WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Mayor, Chamber president want both mall and downtown development (New Haven-WTNH) _ The company fighting the proposed Long Wharf mall in New Haven says it's ready to pay big to squash it. Westfield America claims it's ready to spend up to $50 million to strengthen downtown, but only if the mall is not built. Westfield owns the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Trumbull Shopping Park, Meriden Square and Enfield Square malls. New Haven's mayor and the president of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce wants to have it both ways. News Channel 8's Christina Hager has the latest. Hallie Bolden's clothing store on Orange Street in New Haven is his pride and joy. It's an investment he's afraid he'll lose if developers go ahead with plans for a new $500 million dollar mall at Long Wharf. Hallie Bolden: "A store just like mine may come to the mall, and it could kind of kill us." So Bolden and many other downtown merchants are welcoming an offer from Westfield America, the company that owns several other Connecticut malls. Westfield promises to invest as much as $50 million in downtown improvements if city leaders put the breaks on the mall deal. The head of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce says he still supports the mall. Matthew Nemerson, Chamber of Commerce: "Right now, the mall is four block from where we are standing. There are people who walk to the Broadway area from here; that's more than four blocks. So when we look at having new stores, new high-end department stores affecting downtown New Haven in a positive way, that's what we think the mall can do." How far is it? From the green, it's about a five minute drive to the proposed mall site. We measured it at eight-tenths of a mile. On foot, it would take about 15 minutes, more than most shoppers want to walk. Ron Cohen, Westfield America attorney: "That mall might as well be on Mars for all the relationship it's going to have to downtown." Cohen says Westfield won't just hand the money over. The company plans to invest in downtown New Haven, possibly in real estate, possibly managing properties, forming business partnerships, but they say they won't do it if the mall at Long Wharf is built. Appearing live on News Channel 8 at 5:00, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Told News Channel 8's Ann Nyberg he wants both a new mall and an improved downtown. Mayor John DeStefano, D-New Haven: "People come to New Haven for arts and entertainment, for medical related visits, for education, and to come to work. This is an opportunity to expand the pie." Ann: "But your shopkeepers say we don't want it." Mayor DeStefano: "I think my shopkeepers are afraid of a little competition, and I think they're good shopkeepers." DeStefano wants to break ground on the new mall in October. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Mayor, Chamber president want both mall and downtown development
(New Haven-WTNH) _ The company fighting the proposed Long Wharf mall in New Haven says it's ready to pay big to squash it. Westfield America claims it's ready to spend up to $50 million to strengthen downtown, but only if the mall is not built. Westfield owns the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Trumbull Shopping Park, Meriden Square and Enfield Square malls. New Haven's mayor and the president of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce wants to have it both ways.
News Channel 8's Christina Hager has the latest.

Hallie Bolden's clothing store on Orange Street in New Haven is his pride and joy. It's an investment he's afraid he'll lose if developers go ahead with plans for a new $500 million dollar mall at Long Wharf.

Hallie Bolden: "A store just like mine may come to the mall, and it could kind of kill us."

So Bolden and many other downtown merchants are welcoming an offer from Westfield America, the company that owns several other Connecticut malls. Westfield promises to invest as much as $50 million in downtown improvements if city leaders put the breaks on the mall deal.

The head of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce says he still supports the mall.

Matthew Nemerson, Chamber of Commerce: "Right now, the mall is four block from where we are standing. There are people who walk to the Broadway area from here; that's more than four blocks. So when we look at having new stores, new high-end department stores affecting downtown New Haven in a positive way, that's what we think the mall can do."

How far is it? From the green, it's about a five minute drive to the proposed mall site. We measured it at eight-tenths of a mile. On foot, it would take about 15 minutes, more than most shoppers want to walk.

Ron Cohen, Westfield America attorney: "That mall might as well be on Mars for all the relationship it's going to have to downtown."

Cohen says Westfield won't just hand the money over. The company plans to invest in downtown New Haven, possibly in real estate, possibly managing properties, forming business partnerships, but they say they won't do it if the mall at Long Wharf is built.

Appearing live on News Channel 8 at 5:00, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Told News Channel 8's Ann Nyberg he wants both a new mall and an improved downtown.

Mayor John DeStefano, D-New Haven: "People come to New Haven for arts and entertainment, for medical related visits, for education, and to come to work. This is an opportunity to expand the pie."
Ann: "But your shopkeepers say we don't want it."
Mayor DeStefano: "I think my shopkeepers are afraid of a little competition, and I think they're good shopkeepers."

DeStefano wants to break ground on the new mall in October.

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