After a series of frustrating public meetings culminating with one during which designers filibustered as dozens of (mostly) young Heaven supporters waited all evening to speak, we are now seeing a first draft of MECA’s (Marketing, Events & Cultural Affairs for the City of Hartford) Downtown North marketing brochure. This will include additional materials tailored to whichever developer might be requesting such information.
New Ross, County Wexford Park and the surrounding streets are shown on the fourth page. The proposed changes are described as a “new town center,” with the skate park that is currently under construction, conspicuously missing.
Not omitted from the brochure– the number of parking spaces in each section.
The archived posts on Downtown North meetings:
- Aspirations for North Downtown, West Downtown, and a sliver of Clay Arsenal and North Meadows (17 July 2013)
- Public Comment Futile on Downtown North Park Design? (23 October 2013)
- Final Downtown North Design Meeting (12 December 2013)
Justin Eichenlaub
Isn’t the ultimate responsibility for this plan with our dept of development services? Can’t we put pressure on the Mayor and the Depart of Dev Services to reign in their hired planner, shouldn’t they say, hey, no, we have people who actually live here in our community getting this stuff done already and improving this space? Are they just not that involved (but should be) or is that the city agrees the current Heaven plan is just temporary and discardable?
-Justin
Tony C
Unfortunately Justin, I think the city has the temporary / discardable view of the Heaven skate and graffiti park. Rather than recognize it as an invaluable resource and free organic art, they are marketing the white bread alternative. They are missing the opportunity to both brand Hartford as edgy and exciting, while continuing to develop without regard for the existing community residents.
The Heaven advocates should continue to be vocal and get in print. The other tool they have its the popularity and success of the skate park. Keep that full. Hold competitions. Be a good neighbor. Cross pollinate downtown with Northend, and get entrenched as the more interesting “Hartford” solution.