University News

University of New Haven to Purchase St. Paul Church Buildings in West Haven

The University, which had a long-standing partnership with the St. Paul parish, will engage in an open community dialogue on how it will incorporate the facilities into its campus.

November 12, 2018

St. Paul Church
St. Paul Church, as seen from First Avenue. In this image, the University's main campus is approximately 0.3 mile to the right.

The University of New Haven and the Saint John XXIII Parish Corporation have reached an agreement on the University’s purchase of the St. Paul church buildings at 41 Alling Street in West Haven. The purchase is expected to close in January. The buildings are located steps from the University’s main campus.

"The St. Paul parish has long been part of the University’s extended family," said President Steven H. Kaplan. "When this opportunity became available, it was important for the University to ensure that this property is used in a way that serves our campus and the community."

"The University believes that its success, the success of West Haven, and the success of the surrounding neighborhoods are interrelated."President Steven H. Kaplan

The St. Paul Church was closed on June 29, 2017 as part of the reconfiguration of parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

St. Paul Church overhead view
The St. Paul property includes four buildings, numbered in this overhead image, and a large parking lot.

The University has long used the church’s parking lot as a satellite parking area and has used some of the church’s facilities for special University projects. This will continue while the University examines how it will develop the facilities to benefit the campus and the community.

"It is important for us to continue to invest in the neighborhood surrounding our main campus," said Kaplan. "We look forward to working with the community to determine how to best use these buildings. Ultimately, acquiring these facilities so close to our campus is part of our ongoing commitment to creating more cutting-edge space to enhance our signature programs and enrich the educational experience of our students."