Levin has made relations with the city a top priority, according to one university administrator.

"The fate of New Haven and the the fate of the University are inexorably linked," said newly appointed University Secretary Linda K. Lorimer.

In April, Levin announced a new program to encourage Yale staff to buy homes in New Haven by offering them $2,000 per year for ten years. The program is supposed to help boost real estate prices and expand the city's tax base, Lorimer said. Roughly 80 people have taken advantage of the offer so far, she said.

Levin has also started a $5 million venture capital fund to help in the development of the city's biotechnology and biomedical businesses.

Yale is also involved in three separate projects to improve areas of the city, the results of a 1987 agreement to invest $50 million in New Haven.

In addition to the Broadway-York St. project, Yale has invested $12.5 million in the $108 million retail and residential project in Ninth Square. That area has been hard hit in the past two years by the closure of Macy's New Haven department store and the now-bankrupt Park Plaza hotel.

Electric Shock

The university's biggest conflict with the city has involved the power plants. Yale receives its electricity from three plants built in 1917. Last year, the university embarked on a $50 million project to tear down one of the plants and modernize the other two.

But last spring, the city board of aldermen fined the university for its plan to dig a tunnel under College St., which runs through the center of town, to connect the plants' steam and chilled water systems.

"That [was] just a protective measure for the city," said Ann Piscottano, a Republican Adlerwoman from the 18th district.

But a week later, the board voted to rescind the decision--Piscottano said she voted against the reversal.

"When the thing came to the floor discussion got out of control and... the Alderman passed a solution which set bad precedents," Levin said.

Yale has also been considering building new power plant. Civin said he fears such a move could force a rise in the rates New Haven citizens pay by taking business away from the current supplier, United Illuminating.

Talks between Yale and United Illuminating have been going on for more than a year and the subject is confidential, said company spokesperson Lucille A. Calindo.

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