We have called, we have talked to all sorts of folks- we need a plan to cope with those bused into New Haven to use our drug facilities! Ho about regionalism where all towns around share the problems and we put a methadone clinic in other towns. That would be a good start!

North Haven has a methadone clinic

I used to work right by the North Haven clinic. It seemed like a very well organized operation. People going in and out via car or bus to get the services they need.
No loitering, lawlessness, trespassing, public deification, harassment, screaming, etc that is dealt with on Grand Ave. There is no reason the two things must go hand-in-hand. People can get the services they need, and residents do not need to be disturbed, businesses can function as normal (the North Haven clinic is surrounded by numerous businesses, very different than the blighted spaces on Grand Ave).

To the best of my knowledge there is not a clinic near Nash Street, it is located in the Long Wharf area.

I think you mean Grand Ave. And I think you're right - I think Another Lyon Resident was just referring to the reason that people needing services tend to flock to New Haven from far and wide, not necessarily that those services are being provided on the block of Grand Ave in Wooster Square (maybe they are and I'm not aware).
My point about North Haven is that these services can be provided and not negatively affect the area. The city simply manages this stretch of Grand Ave poorly.

The methadone clinic has nothing to do with the problems in this area

I've contacted our District Lieutenant and requested special attention to that area. Please continue to report times, and other details you deem appropriate.

Always mornings especially waiting for Hollywood package to open. Then throughout the day,, increasing with times that folks go to the clinic or shelter.

^that, plus randomly at night, usually early evening. Yelling.
I'm not in the immediate area as frequently as I used to be so I can't be there to call.

Perhaps the police could go around the block and drive down Grand more instead of parking on Olive in the garage so they have more visibility and can see these problems first hand. We also see drug dealing as part of this situation. Many thanks to LCI and our police for being vigilant.

Thank you for the additional information. I've passed it on to our Lieutenant. Will keep you posted.

Another Lyons City Resident
What clinic?

Spoke with the Downtown District Lieutenant early this morning and he proposed adding a walking beat on Grand Avenue. He said he was aware of the situation and will address it very soon. I think a walking beat will do much to keep people from loitering and using the lots as bathrooms. I will be meeting with the Lt. tomorrow and hope to be able to come back and tell you when the walking beats will begin.

Thank you to all. I propose some of the actively involved neighbors meet with LCI, Economic Development, and a few of the Grand Ave business folks to see if we could come up with some ideas as to how to redevelop this important gateway to downtown.

That's a reasonable request and a good idea. Let me go and meet with Steve Fontana, Deputy Director of Economic Development, and see what he says. I'll keep you posted.

This issue is NOT resolved and probably enver will be. It is getting worse again now that the weather is better. Active drug dealing is exacerbating the drinking issue. People hanging on poles, unable to stand up. The filth is increasing- no action on the huge accumulation of mattresses and trash at the old Stanton building. Never heard a word from LCI or Steve Fontana- did anyone else?

I'll close this when the City gets it together to fix the problem. It gets worse, not better. No word about meeting with all agencies involved...

Much has happened since our last communication. I have kept in touch with Lt. O'Neill and he established a regular beat to monitor activities along Grand Avenue. The mess behind the Staton Furniture building was cleaned by employees of LCI. The owner of the building did not care to do anything the City ordered. We are currently fighting a lawsuit brought on by the owner of the building. LCI has been meeting with the merchants and is in the process of establishing a merchants association and a list of "wants" for the City. The merchants along this strip are great, and the City is committed to helping them achieve their goals for the area. Suffice it to say, this is a multi-faceted problem that will take a little more time to address properly. We do not post everything we do but, rest assured Grand Avenue is a priority for the City, and LCI staff are very involved and are working for progress along that commercial strip. Will post again once several items have been completed. Please feel free to leave posts regarding Grand Avenue and Wooster Square in general.

this is still an ongoing issue

I have left a message for Lt. O'Neill at 7:50 a.m. He's always good about getting back to me. I will report again after we've had a chance to talk.

Thank you so much for the work that has been done so far but groups hang out in mornings next to the Continuum, while 360 Turnaround has large groups smoking and hanging out right next to the day care center and a store and a restaurant. All three of these merchants have met to work with the City and establish GAMA, but these folks continue to drive business away from Grand Ave. Is there an ordinance about smoking withing a certain number of feet of a day care center? There must be some kind of approach that can work.
AND....the gate is wide open at the old Stanton building so there are folks sleeping back there. Who knows what else goes on.
When is the City going to set some guidelines for managing these issues. Drugs are constantly being sold out in the open. The homeless need help- it's a lot cheaper to provide housing than sending these folks to the ER constantly. There are precedents showing how well this approach works. We need to think big and not approach all these issues piecemeal.
Any constructive input is more than welcomed. We can't simply continue to complain, chase folks away, and let the problems continue in vicious circles.

We have a new Police Officer in our DWSCMT. I'll share this complaint with him as soon as I can. Is this still an issue?

These types of issues don't just disappear. I saw a police car over there yesterday...

I've spoken to our district police officer regarding this issue and he responded that he is working on those quality of life issues.

The crowds are growing, 783 Grand is out of control, loitering and selling of ??? continues on the sidewalk in front of Ferraro's, folks wait for hours for the liquor stores to open--- the entire strip between Ferraro's and Olive on Grand needs serious attention. How about that community meeting we discussed?

I think it's important to keep this issue open. Perhaps interested parties could meet with the GAMA folks and LCI and City Plan and the district manager

Nope still not closing this- things are getting worse.

Call 203 946-6316 when you see this, you can then post to alert others.

Thank you to our great Lt. and his staff

Thanks for fixing this request!