Gary Winfield

Winfield and Looney Announce $14.5 Million in Bonding for Q House

NEW HAVEN, CT—Today, Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), Representative Toni Walker (D-New Haven), Rpresentative Juan Candelaria, Representative Robyn Porter (D-New Haven) and Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced the State Bond Commission is expected to approve $14.5 million grant-in-aid investment for the construction of the new “Q” House community center.

“Building a new Dixwell Q House will bring great strength to this neighborhood,” said Senator Looney. “This community center will soon again be a hub of education, health, and recreation activities for current New Haven families, as it was for previous generations. I want to thank Governor Malloy for his commitment to this project and to the city of New Haven.”

The construction project will create a new facility to serve the people of Dixwell and Newhallville. The “Q” House is expected to include a neighborhood cultural center, a branch of the New Haven Free Public Library and the Cornell-Scott Hill Community Health Center.

“This funding for the Q House will bring new life to Dixwell and Newhallville,” said Senator Winfield. “Community centers are incredibly important to helping our kids succeed and stay on track. The new Q will allow children and adults to enjoy a branch of the New Haven Free Public Library and a neighborhood cultural center. This investment into the Q will help to further build our community by creating a space for neighbors to come together.”

The “Q” House closed in 2003 after being an integral part of the Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods going back to the 1920s. The community center offered after-school programs for the young people and a safe environment free of drugs, alcohol and bullying.

“The state’s investment in constructing a new Q house represents a commitment to our children to deliver a brighter future,” Governor Malloy said. “The new Q House is an important step in revitalizing Dixwell, Newhallville and the surrounding neighborhoods and we’re pleased to support it.”

In 2014 the State Bond Commission approved $1 million to conduct the planning and design work necessary for demolition of the existing structure and the construction of a new building to house the community center.

“Q House is an important community institution. There has been a hole in the Dixwell neighborhood since Q House closed more than 10 years ago,” said State Representative Toni Walker (D-New Haven). “This injection of state funds will allow the re-birth of Q House to move forward.”

“I am pleased to see this funding prioritized for what we anticipate will be a state-of-the-art community center,” said Rep. Juan Candelaria (D-New Haven). “For years, we have exchanged ideas and talked about the potential of this parcel. I am thrilled that these funds will assist in moving forward with the construction and development of this facility that will become an important asset for all the residents in our community.”

“This funding is very much needed to construct a positive and constructive environment where young people can go and be a safe,” said Rep. Robyn Porter (D-New Haven).

The request for funding is included on this month’s State Bond Commission agenda and is expected to be approved at its meeting on January 29.