Economic Development
Developing a Resilient & Inclusive Economy for New Haven
Downtown Crossing’s infrastructure work is opening up land that was previously unusable due to the former highway, creating new economic opportunities in the heart of Downtown New Haven.
A total of approximately 10 acres of land is being made available for private economic development in the form of three development parcels, all primely located in an area that connects Downtown New Haven, the Medical District, the Hill neighborhood, and Union Station.
These private developments are helping to meet the intense demand for additional medical lab and research space in New Haven, boosting the City’s burgeoning bioscience economy and expanding its tax base — without displacing existing residents or businesses.
A Growing Bioscience Cluster
A walkable & bikeable bioscience cluster with connections to work, entertainment, food, and residential and transit options.
Downtown Crossing’s private developments are creating a cluster of biosciences facilities all within walking distance of each other and to other medical research locations including Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale School of Medicine. Downtown Crossing’s infrastructure improvements are creating pedestrian and bike-friendly connections between the Medical District, Downtown New Haven’s cultural, entertainment, and food establishments as well easy access to Union Station’s public transit options including Metro North, Hartford Line, Shore Line East, and Amtrak service.
PARCEL 1: 100 College Street
Home to AstraZeneca’s Alexion Research and Development Division, 100 College Street has added hundreds of jobs and contributes millions to New Haven’s tax base annually.
Through Downtown Crossing Phase 1 work, 2.4 acres of land was reclaimed upon which a 14-story, 450,000 square-foot medical lab and research facility was constructed in tandem with the removal of three highway exits and reconstruction of the College Street Bridge, which now forms the tree-lined street frontage for the new building.
100 College Street is fully leased, home to AstraZeneca’s Alexion Pharmaceuticals’ research and development division and providing additional laboratory space for Yale University’s medical research. 100 College Street contributes over $4 million annually to the City’s tax base and has added over 600 new jobs in New Haven. The most recent tenant is the Wu Tsai Institute, which was created as part of Yale’s focus on the neurosciences.
Recognizing the growth of the biosciences in New Haven, the 100 College Street Development Agreement supported the creation of BioPath at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Biopath provides academic pathways and meaningful opportunities for New Haven public school students to thrive in the innovation economy, including a new BS in Bioscience at SCSU.
Construction on 100 College Street began in 2013 and was completed in 2016 with over $7.5 million in wages to New Haven residents during the construction phase alone.
Above: Completed in 2016, 100 College Street is home to AstraZeneca’s Alexion Pharmaceuticals’ research and development division and providing additional laboratory space for Yale University’s medical research. 100 College Street contributes over $4 million annually to the City’s tax base and has added over 600 new jobs in New Haven.
Each bioscience sector job supports an additional 2.9 jobs for an estimated total of the creation of 7,854 local jobs
PARCEL 2: 101 College Street
In construction and scheduled for a 2023 opening, confirmed tenants include Arvinas, BioLabs, and Yale University.
Downtown Crossing Phase 3 released the second parcel of land upon which 101 College Street is being built. With strong demand for more lab and research space to support New Haven’s burgeoning bioscience economy, 101 College Street is a 10-story building of over 525,000 square feet of lab, research & meeting space.
Confirmed tenants for 101 College Street include Arvinas, BioLabs and Yale University. 101 College Street is expected to add approximately 860 direct jobs to New Haven and spur over 3,000 indirect jobs to the local economy.
In addition to dedicated community space, the Together, We Grow community benefits program features bioscience-related scholarships for high school and college students as well as adults seeking professional certifications. Winstanley of Boston, Massachusetts is the developer of 101 College Street and is working in partnership with New Haven Works on a permanent jobs pipeline as well as opportunities during construction. Also, as part of this program, a classroom for New Haven Public Schools will be located within the building and a large open-air plaza will create opportunities for cultural equity and enrichment.
101 College Street is designed and being built to meet Silver LEED Building Standards; construction began in mid-2021 and is expected to be completed in 2023. Consistent with citywide goals for sustainable transportation, 101 College Street does not include a large parking structure. Rather, parking spaces will be leased from existing garages and used as needed. As with 100 College Street, the building will feature full-service amenities for bicyclists including indoor bike storage, lockers and showers.
Above: Rendering, view of the front of 101 College Street.
Above: Rendering of rear of 101 College Street, including public plaza.
PARCEL 3: Coming Soon!
Downtown Crossing Phase 4 will release a third land parcel for private development; this is expected to occur in the next few years, between 2023 and 2026.
Hill to Downtown Community Plan
The Hill to Downtown Community plan calls for inclusive growth and infill development in a swath of land that was cleared to make way for surface parking lots during Urban Renewal. Now, a new neighborhood is being developed.
Over 300 new residential units have been added to the Hill-to-Downtown area since 2019 all within walking distance of the Medical District, Downtown New Haven’s arts, dining, and culture, and retail and Union Station.
In 2022, a new building with an additional 223 apartments with first-floor retail, co-working spaces, fitness center, and pool will be completed. Complementing this new neighborhood are new restaurants and the Blake Hotel.
Plans are in place to continue development of underutilized land that will extend walkable and bikeable connections to the Wooster Square neighborhood.