NEW HAVEN — City officials, development leaders, and community stakeholders gathered Tuesday, July 29 to celebrate the grand opening of the $50 million Cadence on Canal residential development. It brings 176 new units to the Dixwell neighborhood.
The five-story complex, located at 222 Canal St., transforms a long-vacant, city-owned 1.7-acre parcel into a vibrant housing community situated along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. The site, once home to Winchester Arms and Olin Corp., now stands as a marker of neighborhood reinvestment and a shared vision for a more connected, forward-looking New Haven.
RJ Development + Advisors LLC, led by CEO Yves-Georges A. Joseph II, spearheaded the project in close partnership with the City of New Haven. Joseph said the project reflects both a personal and professional milestone.
“This building is uncompromising,” Joseph said. “It is Class A. It is top of the line. It is highly ‘amenitized’. It is a luxury building… and we’re deeply proud to be able to say that in the context of the mixed-income nature of the resident population that will call this place home.”
Mayor Justin Elicker praised the transformation of the site and the collaborative effort that made the development possible.
“Congratulations to you and your team for what you have done… this project was not easy, but to see it done today just gives us great pride,” the mayor said. “We will continue to rise to this challenge, and Yves (Georges A. Joseph II) has been just such a great part of this. This project was not easy… but it’s a testament to the kind of public-private partnership that RJDA brings to the table.”
Alder Jeanette Morrison, who represents the area, reflected on the significance of revitalizing a site that had long been an eyesore.
“We want development, but we want to be able to keep people in their homes, in their communities… because if we don’t, this area could go back to what it used to be, and we don’t want that,” Morrison said.
Also speaking at the event were representatives from LISC Fund Management, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, and the City of New Haven’s housing department. The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the new facility.
“RJ Development — they’re great Chamber members, but they’re really great New Haven investors. They were actually our Developer of the Year this year,” said Garrett Sheehan, president and CEO of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce.
Cadence on Canal includes studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, along with amenities that reflect a modern, connected lifestyle. The development supports ongoing efforts to build new housing options throughout the city, adding to a vision of community-centered growth in the Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods.
