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May 8, 2023 REAL ESTATE

Ex-pasta sauce factory poised for new chapter

PHOTOS | CONTRIBUTED The former Palmieri tomato sauce factory property in New Haven.
By Hanna Snyder Gambini

The former Palmieri tomato sauce factory, now under new ownership, could be part of the Mill River District’s redevelopment vision in New Haven’s Fair Haven neighborhood.

In late March, New York-based 145 Hamilton LLC, an affiliate of The Greyhill Group, paid $700,000 for a commercial industrial building at 150 Wallace St., also listed as 145 Hamilton St.

Palmieri Food Products made tomato sauce and other Italian foods there. The city foreclosed on the property in 2019 due to unpaid taxes.

Greyhill associates could not be reached for comment on their plans for the property.

New Haven’s Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli said city staff recently met with the Greyhill team to discuss a range of opportunities for the 1.3-acre property.

“Over the long-term, the Mill River Planning Study contemplates both commercial and residential uses, recognizing the jobs and economic value of this important mixed-use district,” Piscitelli said. “For the near term, we are looking forward to a continuing dialogue with Greyhill,” on options for either new business relocation or redevelopment plans.

An aerial view of the former Palmieri Food Products property.

The Mill River District sits on the banks of the Mill River near Interstates 91 and 95, featuring a number of industrial centers for food processing and distribution, precision manufacturing, design and construction support, specialty building supplies fabrication, and other diverse commercial enterprises.

A 2013 study estimated that nearly 40% of Mill River District land is vacant or underutilized for potential industries that could promote jobs and industrial activity.

“Over time, the closure of several plants has left a number of prime sites available for redevelopment,” city documents said.

But the location and history of the area present challenges for the city and potential developers.

“Although studies have revealed opportunities for new sustainable models of urban development, some sites, given their history as former heavy industrial facilities, require more investment to redevelop than similar suburban locations and are therefore at risk of remaining vacant or underutilized for a substantial period,” city documents said.

A revised Municipal Development Plan renewed and expanded the boundaries of the previous Mill River development plan. The final project will include the development of site recommendations, new regulatory tools, and infrastructure improvements that incentivize the continued revitalization of and growth towards an industrial mixed-use district.

“The project also aims to create a compelling identity for the district that will help retain existing businesses and attract new investment over time,” city documents said.

Principals of 145 Hamilton, Jacob Herskowitz, Yeshaya Cohen, and Moshe Bloorian, have acquired several properties in Connecticut as Greyhill.

The associates also paid Fairfield-based GJS Properties, LLC $7 million for a 70,000-square-foot Milford industrial property at 881 Boston Post Road in January 2022.

Tesla, Inc. leases a portion of the 70,000-square-foot showroom and service center building that sits on 3.24 acres along the bustling commercial stretch of Route 1.

The company also paid $5.9 million for a 48-unit Hartford apartment building near Hartford’s Union Station in December of last year, announcing plans to upgrade the rental units.

Greyhill owns more than 400 apartments and 800,000 square feet of industrial space in New York and Connecticut, according to the company.

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