Aaron Greenburg organized a trash pickup of Grand a year or two ago and got a good turnout. Once the weather cools a bit we should do this again -- hopefully with more people.
Start at Olive and work east toward Livingston.
A problem will remain, however: The sidewalk and street across from Farnam Court and outside the liquor store by Ferrarro's -- believe it's called the Coop Liquor Store -- is nearly always overflowing with alcohol containers and cigarette packs. Clean it today, by the weekend it'll be a filthy mess again.
This is also a trail for the homeless, who trek from the shelter on Grand through Wooster Square and downtown to the Green, often leaving a trail of trash and alcohol/tobacco litter.
What have other communities done to remediate littering? What are the options? You can't pass a law against littler because one already exists. How do you enforce it when it takes place 24-hours a day, every day?
The only solution is for those who want it cleaned up to clean it up ourselves. That will take organization and conviction.

Trash pickups are fine but that's not an actual solution. I already pick up random stray bits of trash I find around Saint John, Hughes, the park, etc, but Grand is a totally different animal.
Like I said in my previous post, we need an organized, city-supported solution, which may include cameras, better lighting, trash bins, and other improvements to make Grand an attractive place to walk, park your car, shop, etc as opposed to a cut-through and a trail for the homeless.
And yes, since it is a trail for the homeless (well known fact) - a unique burden on Wooster Square that no other neighborhood has, the city should be doing what it can to lessen the impact of that. Again, back to cameras, lighting, etc. If implemented smartly, this could be a mutual benefit for the neighborhood and also for those who require shelter services.

Cameras and lighting don't stop people from running red lights at every intersection in the city. Stand on a corner and watch it. Broad daylight and a downtown full of people don't stop some from scattering litter and other filth across the Green and leaving trash all around the fountain. If there is a solution, we still have not hit on it. And trust me I hate litter and littering as much as you do. I want it to stop, but can't yet see the way.

I sincerely wish you luck in getting the mess tamped down at least. Cameras and lighting -- I don't see these working. We have cameras at many intersections throughout the city yet stand at one intersection for 10 minutes and watch how many people run the red light. As to lights and cameras slowing or stopping litter, take a look at the Green in broad daylight: often trash everywhere across the upper green and around the fountain where people sit for lunch and leave trash on the tables, chairs, ground, even in the fountain enclosure. Does ticketing the homeless help? Hasn't appeared to help.

This is not just about litter.
This is about creating positive, welcoming public spaces that people and businesses want to thrive in.
Better lighting and cameras improve safety.
Bike lanes and street parking calm traffic.
Improvements (which in my observation, include those listed above) have helped make former "dumps" into places that people actually want to spend time, and businesses can thrive, despite the same inherent problems that Grand has. See Howe St.

I'm very aware that behavior as someone who bikes and walks all over the city.
I'm not under some impression that any singular improvement will result in perfection. We don't have perfection even in the most highly-patrolled of downtown that have dedicated maintenance staff. What I do think the neighborhood deserves is effort - simple as that.
Downtown is an area where people want to spend time, and businesses thrive, despite persisting issues of litter/filth/low-level lawlessness/etc. It is an inviting place to be. Taking lessons-learned from downtown, chapel west, etc, and applying them to this small troublesome stretch of Grand Ave just seems like a smart course of action.
This is a neighborhood where homeowners pay high taxes, maintain historic homes that are integral to the charm of the city, go out of their way to keep public spaces clean, preserve trees, put up with the inherent issues caused by being on the "homeless trail," etc. We do our part, would like to see some effort on the part of the city.

Many of us have trying to see how we can better the neighborhood but frankly, merchants are scared and it is almost impossible to draw businesses into the neighborhood. That approach (of fostering business) would increase foot traffic, and in my opinion, go a long way to make the neighborhood better and safer and thus create a welcoming and thriving area. Would like to hear from others with ideas as to how to go about achieving these goals.

Good conversation which we hope will continue and create action. Please join us at the "Clean City Roundtable" on Thursday, September 29 at 5:30. Neighborhood activists and city departments have been working on various solutions and we need all neighborhoods to jump in. Roundtable will be held at the downtown branch of New Haven Free Public Library-133 Elm Street. If you need further information, give us a call at DPW 203-946-6906. Thanks! Hope to see you there!

Great idea, will plan to attend!

This project is going to take baby steps, but the first step is to make the City aware of the blight in this area. I hope this post has helped accomplish that task.

The key issues that I believe need to be discussed are the following:

1. Litter – Added trash receptacles
2. Building Blight: Unfinished exterior construction work at two buildings on Grand Ave between Olive and Jefferson. We all know who they are.
3. Storefront church relocation or forced requirements to improve building facades. This is the only “major” potentially active economic corridor in Wooster Square. Grand Avenue has the potential to offer so much to the City and our neighborhood. The dense building orientation is perfect for a thriving area of commerce. With the growing population and the increased property values in Wooster Square businesses will flock to this area when the street is revitalized. Due to its proximity (walking distance!)to downtown, it baffles me that the economic development department of New Haven hasn’t allocated more resources to this area. This fight should be initiated by the Wooster Square Alderman. Hello out there Greenburg, your constituents are asking for your help! Without your help we cannot make this happen.
4. Planter boxes along the Grand Ave between Olive and Jefferson.
5. Sidewalk sawcut Tree installation along Grand Avenue between Hamilton and Olive. This can be provided for free by URI a Yale Program.

This is just a start. We can make this happen!

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We are closing this request due to its historic nature. If this concern still requires attention and you still believe SeeClickFix is a viable tool for its resolution the best way for it to be addressed is for you to create a new request including a current description of what is occurring and what solution you hope to see regarding this matter, citing/linking this request in the details. Thank you for your dedication to improving the quality of life in our community.