addition to the neighborhood of bio and life science labs and new apartments.

Once the tear down and clean up is complete, the final tract of land will be turned into either at least 100 new apartment units or 100,000 square feet of commercial space.

“A 45 year journey of transforming places that made instruments of death, into life, into community, into places where people live, where people innovate,” said Mayor Justin Elicker, (D), New Haven.

Sam Chauncey started the Science Park Redevelopment Corporation years ago.

“I had an idea,” Chauncey said. “I wanted to have the property fixed up so it would help the neighborhood.”

Those who call this neighborhood home are glad to see more progress.

“At one time, it was a vibrant source of income for people. To see it go, these buildings sitting dormant forever, I’m glad they’re breathing new life into the city,” said Alder Troy Streater, (D), New Haven.

The demolition and clean up project is expected to take about a year, wrapping up next June.