Riverside Connecticut Plans 70-Unit Housing Project with Retail, Parks

The proposed Oyster Harbor Village along the Quinnipiac River in New Haven is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched waterfront redevelopment projects in Connecticut.

Blending new housing, public green space, riverfront access, and environmental cleanup, the plan reflects a broader statewide push to turn long-contaminated industrial sites into livable, walkable neighborhoods.

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Oyster Harbor Village: Transforming a Former Industrial Site

The 1.34-acre site on Front Street in New Haven has a long history of heavy industrial use, including a coal yard and fuel tank farm.

Decades of that activity left behind contamination that needs serious cleanup before anyone can safely build there.

Now, **Oyster Harbor Village** plans to convert that underused riverfront into a mixed-use community hub.

This project is part of a wave of riverfront and brownfield redevelopments across cities like Bridgeport, Hartford, New London, and Waterbury, where local leaders want to reclaim former industrial corridors and reconnect residents with their waterways.

70 New Homes with an Affordable Housing Component

The development plan calls for 70 residential units on the New Haven site.

To help address Connecticut’s housing shortage, 10% of those homes will be **affordable units** priced at or below 50% of the area median income.

That income threshold aims to give working families, young professionals, and seniors more options in a housing market that’s gotten pretty expensive in coastal cities from Stamford to Norwalk and up through New Britain and Meriden.

By weaving affordable units into a market-rate development, Oyster Harbor Village hopes to support a more economically diverse waterfront neighborhood.

Retail, Restaurants, and Riverfront Amenities

Oyster Harbor Village isn’t just about adding places to live.

The plan includes new commercial and recreational amenities that could make the Quinnipiac River a real daily destination for residents and visitors alike.

Shops, Dining, and Public Docks

Developer River Front Development, LLC has outlined a vision that includes:

A restaurant and oyster bar celebrating the city’s maritime and shellfishing heritage

A neighborhood coffee shop to serve residents, boaters, and pedestrians

A rooftop garden space, which could be used for dining, events, or urban agriculture

Floating public docks to expand access for kayaks, small boats, and waterfront recreation

These features should complement the rising interest in riverfront living that’s popped up along the Housatonic in Derby and the Connecticut River in Middletown, where towns are leaning into their waterways as community anchors.

29,000 Square Feet of Green Space and a Boardwalk

Central to the Oyster Harbor plan is a 29,000-square-foot green space that’ll give the neighborhood a park-like core along the river.

The development will also include a **boardwalk**, making it easier for people to walk between housing, retail, and the shoreline.

For New Haven residents—from Fair Haven to the Annex—this boardwalk could become a new everyday amenity.

Waterfront paths in places like Milford and West Haven have become part of local life, recreation, and tourism, so maybe New Haven will see the same thing.

Environmental Cleanup Backed by State Investment

Before construction can really get going, the site needs significant environmental remediation.

A major state grant program focused on reclaiming contaminated land across Connecticut will help support that cleanup.

Nearly $947,500 for Demolition and Remediation

The City of New Haven secured a $947,500 grant for demolition, abatement, and soil excavation at **185, 212, and 213 Front Street**.

Those funds will help tackle contaminated soils and old infrastructure left from decades of industrial activity.

Governor Ned Lamont recently announced a broader package of $18.8 million in state grants for similar cleanup projects statewide.

That funding is expected to attract roughly $218 million in private investment and support the creation of about 450 new housing units across Connecticut, from riverfront parcels in East Hartford to smaller brownfields in communities like Putnam and Torrington.

Timeline, Cost, and Public Comment

Turning Oyster Harbor Village from concept to reality won’t happen overnight.

The cleanup and construction reflect both the opportunity and the complexity of redeveloping long-industrial riverfront land.

Construction Schedule and Price Tag

The project is estimated to cost about $34 million.

Cleanup work should take about **four to five months**, followed by an estimated **three-year construction period** for the buildings, green space, and public amenities.

How Residents Can Weigh In

The proposal sits under review as part of the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) scoping process. Right now, **public comments are open until December 19, 2025**.

If you live in New Haven or nearby—maybe Hamden, North Haven, West Haven, or East Haven—you can send in your thoughts about environmental impacts, traffic, waterfront access, or what your community needs. Your feedback could influence how Oyster Harbor Village takes shape along the Quinnipiac River corridor.

Here is the source article for this story: CT riverside housing project calls for 70 units. Plan includes retail, green spaces

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