Temple Court

Temple Court is a mixed use development that spans much of the block between Temple Street and Whitney Avenue to the East and West, and Grove and Trumbull Streets to the South and North. Temple Court refers to the complex of three-floor and single unit condominium residences that are at the center of the complex, while Whitney-Grove Square is the name used to refer to the entire development. This entry focuses on the development from the Temple Street side, and looks into the integration of the brown stone style new condominiums with the older brownstones still standing on the street. Although it has some aesthetic shortcomings in my opinion, Temple Court provides dwellings well suited to the needs of its residents. The two residents I spoke with both appreciated the development for its ability to create a sense of privacy, and safety while still providing one of the best central downtown locations available in New Haven.

1870-early 1900s---Individual New Haven property owners

Ealry 1900s-1935---Yale, specifically for Sheffield Science School housing

1784---Temple Street formally named

1870---Nelson C. Newguen builds six rowhouses, Temple Street's first significant development

1874---Newguen sells off the houses; they are privately owned

ealry 1900s---Newguen houses become Yale Sheffield Science School dormitories; new buildings on Temple spring up, including businesses

1935---Yale demolishes some buildings to create a parking garage

1983---Planning/construction of Whitney-Grove Square begins

On September 22, 1784, the City of New Haven formally named Temple Street, delineating its location and marking its width at fifty feet. At that time, the street had no buildings on it, running as it did through the estates of several prominent New Haven citizens. Over the next eighty- five years, the street slowly grew. At points along the way, as in 1862, the numbering along the street was changed to allow for more buildings. Then, in 1870, the first major documented construction occurred. Nelson C. Newgeon erected six brick rowhouses, all in the same style at numbers 387- 395 Temple Street. According to documents in the White Brothers' Files at Sterling Memorial Library Manuscripts and Archives, Newgeon sold each of these houses to its original owner between the years of 1871 and 1874. The houses remained privately owned, single-family homes until the early 20th century, when they became dormitory housing for the Sheffield Science School. A part of Yale College, the Sheffield School housed those students interested in the sciences. A 1925 directory suggests that numbers 393-397 were Mrs. Beda Skousgaard's Boarding House. This information seems to contradict what is above, although only in the case of two of the dwelling units. At that same time, the buildings surrounding these six begin to see a more mixed use. While the block had been primarily residences with some light industry on the corner previously, by it boasted the Elm City Flower Shop at number 383, and Sheff Shoppe Lunch at number 381. These commercial establishments sprung up in response to, and in service of, the Sheffield School students living on the block.

In 1935, the next major change on the street took place. Numbers 387-395 were sold to Yale. The following year, Yale demolished a USl dwelling to make way for a ground level parking lot. This plot of land remained in Yale's hands and as a functioning parking lot until 1979 when realtor H. Pearce and Yale University began consideration of redevelopment of the Whitney-Grove area. Four years later in 1983, the official proposal was for a Planned Development District in that area [0 be called ''Whitney-Grove Square. The key players in the development project were Herbert S. Newman, the architects, and H. Pearce and Carley Capital Group who were co-developers. Their proposal recommended creating a mixed use district out of the 2.5 acre site that would include residential, office, and retail spaces, as well as a parking lot. Indeed, the final development did include all of these elements. The parking lot sits under the residences of Temple Court on the Temple Street side, while retail sits on the bottom floors of the residences that from Whitney and the office building on the corner of Whitney and Grove. The residences themselves consist of 27 full townhouse units and 16 flats. In the written proposal, both the economic and aesthetic benefits of the project are highlighted. The proposal claims that the development with favorable assist with the creation of the Audubon Arts district, and that it will in a profit of $255,000 annually.

This area has a high building density but sits between Temple Street, which is mostly comprised of residential buildings, and Church Street/Whitney Avenue, which is mostly comprised of commercial buildings. Therefore, Rosenfeld Hall serves as the northeast edge of Yale’s downtown campus as everything eastward is part of New Haven’s business district and everything westward owned by Yale University. This location also sits at the foot of Yale’s Science Hill, as it is located on the street directly to the right of Hillhouse Avenue.

This location is highly visible to cars and pedestrians as the entrance faces the corner of Temple and Grove Streets. Grove Street is one of New Haven’s busiest streets as it runs westward through all of Yale’s campus, so car traffic and noise is frequent. Being located between residential and commercial buildings, on top of being close to Yale’s campus, also provides Rosenfeld Hall with a lot of foot traffic. 

More than anything, if is the dimensioning of these windows that makes them feel our of place on a residential building. These square windows that show up on the residences are the same as those on the office building at the comer of Whitney and Grove. Because one can see the office building from the interior of Temple Court, it is impossible not to notice this relationship, and impossible therefore not to be constantly aware that the Temple Court dwellings are part of a larger, essentially corporate development.

The townhouses were developed in two sections, the first being those intended fill the gap in the Temple Street facade, the second being those in an interior court. According to the original design proposal, the architectural detailing on the facade aims to fit in style and elegance with the 1870s era townhouses that remain along Temple Street. The proposal says the Temple Street townhouses will continue the fine masonry material, window and door detailing across me site. From visiting the site, I would agree with the developers assessment that the development assists in the creation of a unified Audubon Arts district. This is true in large part because Herbert Newman is the architect responsible for both developments, so there is a strong continuity. I do not, however, believe that either the window or door detailing matches with the older townhouses-far from it. For me, it is the windows that cause this development to fail from an aesthetic perspective and to fail in the creation of a truly individualized, residential feeling. The windows are all square or close to square, and consists of single large panes of glass, with the exception square windows made up of four smaller square panes of glass. The dimensions of these windows, in my opinion, makes them feel our of place on a residential building. These square windows that show up on the residences are the same as those on the office building at the comer of Whitney and Grove. Because one can see the office building from the interior of Temple Court, it is impossible not to notice this relationship, and impossible therefore not to be constantly aware that the Temple Court dwellings are part of a larger, essentially corporate development. The porticoes at Temple Court have a a similarly corporate and mass-produced feel. The stair railings and windows, which lack the hand-wrought and decorated feel of older ones, cause Temple Court to feel like just another development rather than like a unique home setting.