WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Mall owners promise investment in downtown New Haven, If..... (New Haven-WTNH) _ A company that owns two malls in Meriden and Milford is putting up big bucks to try to stop the proposed Long Wharf mall. Westfield America is offering to invest as much as $50 million to improve downtown New Haven. But, there's a catch. Westfield will only spend the money if, and only if, downtown merchants lobby against plans for the Long Wharf mall. News Channel 8's Kristen Cusato reports. Ron Cohen, Westfield Attorney: "Westfield has always been interested in New Haven." Westfield America has offered to invest $50 million in Downtown New Haven. But only if the Mayor turns down New England Development's plan to build a massive galleria mall at Long Wharf. Cohen: "Westfield's proposal is to use own funds, not taxpayer money to work with downtown merchants in a cooperative process to develop downtown." Mayor John DeStefano says thanks for the offer, but he's still going forward with the Long Wharf mall project, and it's $400 million in private investments, about 3,000 new jobs and $6 million in new taxes. Mayor John DeStefano, D-New Haven: "I'm certainly not going to turn down a project that will generate that kind of investment but I don't see it as an either or." DeStefano wants to do both -- build a new mall off I-95, and revitalize downtown, and if Westfield wants to help pay for downtown, let them. Mayor DeStefano: "I think the reason why they made this offer today is they recognize the inevitability, the Long Wharf mall project of passing all the tests of traffic and environmental concerns." Sally Ann Endelman, 'Endelman's': "History has proven every time a mall has been built it's the kiss of death for a downtown." Owners of specialty shops in the city are very concerned. Just last week, developers of the proposed Long Wharf mall visited these downtown stores and said they'd like to put some local stores in the new mall. But some shopowners say, they want to stay put. Chip Croft, 'Seychelles': "We feel it's a special district, we pull from all over Connecticut. We like it here, we're not a mall store." Daniella DeCola, 'Kaye's Art Supply': "I think if there's a mall competing with us, it won't do that much. I'd rather just see the mall go away." And so would Westfield America. Tomorrow they are starting an anti-mall television campaign. But Mayor DeStefano is continuing to push forward. He says the board of alderman will vote in August, they'll get the necessary permits in September, and he hopes to break ground on the new mall in October. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Mall owners promise investment in downtown New Haven, If.....
(New Haven-WTNH) _ A company that owns two malls in Meriden and Milford is putting up big bucks to try to stop the proposed Long Wharf mall. Westfield America is offering to invest as much as $50 million to improve downtown New Haven. But, there's a catch. Westfield will only spend the money if, and only if, downtown merchants lobby against plans for the Long Wharf mall.
News Channel 8's Kristen Cusato reports.

Ron Cohen, Westfield Attorney: "Westfield has always been interested in New Haven."

Westfield America has offered to invest $50 million in Downtown New Haven. But only if the Mayor turns down New England Development's plan to build a massive galleria mall at Long Wharf.

Cohen: "Westfield's proposal is to use own funds, not taxpayer money to work with downtown merchants in a cooperative process to develop downtown."

Mayor John DeStefano says thanks for the offer, but he's still going forward with the Long Wharf mall project, and it's $400 million in private investments, about 3,000 new jobs and $6 million in new taxes.

Mayor John DeStefano, D-New Haven: "I'm certainly not going to turn down a project that will generate that kind of investment but I don't see it as an either or."

DeStefano wants to do both -- build a new mall off I-95, and revitalize downtown, and if Westfield wants to help pay for downtown, let them.

Mayor DeStefano: "I think the reason why they made this offer today is they recognize the inevitability, the Long Wharf mall project of passing all the tests of traffic and environmental concerns."

Sally Ann Endelman, 'Endelman's': "History has proven every time a mall has been built it's the kiss of death for a downtown."

Owners of specialty shops in the city are very concerned. Just last week, developers of the proposed Long Wharf mall visited these downtown stores and said they'd like to put some local stores in the new mall. But some shopowners say, they want to stay put.

Chip Croft, 'Seychelles': "We feel it's a special district, we pull from all over Connecticut. We like it here, we're not a mall store."

Daniella DeCola, 'Kaye's Art Supply': "I think if there's a mall competing with us, it won't do that much. I'd rather just see the mall go away."

And so would Westfield America. Tomorrow they are starting an anti-mall television campaign. But Mayor DeStefano is continuing to push forward. He says the board of alderman will vote in August, they'll get the necessary permits in September, and he hopes to break ground on the new mall in October.

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