177 Park Street

The nondescript building, occupied in equal parts by a restaurant and locksmith shop, is nestled into a nook deep in the heart of the bustling Dwight-Edgewood neighborhood. Historically, this area was a hub of lightweight carriage production in New Haven, which resulted in the influx of a number of workers to residencies nearby.⁴ Since then, antiquated businesses have given way to a number of contemporary businesses designed to meet the needs of the modern consumer, including coffee shops, bars, and local restaurants. This change has also brought with it an influx of college students, who either live in the neighborhood or constantly pass through. Throughout all of this, 177 Park has maintained a modest presence on humble plot of land, aiding the neighborhood in its transformation from a manufacturing hub to a commercial district by providing two staple businesses that help hold New Haven together.

The plot of land is contained in the Dwight-Edgewood neighborhood, off of the corner of Park and Chapel Streets. The 1888 Sanborn map shows an empty plot of land in the current place of 177 Park, while the 1911 Sanborn Map shows a rectangular building that resembles the one at the site today (See Images 2 and 3)^6,7. However, there is no record of the building at 177 Park Street on the New Haven Tax Assessor Database prior to 1981, making the question of ownership difficult to answer^1,5. The building was acquired by an unknown entity on October 8^th, 1981; this entity owned it until February 1^st, 1995, at which point a man by the name of William Esposito acquired 177 Park. Mr. Esposito maintained ownership until February 17^th, 2012, when the building was transferred into the hands of WTE 1166 CHAPEL LLC. This change of hands likely corresponds to a pedagogical change in legal ownership, as one of the businesses occupying 177 Park (“La Cosinita”) has maintained a foothold in the building since 2005². 

The area in which the building is situated has always been characterized by a large movement of people. In addition to the constant flux of students attending Yale University, the adjacent Chapel Street is a major artery for travel in New Haven. Movement of individuals through the area began with workers building carriages in the late 19^th century, who moved to the Victorian homes of Chapel Street. This influx of students has continued with modern waves of immigration, specifically of people from Central and South America³. The restaurant established at 177 Park Street has thus been the result of this demographic shift, and has served as a anchor point through which one can observe the changing demographic of the city. This anchor point provides a dining hub that encourages the union of locals, newcomers, and students alike as they meet and interact over meals. Similarly, the locksmith shop provides a local meeting point as well, though one brought out of necessity more so than desire to interact.

The building is located in the heart of the Dwight-Edgewood neighborhood, which makes up a portion of New Haven’s residential area. 177 Park is surrounded on both sides by large, 3-story red-brick buildings in the 1890 Queen Anne Victorian style⁴. The surroundings are vibrant due to the close proximity of a college campus, the copious shops and businesses adjacent to the residential areas of young professionals, and the use of Chapel Street as a major throughway for transportation by car in New Haven. The plot of land associated with the building itself is situated just off of the main avenue of action, meaning that it maintains an active yet quiet presence. 

The one-story building is situated one plot of land away from the corner of Park and Chapel street. It sits squarely in the middle of its plot, with two inaccessible alleyways bridging the gaps between the building and those adjacent to it on both sides. 177 Park Street boasts a modest grey brick exterior, with a thin black asphalt roof. The design in very much minimalist – no ornamentation, fenestration, or other cosmetic features are observable from the outside (See Image 2). 

1.    "177 Park Street." New Haven Tax Assessment Database. 2016. Accessed February 26,

2018. http://gis.vgsi.com/newhavenct/.

2.    Gold, Sarah. "Authentic Mexican Food Among a Nuevo-Taco Craze." New York Times.

April 14, 2016. Accessed February 26, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/nyregion/authentic-mexican-food-amid-a-nuevo-taco-craze.html.

3.    "Immigration." ConnecticutHistory.org. Accessed February 26, 2018.

https://connecticuthistory.org/topics-page/immigration/.

4.    National Registry of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. PDF. United States

Department of the Interior: Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

5.    "New Haven Modern - All Buildings." New Haven Modern Architecture. June 2011.

Accessed February 26, 2018. http://newhavenmodern.org/all-buildings.

6.    "Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, New Haven: Dwight-Edgewood Neighborhood." Map.

In Sanborn fire insurance maps: New Haven. Teaneck, NJ: Sanborn Maps Co., 1911.

7.    "Sanborn Fire Insurance Map: Dwight-Edgewood Neighborhood." Map. In Sanborn fire

insurance maps: New Haven, New Haven Co.Teaneck, NJ: Sanborn Map Co., 1888.