Highland Apartments/Rubamba/Soul de Cuba

The neighborhood around Crown and High Street has changed dramatically over the years, transforming from a mostly residential area to a neighborhood that seems to expand both Yale and a recently renovated downtown. The changes in 283 Crown also reflect the greater changes in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown New Haven.



283 Crown was constructed in 1900 for residential use.(1) Around 1923, additions were made to the building (the store fronts that are occupied by present day Rumbumba and Soul de Cuba) to make room for commercial space. Additionally, an entrance, present day 25 High Street, was added to the building  to give tenants access to the apartments upstairs. Since the renovations, 283 Crown/ 25 High Street has continued to  be used for both commercial and residential use with storefronts and apartments in upper levels of the building.



Wiliam Swiman, a grocer, occupied 283 Crown from 1925 to 1940. At the 25 High Street storefront, Lee Laundry operated from the 1930s til the 1970s. (2) After the 1970s, businesses occupying the storefronts of 283 Crown and 25 High Street changed frequently, suggesting that the businesses were not doing well. Additionally, businesses shifted from selling groceries and providing everyday services like laundry to businesses that sold interior design items or specialized food items that would not be purchased everyday. (3)In the 1980s, the property owner received several foreclosure notices but the owner avoided foreclosure by getting back on track on payments. (4)



 In 2000, The Missy LLC acquired the property for $225,000 from a family. (5) In 2003, Soul de Cuba moved into the storefront of 283 Crown. Rumbumba, another Latin American restaurant, occupies the storefront at 25 High Street.  The presence of both restaurants follows the trend of new bars and restaurants opening up in Crown Street as part of a redeveloped downtown area. Slowly, Crown Street was transformed from a largely residential area to both a residential and commercial space as seen through the transformation of townhouses to restaurants and storefronts. (6)



283 Crown Street Tenants and Surrounding Neighbors Timeline



1913



281 Crown Rockwell Margaret



283 Crown: Dayton Charles



284 Crown: Wagner Estella



1915



281 Crown Lippineott DH



283 Crown Dayton Charles



284 Hebrew Institute



1916



281  Crown: Rockwell Margaret L Mrs



283 Crown: Dayton Charles



284  Crown: Hebrew Institute



1917



283 Crown Griffin Thomas



284 Crown Hebrew Institute



1918



283 Crown Griffin Thomas



284 Crown Hebrew Institute



1919



283 Crown Griffin Thomas



284  Crown Hebrew Institute



1920



283 Crown Griffin Thomas



284 Crown Hebrew Institute



1921



281 Crown Rockwell Margaret L Mrs



283 Crown Griffin Thomas



1926



281 Crown Craig Williams  J



283 Crown Harrison B grocer



1927



281 Crown Craig William J



283 Crown Harrison B grocer



1928



281 Crown Craig William J



283 Crown Harrison B grocer



1929



281 Crown Craig William J



1930



Craig Neille Mrs Lodging House



Craig William J Furniture Repair



283 Crown Swiman William grocer



1931



281 Crown Craig Neille



283 Crown Swiman William grocer



1932



283 Crown Swiman William grocer



1935



283 Crown Street Swiman Groccer



288 Crown Godfrey’s Service Station



25 High Street:



Feldman Tailor



Lee Laundry



Several Apartments



1940



283 Crown Swiman Grocer



25 High Street Highland Apartments, Feldman tailor, Lee Laundry



1945



Swiman grocer



25 High Street: Highland Apartment, Feldman tailor, Lee Laundry



1950



283 Crown Swiman grocer



Highland Apartments



1955



283 Crown Swiman Grocer



25 High Street Highland Apartments



283 Swiman Grocer



1960



283 Crown Street Swiman Grocer



25 High Street: Lee Soon Laundry, Vinnie Barbershop, Highland Apartments



1965



283—vacant



25 High Street Lee Laundry, High Barber shop, Highland Apartments



1970



283 Crown  Crown High Food Shop



25 High Street Lee Soon Laundry, Décor LTD Interior, Highland Apartments



1974



283 Crown Crown and High Food Shop



25 High  Highland Crown Barbershop



1980



283 Crown Crown and High Food Shop



25 Highland Apartments



1986



283 Crown High Food Shop



25 High and Crown Barbershop



Highland Apartments



1990



283 Crown Crown High Deli and Catering



25 Highland Apartments



1995



283 Crown Crown High Deli



25  High Pasquales Hair Ship, Zeitegest Clothing, Highland Apartments



2001



25 High Street Pasquales Hair shop, Kitchen Witch Herbs and Spices, Highland Apartments



283 Crown Mom’s Indian Kitchen and Grocery



2005



283 Crown Soul de Cuba



25 High Gastronomique, Pasquales Hair shop, and Highland Apartments



Sources



1. "283 Crown" New Haven Vision Government Solutions Website http://gis.vgsi.com/newhavenct/Parcel.aspx?Pid=14983 Accessed 9/23/15



2.  New Haven City Directories. Accessed at the New Haven Museum



3. Ibid



4.  New Haven Land Records Volume 3019 page 341



5. New Haven Land Records Volume 3153 Page 45



6. Preston Maynard "Historic resources Inventory Building and Structures: 277-279 Crown Street" 1981