Despite the Hartford Community Loan Fund’s announcement that it was not going to continue pursuing the opening of a grocery store in Downtown North because developers and other partners felt the proposed stadium changed the nature of the environment this market would be in, a document issued to City employees this week claims otherwise.
Though other developers stepping in is a possibility, the HCLF has said that the City came to them years ago with the specific Downtown North area in mind. Research was conducted to find community-oriented partners who have experience and competence in working with urban markets.
The HCLF met with the City before the release of this document and let officials know that they could not move forward in that location so long as the stadium would be there.
This document also includes a hand-picked selection of news articles and opinion pieces that promote the stadium; articles containing serious questions about funding have not been included.
There have been concerns voiced by some in the community that “misinformation” about the stadium has been floating around. Real Hartford could not get questions answered at the press conference, nor were questions answered by later attempts to reach Segarra or Deller.
Tony C
What misinformation? The only information I’ve seen its from non-standard news outlets.
Kerri Provost
That was largely coming from Mike McGarry, one of the few remaining Republicans in the city. There was nothing more specific said by him to clarify what that misinformation might have been. I have heard similar claims of “misinformation” coming from stadium supporters and City officials.
It’s really simple: be transparent from Day One, and things like “misinformation” won’t be a problem.
Anne Goshdigian
“The ballpark will compliment…development…” Only if the ballpark says to development “I really like your hair that way”, or a similar flattering remark. So some overpaid marketing/PR person for the city of Hartford does not know the difference between “compliment” and “complement”. Sounds like a candidate for a minimum-wage concession stand job at the new ballpark. Does anyone vet this stuff? Gotta love the way they find gold to spin from under a pile of horse manure.