University Commons Development Aims to Transform Area around University of New Haven

University Commons, a private mix-use development planned steps from the University of New Haven campus, will feature 179 apartments and 50,000 square feet of retail space, restaurants, and shops catering to students and young professionals.

University of New Haven president Steve Kaplan said the new development will create a true "college town" atmosphere in the Allingtown section of West Haven where the University calls home. 

This project holds great promise for invigorating the neighborhood and will change the nature of the University of New Haven student experience

- President Steve Kaplan

The development is being modeled after a vibrant downtown area located near the University of Connecticut. The first phase, The Atwood, opens in July on the site of the former Carroll Cut-Rate Furniture store on Boston Post Road and features 67 high-end studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments that will be occupied by University of New Haven students. The 60,000-square-foot facility also includes 15,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. 

"I hope my fellow Westies are as excited as I am about the forthcoming opening of The Atwood, an upscale housing and retail development that will generate much-needed property tax revenue for the city while helping to transform our Allingtown neighborhood into a true college community," West Haven Mayor Ed O’Brien said.

Phase II of the development, The Forest, will be constructed on site of the old Forest Theatre at the intersection of Forest Road and Boston Post Road and is scheduled to open in June 2018. It will feature 62 residential units and 18,000 square feet of retail space.

Phase III, Park Place, will be built on Cellini Place across from the Allingtown Green and is scheduled to open in June 2019. It will include 50 residential units and 16,000 square feet of retail space.

The project is being spearheaded by the Acorn Group, which is chaired by David Beckerman ’66 A.S.

"I am grateful to David Beckerman for bringing his unique vision to this project," added Mayor O’Brien. "I think it’s transformational for Allingtown."