Junta for Progressive Action

This building is located in Fair Haven, a neighborhood in the eastern part of the city of New Haven. Located across from a school, next to a family dentist, pawnshop, library, and Metro by T-Mobile store, the urban context suggests that it is now a quiet area that is not quite a residential suburb anymore, not is it a full-blown trip mall – instead, it sits somewhere in between these identities, and maintains qualities of both. The buildings themselves look like repurposed residential buildings, and the program of the businesses and services all suggest community orientedness and fulfilling local immediate needs. It also maintains the walkability of a suburb, with wide sidewalks and ample street lights that seem fairly well maintained.

Private/Residential (1978), Junta for Progressive Action (1969)

169 Grand Avenue, 1851-52: Site used to be The Lyman Woodward House, and was the last surviving true suburban villa in the district.

1978 - Current: Current building (residential) was constructed

Current: Junta occupies physical tenancy at 169 Grand Avenue



The gaps in between chronological data were not possible to find, such as 1) when Junta relocated to this location, 2) What kind of structures existed on the lot between 1852 and 1978, 3) How many tenants lived in the current building prior to Junta moving in.



Prior to European settlement, Fair Haven was used by the Momauguin group of Quinnipiac Native Americans for farming. In 1679, Fair Haven was formed as a village intended to house industrial workers by Herman Hotchkiss, who made numerous investments into the formation of Fair Haven. Because of its proximity to the Mill and Quinnipiac rivers, the area also produced a large source of oysters and other river products, and eventually established manufacturing plants and a brewery. Initially only reachable by boat, foot, or horseback, the first roads were laid for horse-drawn vehicles. In 1784, Fair Haven officially became a part of the city of New Haven.



By the 1930s, Fair Haven saw an influx of black and Puerto Rican families, leading to redevelopment along the Quinnipiac River. As part of an urban renewal program in the 1960s, over 100 Fair Haven households were displaced. In 1978, the area became preserved as a historic district, and in the early 1980s, many buildings along the Grand Avenue were renovated. It’s quite powerful to think about the history of Fair Haven, specifically this historic district that Junta is now in, when understanding community acceptance and the legacy of discriminatory housing practices.

Junta is a majority Latina-led organization housed in Fair Haven, a predominantly Latinx neighborhood in New Haven. A community-based nonprofit, Junta was founded in 1969 in response to poor investment and social abandonment of communities of color by Puerto Rican community organizers. Junta is based in a previously residential building – the interior space retains this homey, intimate feeling (not dissimilar to those of Yale’s affinity groups like the AFAM House, Asian American Cultural Center, and Native American Cultural Center). The interior is bright and feels alive, with painted murals of tropical birds and foliage. The exterior spaces exhibit a similar kind of vibrancy when filled with community members for events and workshops. Through this space, Junta offers a variety of no-cost social services, legal aid, immigration services, adult education, and youth programs to over 2,000 low-income individuals annually.

This building is located in Fair Haven, a neighborhood in the eastern part of the city of New Haven. Located across from a school, next to a family dentist, pawnshop, library, and Metro by T-Mobile store, the urban context suggests that it is now a quiet area that is not quite a residential suburb anymore, not is it a full-blown trip mall – instead, it sits somewhere in between these identities, and maintains qualities of both. The buildings themselves look like repurposed residential buildings, and the program of the businesses and services all suggest community orientedness and fulfilling local immediate needs. It also maintains the walkability of a suburb, with wide sidewalks and ample street lights that seem fairly well maintained.

The building appears relatively box-like and very symmetrical, with 9 large windows on the front of it. It is a bit unclear whether the building currently uses clapboard or asbestos siding – while the exterior looks relatively new for the building’s age (suggesting a recent renovation), asbestos siding was commonly sought out and used until the 1970s, around the construction of the building. The flat roof, vinyl siding, and small porch with two front pillars suggests that this building was built in the Neo-Colonial style, especially when considering the resurgence of interest in Colonial style buildings in the 1970s and 1980s. Buildings in this time often used platform framing to support its separate levels in the home. Exact alterations and additions to the building made over time are not entirely clear due to some gaps in the chronological data of the site; however, the building’s blend of modern construction and traditional Colonial style elements signify a building style that was not uncommon during the period, especially in suburban settings.

“Colonial Revival Style (1880-1955).” Wentworth, 25 May 2023, www.wentworthstudio.com/historic-styles/colonial-revival/.

Google Maps, Google, www.google.com/maps/@41.3091486,-72.8940148,3a,75y,19.71h,86.54t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s24blJ8anvXbkYsq74cObGQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D24blJ8anvXbkYsq74cObGQ%26cb_client%3Dsearch.gws-prod.gps%26w%3D86%26h%3D86%26yaw%3D7.753944%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.

“Junta for Progressive Action.” Junta, www.juntainc.org/about. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.

“Latinos in Greater New Haven: Emerging Influence – Growing Opportunity.” The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, 7 May 2014, www.cfgnh.org/articles/latinos-in-greater-new-haven-emerging-influence-growing-opportunity.

“Quinnipiac River.” The New Haven Preservation Trust, nhpt.org/quinnipiac-river. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.

“The Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.” Yale New Haven Teacher Institute, teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.