Gilbane Development Company, Xenolith Partners, and Newman Architects Announce Major New Housing and Retail

New Haven, CT (July 31, 2024) – Gilbane Development Company and Xenolith Partners, as joint venture developer partners, along with New Haven-based Newman Architects, announced yesterday with the City of New Haven an exciting new development that will bring nearly 300 units of high-quality mixed income rental housing and 3,700 SF of retail space to the heart of Downtown New Haven. This ambitious project, located at George and State Street, is advancing in partnership with the City of New Haven to address the growing housing demand in Connecticut.

This transformative development, known as “The Iron,” will create 279 housing units, including 70 affordable units, making a significant contribution to the state’s need for approximately 90,000 new housing units.

“We are thrilled to be at the forefront of New Haven’s efforts to meet the housing needs of Connecticut,” said Roj Robinson, Senior Vice President and Head of Affordable-Mixed Income for Gilbane Development Company. “This project not only brings much-needed housing to the area but also plays a crucial role in reconnecting the historic Wooster Square to the vibrant Downtown 9th Square district.”

In addition to residential spaces, “The Iron” will include 3,700 square feet of retail space, enhancing the local economy and providing new opportunities for businesses to thrive in the area.

Andrea Kretchmer, representing Xenolith Partners, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “At Xenolith, we are excited to begin the predevelopment process for Site A. We believe in the power of community engagement and are committed to integrating the principles of climate resiliency, carbon reduction, and the creation of career-oriented jobs into this project.”

Community outreach will be a key component of the development process, with engagement activities scheduled to begin in late August and September. These efforts aim to gather valuable feedback from residents and ensure that the project meets the needs and aspirations of the local community.

A. Brooks Fischer, AIA, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Newman Architects said, “Our involvement in the State & George development is a fitting way to honor our sixty years of practice in New Haven. We are truly honored to collaborate with Gilbane and Xenolith to create an exciting new mixed-income community that brings value to our city for generations to come.”

The Gilbane Development, Xenolith, and Newman Architects team is committed to collaborating with the City of New Haven to refine and advance the project’s design over the next nine months. With a target groundbreaking set for late 2025/early 2026, our goal is to deliver a high-quality, sustainable development that will continue the high standard for urban growth in New Haven and beyond.

About Gilbane Development Company
Gilbane Development Company is the real estate development, financing, and ownership arm of Gilbane, Inc., a 154-year-old family-owned company. With over $8.5 billion in development and more than 25,000 units of housing completed/underway, Gilbane Development Company’s projects incorporate every aspect of real estate including: multifamily housing (market rate apartments, student housing, and affordable housing); mixed-used developments; healthcare facilities; K-12 schools; government facilities; and many types of facilities delivered through public-private partnerships. To learn more, visit www.gilbaneco.com/development.

About Xenolith Partners
Xenolith Partners CT LLC (“Xenolith”), a certified woman-owned affordable housing development firm was formed in 2016 by founding principals Andrea Kretchmer and Terri Belkas-Mitchell. Xenolith is a real estate development company specializing in environmentally sustainable and socially responsible projects. With a commitment to community engagement and cutting-edge design, Xenolith aims to create developments that are resilient, inclusive, and economically impactful. The principals of Xenolith have nearly 30 years of experience in affordable housing development and finance, having successfully developed a broad range of projects including new construction, community facilities, affordable preservation, historic adaptive reuse, and brownfield remediation. To learn more, visit https://xenolithpartners.com/.

About Newman Architects
Newman Architects is a nationally recognized architecture, interiors, lighting, and branding firm celebrating its sixtieth year of practice in New Haven, Connecticut. The firm’s knowledge-driven architectural staff of 40 works together to shape space and expand possibilities for community, commercial, and educational clients. The firm has received more than 150 awards for excellence and has built a national reputation for the quality of its work and commitment to client success. Newman’s recent multi-family residential projects include the Hill Central Affordable Housing Redevelopment in New Haven, Parkside Village Affordable Housing in Branford, The Hazel Stamford Mixed-Use Development in Stamford, 18 High Apartments in New Haven, and Heritage Park, the mixed-use development of the former UConn Graduate campus in West Hartford.