The proposed redevelopment project is called "Gateway New Haven," and building could start during the coming year.

"There's gonna be a new gateway to New Haven up Church Street South," said architect Herbert Newman.

The project architect says it's more than just plans for another mall for the Elm City. In fact, Newman says Gateway New Haven will be an intimate urban setting.

"It doesn't eliminate the idea of retail at all for downtown. In fact, it reinforces the idea of a more pedestrian oriented, city oriented retail than a large shopping mall kind of retail that Mac's and Malley's represented."

The plan calls for five separate projects costing $400 million, and it includes building a convention center, a new campus for Gateway Community Technical College, and five apartment buildings, among other things.

"We've seen plans for this area before and they haven't worked. Should New Haven get it's hopes up again?"
"I think so," says Henry Fernandez, the city's Economic Development Administrator. "I think this is a really exciting time. If you look around in the blocks that surround the Coliseum, you've seen just within a block of here, six new restaurants open.

Area business owners are hopeful but skeptical.

"If we don't have enough parking, then you cannot welcome people in town," says Ming Lau of MISO, "no matter what you build."

Gateway Community College students welcome the idea of incorporating the New Haven and North Haven campuses centrally in the city.

"I have to take a shuttle bus to North Haven, and back here," says Tyrone McMillan. "Sometimes I'm late to work doing that because the shuttle buses run like every hour."

The first hurdle for Gateway New Haven is getting the governor to provide the $10 million it will take to knock down the coliseum.