31 replies to this topic

[mikel]

There are cute little parks on the other side of the highway next to the riverfront in Hartford.   But there's never anybody there, nobody can see you walking down the riverfront, it's creepy and barren because the raised highway hides you from the rest of the city.    As long as I-91 is there, Hartford's riverfront is completely wasted and should be on the worst list.   The convention center recently built is now another barrier.    I'd love to see people rollerblading, having picnics on the riverfront, playing sports on the grassy lawns, but it's just too creepy for most people since you're way too secluded.

[blink55184]

mikel, on Aug 7 2006, 11:45 AM, said:

There are cute little parks on the other side of the highway next to the riverfront in Hartford.   But there's never anybody there, nobody can see you walking down the riverfront, it's creepy and barren because the raised highway hides you from the rest of the city.    As long as I-91 is there, Hartford's riverfront is completely wasted and should be on the worst list.   The convention center recently built is now another barrier.    I'd love to see people rollerblading, having picnics on the riverfront, playing sports on the grassy lawns, but it's just too creepy for most people since you're way too secluded.

I totally agree.

All the users posting about how Hartford should be on the best and saying people who voted badly just havent been there are just speaking on their faith on good intentions for their hometown.  Hartford's waterfront is absolutely awful.

[SOCOM]

blink55184, on Aug 23 2006, 11:29 AM, said:

I totally agree.

All the users posting about how Hartford should be on the best and saying people who voted badly just havent been there are just speaking on their faith on good intentions for their hometown.  Hartford's waterfront is absolutely awful.

I actually agree that Hartford should be on the worst list.  That was never the argument.  The argument is that Hartford has made great strides over the past 10 years in opening up parts of the riverfront, and for that should be considered on the "best" list as well as the worst.  Both New York City and Sacramento are using Riverfront Plaza as an example of how to deck over a highway for waterfront access.  I want to make it very clear that I-91 is a horror along the CT river and the criticism is just, but compared to 5 or 10 years ago, it's a whole new world down by the river.  I used to try and navigate my way to the river back in the mid 90's and there was literally nowhere to access it from downtown Hartford.    

My hope is that IF Front Street ever gets going and the Science Center and Coltsville really take off, there will be considerations for relocating I-91.  Just imagine the riverfront w/o I-91 in the way...

[ctman987]

I am a Hartford lover and I am proud of that. Every city should have people who are diehard about it and love it and will stick up for it like I will do about Hartford right now.

Hartford and the state of CT made major mistakes with the placements of I-91 and I-84 in downtown Hartford. Hundreds of businesses were lost to make way for I-91 and Constitution Center. Now Hartford does not have the best waterfront but it is improving and the city has finally noticed it needs to take advantage of its waterfront which is a major step for the city of Hartford.

Riverfront Plaza hosts hundreds of events each year thank to Riverfront Recapture the orginanzation that manages and runs the riverfront parks in Hartford and East Hartford such as Charter Oak Landing and Great River Park.

For the 4th of July 300,000 people crammed Riverfront Plaza to watch the city's fireworks display after frequenting events that happened throughout that afternoon in the city. There are numerous jazz concerts and the Lady Katherine Hepburne cruises depart from there.

The Hartford riverfront is not as bustling as I would like it to be but neither are some other cities. Philadelphia is a world class city that is a truly bustling city full of wonderful neighborhoods and a bustling downtown but have you ever been to Penn's Landing. It's like Riverfront Plaza....cut off by a highway with a huge amphitheater.

Now burying I-91 and I-84 in downtown Hartford would do wonders for the city and we all know that....but pigs will fly before that happens.

An easier approach I think may be getting some more restaurants and shops in the vicinity of the riverfront. Right now there is the convention center and there will be the science center but getting some more restaurants, cafes, and shops that will draw people to that area of downtown will then draw them to utilize the waterfront. Right now there is Vivo at the Marriott (Convention Center), Starbucks at the Marriott, a coffee shop at Constitution Plaza and Spris at Constitution Plaza. Besides that everything else in that area is office towers and yes they have tenants but if those people leave the building they go and walk around Trumbull St, Pratt St, Main St and Asylum St because theres not much by the river.

Here are some photos of Penns Landing in Philadelphia

[Bill Mocarsky]

Carter711, on Aug 3 2006, 04:44 PM, said:

Wishful thinking - Hartford decks over I-91 for at least a quarter of a mile, say near the convention center, and works on establishing some kind of retail, housing, and restaurant activity along the water, or at least with views of the water without the I-91 obstruction.  Then it would certainly be a best waterfront city.

If that happened, people might start to question how the convention center obstructs the riverfront.

[Carter711]

ctman987, on Aug 25 2006, 07:01 PM, said:

Now burying I-91 and I-84 in downtown Hartford would do wonders for the city and we all know that....but pigs will fly before that happens.

I don't think decking over a small portion of I-91, say between the convention ctr and the current pedestrian deck, is that all unrealistic.  Private developers in Boston are building a huge condo development over the Mass Pike near Fenway called Columbus Center.  

http://www.boston.co...r/flash_graphic

Entice developers with some public subsidies and I'd say it's very plausible.

[bmorescottamanda]

The Baltimore Inner Harbor and Ocean City MD.

[griffes02]

New Haven's waterfront is not that bad - overall, it's actually more accessible than any of the cities you've listed on this thread. Near the downtown, you have I-95/I-91 interchange, of course, but if you just ride your bike about 10-20 minutes in any direction, you have some of the longest public waterfronts in the Northeast.  The beaches and coves around New Haven are absolutely beautiful, with a large number of rocky outcroppings of pink granite. The only coastline that compares, in the Northeast, is the coast of Maine.  

Also, even within New Haven itself, there are a number of other waterfronts because three rivers run through the city. The waterfronts of these rivers are for the most part highly accessible. There are canoe launches throughout the city, and the parks department sponsors free canoeing every weekend.  The city is surrounded by a beautiful ring of 19th century parks, many of which include the river system.  All in all, New Haven's detractors are mostly people who drive through and pass a few oil tanks, not the people who live in the beautiful neighborhoods that are close to the water, such as Wooster Square or East Shore.

[Lowerdeck]

The tiny waterfront area right along side I-95 going from West Haven towards Route 34 and I-91 interchange.  I would count that as something for New Haven. Least that section don't look too bad, albeit a little inaccessable from much of the city.

[Morpheus9]

Some of the best that were left out....
Boston, at least the North End, Charles river section was a lovely place to walk...
Hoboken ( I know it isn't in New England) and the unparalleled view of the Manhattan skyline just steps from the train station.
Fells Point in Baltimore is up there too, has to be one of the best urban waterfronts, Annapolis too..hard to beat eating lunch from the public market next to the docks.

[The Voice of Reason]

Morpheus9, on Jun 27 2008, 03:40 PM, said:

Some of the best that were left out....
Boston, at least the North End, Charles river section was a lovely place to walk...
Hoboken ( I know it isn't in New England) and the unparalleled view of the Manhattan skyline just steps from the train station.
Fells Point in Baltimore is up there too, has to be one of the best urban waterfronts, Annapolis too..hard to beat eating lunch from the public market next to the docks.

no offense Morpheus, But Annapolis is not really a major NE City.

The thing is that the larger cities were the ones that has Federal Highways forced through their best attributes.  Annapolis was small enough to avoid that fate much like many dozens of small cities on the atlantic coast.

I will agree however that the cities you list are all great waterfront cities.

Baltimore to me has done very well at realizing it is a waterfront city.  Boston is just catching on.  in 10 more years we all will surely be impressed.  But to me, it is most important to give some love to the poor beotchs covered in asphalt.  Much love Albany...

[Lowerdeck]

I'm thinking perhaps I-95 being right near the Sound in New Haven is a mixed blessing.  Sure, it being right near the water cuts the beach off from the rest of the city.  But then again, look at what's on the other side of I-95.  Office buildings, light industrial, etc...  If I-95 wasn't there, what would the land use be right on the waterfront?  Would it look something embarrassing like the oil tanks near the Q-Bridge heading towards East Haven?