On Monday, March 17, Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett proposed the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Budget at a hybrid Hamden Legislative Council meeting.
Council President Dominique Baez approximated 50 Hamden residents physically in attendance, and 74 tuning in online.
Garrett presented a summary of the past year as well as current and upcoming projects, changes and grants. In particular, Garrett discussed plans for a new community campus, replacing the former Michael J. Whalen Middle School complex in the Newhall neighborhood.
Already, nearly $10 million of American Rescue Plan Act Funds (ARPA), has been allocated for this project.
While the plan has been in the works for several months, Hamden residents have protested, arguing that there are more pressing matters to be addressed first. Residents expressed a need to restore the foundations of homes that are in need of restorations.
At the hybrid Hamden Legislative Council meeting on Dec. 9, 2024, several residents attended to protest the community campus plans, reported New Haven Independent. Five founding members of the Hamden Newhall Neighborhood Association (HNNA), appeared in shirts that read, “Foundations First!!”
“They talked about their homes sinking into contaminated soil, the walls cracking, their myriad of health issues,” New Haven Independent reported.
At the March 17 meeting, Garrett presented phase one of the future Hamden Community Campus.
“We are demolishing the old academic building with $5.4 million from the Department of Economic and Community Development,” Garrett said. “Designs will be complete this spring, and we can go out to bid for the demolition this summer.”
This initial phase includes partial demolition of the Gymnasium Building, which will be replaced with a Youth Arts and Recreation Center.
Following the Mayor’s presentation, residents in attendance were invited to speak in the public input section of the meeting. Several residents addressed their concern and upset regarding the new community center plan.
Hamden resident Susan Nobleman addressed the previous worry that residents have expressed.
“Community meetings have shown that the residents living there would rather have their unfinished repairs of their properties be funded first,” Nobleman said. “I’m here to offer my support for the Foundation’s First campaign. Before spending funds on a new building, funds should be secured for the surrounding neighborhood.”
Later, Hamden resident Patricia Vener-Saavedra echoed the unease in going forth with the community campus construction. She discussed the financial effects that would come from this plan, as taxes will increase.
“We need to be paying more attention to the people whose foundations are in dire trouble, becoming nonexistent, and that’s more important than a community center,” Vener-Saavedra said. “Remember, community is not about a building. Community is about people. And if you chase away people because they cannot afford to stay in Hamden, then what are you trying to tell us?”
