“I am a lifelong resident of New Haven and have developed an understanding of how the City operates. For example, New Haven’s zoning is done under a Special Act, not like most of the rest of Connecticut.”
Carolyn is a partner in the firm’s Land Use and Litigation practice groups. Her practice focuses on land use and zoning, municipal law, non-profit organizations, health care issues and litigation. Notably, her land use representation includes all stages of the permitting process, drafting zoning regulations, and representing clients in zoning appeals. She also serves as general counsel to several quasi-municipal agencies, including the New Haven Port Authority and two municipal pension funds.
Carolyn is a member of the Connecticut and New York Bars. She is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court.
Prior to joining the firm, she also served as an Assistant and a Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of New Haven and as a Clinical Instructor at the University of Bridgeport School of Law (now known as Quinnipiac University School of Law). Carolyn earned her B.A. from Barnard College, magna cum laude, and her J.D. from Boston University.
Carolyn is recognized by 2021 Best Lawyers® for her work in the area of Land Use & Zoning Law.
Carolyn represents developers in obtaining local zoning approvals including site plan approval, special permits, zone changes (including Planned Development Districts), special exceptions (including Planned Development Units), variances, and tax assessment deferral agreements. For large redevelopment projects which involve City of New Haven land, she has participated in the drafting and negotiation of development and land disposition agreements.
A number of projects in the City of New Haven that Carolyn has worked on include:
- 100 College Street
425,000 square foot laboratory/office space with an 850 car garage - Audubon Square
269 residential units, a 716 space garage and a 3,900 square foot retail space - Downtown South/Hill North Project
22 Gold Street: a mixed use, mixed income building with 102 residential units and amenities
49 Prince Street: conversion of a historic school into 30 residential units
222-246 Lafayette Street: 101 residential units
216 Congress Avenue: 90 residential units and a dog park - The Blake
102 room boutique hotel in the downtown area - East Rock Brewery
22,600 square foot beer manufacturing and tasting room - 55 Park Street
Smilow Cancer Center laboratory building - Quinnipiac Terrace – Hope VI
244 unit affordable housing project - Winchester Lofts
Historic renovation of a Winchester Repeating Arms factory building into 150 rental units - Higher One
Historic renovation of a factory building for a start-up company - The Novella
144 residential units of market rate housing - New Rowe Residences
104 residential units/mixed income apartment building - Amistad Building and Garage
University laboratories and a 904 space garage - Science Park Garage
1,186 square foot space garage and chiller with first floor retail space - 344 Winchester
A renovation of a factory building for university multipurpose use - Ribicoff Cottages, Farnam Courts and Chatham
Affordable housing projects - 100 Gando Drive
News distributional enterprise - 40 Sargent Drive
New Haven Register property - New Ronald McDonald House
Planned Development Unit for a multi-phase development - River Street
Marine construction facility - Hotel Duncan
72 room boutique hotel - 87 Union Street
299 unit/mixed use development - 49-51 Howe Street
Mixed use building with 44 residential units and retail space - Church Project
Conversion of residential building to administrative offices for a church
- New Haven County Bar Association – Co-Chair Land Use Section; Former Member of the Executive Committee; Former Tri-Chair of the Public Service Committee
- Member of the Connecticut Association of Municipal Attorneys
- Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel, Former Vice-President
- Community Mediation, Former Board Member
- New Haven Preservation Trust, Former Board Member
- Regional Growth Partnership, Former Board Member
- Jewish Family Services of Greater New Haven, Former Board Member
- Connecticut Association for Human Services, Former Board Member
- Congregation Mishkan Israel, Former Member of the Personnel Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association (Planning & Zoning Section)
- New Haven Inns of Court, Former Bencher Member
- Connecticut Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, Former Member of Governmental Affairs Committee
- Montessori School on Edgewood, Former Board Member
Practice Areas
• Land Use and Zoning
• Municipal Law
• Litigation
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Health Care Issues
• Employment Law
Education
• Boston University (J.D.)
• Barnard College (B.A.)
– magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
• Connecticut
• New York
Court Admissions
• U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits
• U.S. Supreme Court
