Newhallville Church Poised For Greening

With help from the state and federal governments, the polluted site of a former Newhallville milk-distribution operation may finally be cleaned up, paving the way for a churchs expansion.

The church, First Calvary Baptist at the corner of Dixwell Avenue and Hazel Street, has applied for an Environmental Protection Agency grant through the citys brownfields revolving loan fund. The money would go toward cleaning up environmental contamination on a city property acquired by the church in 2002.

The grant, when combined with a similar grant from the state, would total between $200,000 and $300,000.

The church, headed by the influential Rev. Boise Kimber (pictured), began construction of a new sanctuary on the site several years ago, only to discover pollution left over from a previous owner.

The site is the former home of a milk-distribution operation belonging to Sealtest Dairy. The company abandoned the property, the city took it through foreclosure in 1993, and tore down a plant there in 1994.

Were trying to clean up Newhallville, Kimber said. Our church has been here 30 years. He said the church has already invested $500,000 in the expansion project.

Asked about the clean-up, city economic development chief Matthew Nemerson said, Its a responsibility that I feel we have. We sold the land to the church and it turned out to be dirty.

Nemerson said Kimber is kicking in $37,500. The city wont pay a cent; the money comes from the EPA and is simply disbursed by the city.

We want the church to be successful, Nemerson said.

EPA revolving loan fund money is contingent upon a demonstration of community benefits, which Mayor Toni Harp requested after her administration took over the pending request, according to Nemerson. Nemerson and Kimber said the church will expand its soup kitchen, host an after-school program for the new Amistad high School being constructed across the street, and provide services for the homeless.

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Newhallville Church Poised For Greening