So it was with great interest when I read about the Hartford monorail project in the Sunday Courant. For the full effect, you need to see the map on the back of the Northeast. It really is quite a wonder. There are several things that need to happen in order for it to work:
- The Rentschler Field "Evergreen Walk-esque" project needs to move forward. Make that area a cool place to hang out.
- The East Hartford riverfront needs to be developed. Build nice, affordable condominiums, cool restaurants and coffee houses that people will want to visit. Sell the condominiums to young professionals rather than older retirees (which is apparently what is happening to the Hartford condos).
- The Metro-North line between New Haven and Springfield needs to be built. The reason why Hartford fails so gloriously is that it's so hard to get to. Make it easier for people from different counties to visit Hartford.
- Commuter lots need to be built in East Hartford. Make it easy for people to go to the nice restaurants and bars in Hartford.
- The actual train and commuter lots need to be well maintained and managed. Otherwise we are going to end up with a broken down embarassment that people will avoid. It will be shunned like CT transit.
3 comments:
i rarely venture into downtown hartford for two reasons. the first one is indeed parking!
i'm trying to figure out what pizza joint downtown is any good though..........
have you tried lena's on park (almost on the corner of prospect)? that has always been my favorite
Lena's is excellent, but we enjoy The Red Plate. It's the only place around that reminds me of real city pizza.
The biggest change that needs to be made is with attitude. Conneticutions are, by and large, parochial and snobbish (and I mean that in the best possible way...) You can build it, but will they come? Connecticut is the land of suburbs, of chain restaurants and towniedom run amok. We are all about prestige and loving what we know. Ask yourself, why else live in CT? It's all foliage and village charm until someone is shot on Assylum.
We have arts and culture in Hartford; there are cool places to go. If I can get around there, anyone can. People don't go because there is little prestige in going into this particular city. It is too close to both New York and Boston, and suffers by comparison.
Post a Comment