The former Sports Haven building, located at 600 Long Wharf Dr. in New Haven, is projected to be demolished in early July, according to the city’s top building official. The building, which was constructed in 1979 and served as an off-track venue for horse racing, was vacated by leaseholder Winners late last year.

Demolition Plans

The property’s owner, an affiliate of the New York City-based Criterion Group, submitted a Notice of Intent to Demolish the building to the City Plan Department on February 4. A 90-day delay, required by city law due to the building’s listing on the New Haven Historic Resources Inventory, expired on May 27. The city’s Building Department, headed by Robert Dillon, issued a building permit on June 4, allowing for the demolition of the building if contractor J&J Brothers LLC meets the necessary requirements.

Demolition contractor J&J Brothers has submitted most of the necessary requirements for demolition, according to the city’s building permit database. An asbestos inspection conducted by Hillmann Consulting, LLC in October 2025 found some asbestos-containing materials at the ex-Sports Haven site. Dillon said that the current environmental remediation should address the asbestos.

Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.