Winchester Center, New Haven, CT
Winchester Center is a transformative, multi-stage development project aiming to reshape the iconic Winchester Repeating Arms factory complex into a vibrant neighborhood center with research, residential, and retail. Located in the heart of New Haven, the redevelopment is led by Twining Properties, LMXD and Science Park Development Corporation. Our focus is not just on constructing buildings but also on crafting an inclusive, community-driven project.
Winchester Repeating Arms Factory
For much of the 20th century, the Winchester Repeating Arms factory stood as the economic and social cornerstone of the Newhallville and Dixwell neighborhoods. This sprawling industrial complex was more than just a factory; it was the lifeblood of the community, providing stable employment and a sense of identity. The factory was a bustling hub, around which local businesses, social clubs, and community activities thrived. However, the eventual closure of the factory left a gaping void in the heart of the community. Where once there was a vibrant center of commerce and culture, parking lots spread like scars across the landscape. These empty spaces not only represented lost jobs but also severed the connective tissue that bound the community together. The once-cohesive neighborhoods were fractured, leaving residents yearning for the sense of unity and purpose that had defined the area for generations.
Science Park Underutilized
As a result of the significant investment by the State of Connecticut, the City of New Haven, Olin, Yale University, and multiple private developers in the development of several parcels in the PDD, approximately 2000 jobs have been brought to Science Park. Significant portions of Science Park have been environmentally remediated and new construction or substantial rehabilitation of existing structures have occurred. However, despite everyone’s best efforts, Science Park is still underutilized. There are still a number of underutilized Parcels that either contain parking lots or dilapidated unsafe abandoned structures that need to be redeveloped.
The Plan
Twining Properties has an ambitious plan aimed at transforming vacant parking lots and underutilized spaces into a thriving hub that stitches together the Newhallville and Dixwell neighborhoods. These empty lots, which currently create a void in community connectivity, are slated to become part of a revitalized Winchester Center. The old Winchester Arms factory complex is set to metamorphose into a multi-faceted neighborhood center featuring research, residential, and retail spaces. To enhance local connectivity, long-closed sections of Sheffield Avenue and Mason Place will be reopened, facilitating pedestrian-friendly experiences. Ground-floor retail spaces will specifically focus on hosting local businesses, thereby establishing a vibrant community core. This initiative is not just about new buildings; it's about creating a cohesive "tech-residential-community center" that fosters neighborhood life and unity, with a development timeline estimated between five and ten years.
Build-out Winchester Center and Stitch Back the Surrounding Neighborhoods
What We're Planning
Phase One: A development of 300 new apartments with ground-floor retail at 315 Winchester Ave., designed
Phase Two: 250 additional apartments and more ground-floor retail at Division Street and Winchester Avenue
Phase Three: 400 new apartments built at Munson Street and Mansfield Street, taking over a section of the former factory complex.
Phase Four: Office and lab spaces extending to tens of thousands of square feet on Munson Street
Affordability & Inclusion
20% of the new apartments will be designated as affordable, aimed at families earning 60% of the area median income (AMI), made possible through the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). We are actively seeking ways to further increase the affordable housing offering within the constraints of available public subsidies.
Community-Centric Retail
Ground-floor retail spaces will prioritize locally owned businesses.
Specialized low-rent plans aim to attract and sustain these businesses over the long term.
Phase One is Ready to Go!
What’s Planned for Phase One
Phase 1 of the Winchester Center redevelopment project by Twining Properties includes several key components aimed at revitalizing and connecting the Newhallville and Dixwell neighborhoods. A new five-story, 287-unit mixed-use building will be constructed on a current surface parking lot at 315 Winchester Ave., adjacent to the existing Winchester Lofts and Winchester Works complexes. This building will feature a variety of apartment types, with 20% set aside for below-market rents aimed at those earning 50% of the area median income. The building will also introduce roughly 12,000 square feet of new ground-floor retail space along Winchester Avenue and will be all-electric, powered by heat pumps. In addition, two vacant Winchester Arms factory buildings at 270 Mansfield St. will be demolished to make way for a new 196-space parking lot. Phase 1 also calls for the creation of two new streets, Mason Street and Sheffield Avenue Extension, designed to improve connectivity and break up the "superblock" in the area. Lastly, a new public plaza named Mason Place will be established near the new apartment building, intended for community activities such as farmers markets and arts events.