A former hotel now called a long-standing “eyesore” on the Connecticut shoreline has gotten the “green light for demolition, according to city officials.
Duchinelli Development Co. LLC is to begin demolition on the former Debonair Beach Motel at 295 Beach St., according to the city of West Haven.
After the dilapidated structure is gone, the plan is to develop the 0.94-acre site into at least 30 upscale, two-bedroom residences with amenities that would include a swimming pool and a fitness center, according to the city. The site is in view of Long Island Sound.
According to minutes of the Economic Development Commission from February, the Debonair Hotel was sold and was to be turned “into 30-bedroom condos, (of) 4 stories.”
Minutes of the West Haven Planning and Zoning Commission from November 2024 report that, Attorney Vincent Falcone, representing the owner/applicant, “stated the Debonair Hotel was built in 1958. There were 24 units and has been abandoned for years and is in disrepair. The property needs to be demolished.”
“Attorney Falcone stated people want to see and live on the water. This development follows the Plan of Conservation and Development,” the record shows.
The hotel was the stuff of legend, growing seedy over the decades, drawing attention for issues such as the swimming pool there being filled in, among other issues. Tax records show the 0.94-acre site was sold for $1 million in 2021 to SIM LEV Holding LLC, of New Haven.
“The dilapidated former motel has sat vacant for years on prime waterfront property,” a statement from the city said. “The redevelopment is a focus on (Mayor Dorinda ) Borer’s emerging Beach Street renaissance. The unsightly site is highly visible because of its location on one of the city’s busiest and most scenic roads.”
West Haven City Hall March 2023
“The one-story, 24-unit Debonair was built in 1959, according to city land records, and, while once thriving, in recent decades has had failed attempts at business developments,” according to the city.
Redevelopment of the city’s shoreline has been part of the Borer administration goals. The city’s scenic shoreline is considered a destination by many, including for a boardwalk that attracts people of all ages and abilities in good weather.