The Mill River District is the area on both banks of the Mill River, roughly bounded by I-91 to the north and west, I-95 to the south, and the residential areas of Fair Haven to the east. It has historically been home to businesses engaged in food processing and distribution, precision manufacturing, design and construction support, specialty building supplies fabrication, and other diverse commercial enterprises. Over time, the closure of several plants has left a number of prime sites available for redevelopment. In a 2013 study it was estimated that over 38% of the land in the Mill River District is vacant or underutilized in terms of promoting jobs and industrial activity. Although studies have revealed opportunities for new sustainable models of urban development, some sites, given their history as former heavy industrial facilities, require more investment to redevelop than similar suburban locations and are therefore at risk of remaining vacant or underutilized for a substantial period.

The City of New Haven will be submitting a revised Municipal Development Plan (MDP) to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development in order to renew and expand the boundaries of the previous Mill River MDP. The final project will include the development of site recommendations, new regulatory tools, and infrastructure improvements that incentivize the continued revitalization of and growth towards an industrial mixed-use district. The project also aims to create a compelling identity for the district that will help retain existing businesses and attract new investment over time.

• Mill River District Planning Study Final Report (July 2013)
• Additional Information about the Mill River Planning Study