Steve Fontana, Hamden’s recently appointed director of economic and community development, used a recent interview on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” to lay out a community‑driven vision for the town’s future. Drawing on a 25‑year career that includes service as a North Haven state representative, a deputy economic development administrator in New Haven during the early 2000s, and a former economic development administrator in West Haven, Fontana said he plans to apply the same principles that helped transform New Haven’s downtown to Hamden’s core.
Bottom‑up, community‑based planning
According to Fontable, the town has adopted a “bottom‑up, community‑based approach” that emphasizes public art, walkability and strong town‑gown cooperation. He likened his strategy to Wayne Gretzky’s famous advice: “You skate to where the puck’s going, not to where it is or where it’s been.” The goal, Fontana said, is to envision Hamden’s next 20‑30 years and position the town for long‑term success.
Retail, housing and the “Magic Mile”
Some observers have warned that Hamden’s historic “Magic Mile” of shops along Dixwell Avenue has lost its retail momentum. Fontana countered that new stores are replacing older ones and that retail activity remains strong on Dixwell. While developers are not yet knocking on his door to build apartments on the mile, a separate “High Meadows” project is moving forward to add 150 affordable units off the Hartford Turnpike.
Industrial reuse and mixed‑use vision
One concrete step in the plan involves an unnamed industrial company that is expected to take over and renovate the 116,000‑square‑foot former Leed Himmel Industries aluminum plant on Leeder Hill Drive. Fontana sees the site as a catalyst for a denser, multi‑use center where people can live, work, shop and play, especially at the crossroads of Dixwell and Whitney Avenues.
Transit‑oriented development
The town’s current master‑plan process includes proposals to ease zoning restrictions, build over parking lots and add more housing and retail near two major bus lines that are slated for expansion under a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan. Fontana also highlighted the potential of the Farmington Canal greenway, which runs through northern Hamden, to spur development in the Newhall/Highwood neighborhood.
Partnerships with Quinnipiac University
Echoing New Haven’s collaboration with Yale, Fontana hopes to work closely with Quinnipiac University to integrate the surrounding community into growth plans. He believes that a partnership of this sort can bring additional resources and ideas to Hamden’s development agenda.
Neighborhood‑specific ideas
For Whitneyville, Fontana suggested a modest “little TLC” approach—adding a road diet, modest infrastructure upgrades and targeted retail recruitment to create a small‑scale version of East Rock or Spring Glen. In Newhall/Highwood, he envisions a revival tied to both transit improvements and the Farmington Canal trail, with public art, cafés, shops and possibly a dog or skate park along the path.
Looking ahead
Fontana emphasized that his role is to facilitate developers’ visions rather than dictate them. “My job is to help developers with whatever they want to build,” he said. By leveraging New Haven’s successful strategies and tailoring them to Hamden’s unique assets, he aims to create a vibrant, walkable downtown that supports families, respects local heritage and offers new economic opportunities for residents.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
