The “oh, hell no!” heard throughout Hartford today was in response to the Historic Preservation Commission’s agenda item:
I Historic Review
a. 77 Wadsworth Street — Demolition of building for the purpose of repaving the property as a surface parking lot. Applicant– Jeffrey Dressler, Owner- 77 Wadsworth Street, LLC
Let’s look at a few of the problems with this.
1. Hartford does not need more surface parking
2. This particular area does not need more surface parking. Though technically in the South Green neighborhood, it is considered by some as part of South Downtown.
View 77 Wadsworth St in a larger map
3. The City of Hartford’s adopted Plan of Conservation and Development is pretty clear about reversing the trend of creating surface parking. The part of the adopted POCD dealing with Downtown directly states, the need to “rationalize Downtown parking” by “Encourag[ing] removal of surface parking.” Not a single section of the plan under the “neighborhoods” category suggests creating surface parking.
4. In nearly every discussion that has happened involving the direction of Hartford in the last two years, sustainability has been part of the conversation. There is nothing ecologically sustainable about surface lots.
5. Tearing down an historic building entirely to create parking is shortsighted.
The Historic Preservation Commission will be meeting on Wednesday May 18th at 4pm in the conference room at plaza level — 260 Constitution Plaza. If you can not make that meeting, you can email the Director of Planning, Roger O’Brien, at obrir001@hartford.gov or send the message to him via Lynda Crespo, Administrative Assistant. at cresl001@hartford.gov
Chris
Look at all that freaking pavement! What a terrible idea!
Tom
For those of us who don’t have advanced degrees in urban planning, what’s the issue here? Does this property have some specific historical value, or is the HPC reviewing the change because it’s in a historic district of some kind? Presumably, the owner thinks it makes more sense to operate a parking lot there than use the existing structure; if the HPC disagrees what happens? Does the city take the property and operate it? Does the owner just get told to suck it up and maintain the property? I find the clear-cut zone on either side of Capitol as depressing as the next guy does, but what would the city have the owner do with his property?
I have to admit that even though I live about four blocks way I’ve never been down that stretch of Wadsworth. What’s there now?
Josh
That section of Wadsworth has a credit union, a newer housing development, and a scattering of historic structures in various states of repair. I most certainly do not support knocking down any of those structures. It is so close to downtown, the hospital, and park street, and should be stabilized. The parking lot, I understand, would serve Jeffrey Dressler’s law office. Atty. Dressler does lots of good stuff in/for the city, particularly the schools. However, he should look into alternatives for parking. I find that on street parking is very realistic in this area. I bank at the credit union and there is always a space within about 100 feet. This seems reasonable to me.
Chris
I sent an email earlier this afternoon in support of denying this application and received the following message a couple of hours ago: “Thank you, Commission denied application”
Kerri Provost
AWESOME!