5 replies to this topic

[The Voice of Reason]

NL Parade Project Bids Due Soon.

For quite a while now NL has been looking to create a regional transportation center out of the old train station.  I guess this is part of the project.

The train station is a great building, and is used by Greyhound, and is a short walk to regional ferries.  

I also saw that NL is seperately trying to sell the parking lot that Cross sound ferries rents to them.  

Here is some more about the Parade development that looks nice.  from theDay
http://www.theday.co...4d-605e83a09f20


there is a nice little rendering too.

[The Voice of Reason]

http://members.aol.c...ERS/PARADE.html

I found this site while looking into this project to see where it stands.

this is just old pictures of NL.  its nice to see how little has changed.  and I like to think the parade will some day become what it once was.

and this one too
http://newlondonmainstreet.org/
a non profit for the promotion of the old waterfront.  there is an events section

[The Voice of Reason]

As it turns out the link I first posted is dead now.
here is a great replacement link.
http://www.theday.co...6f-8f32c3a228b1
this link will lead you to 3 other articles and an overiew of progress

article 1
http://www.theday.co...ee-45f590a3a745



The project would:

•Create a "lower Parade" where a large berm now serves as a physical and visual barrier between the transportation center and downtown. This new plaza space, sloping up from Water Street, would open pedestrian access into the Parade and downtown. It would feature a bronze whale's tail with water flowing off the fluke. Four levels of amphitheater-style seating for 300 — that would lead up to the existing "upper Parade" area, about five feet higher — also would serve as steps.

•Remove clutter from the existing "upper Parade." The Nathan Hale Schoolhouse would be moved across Atlantic Street. The middle row of trees in a grassy area at the Parade's upper edge would be removed, and benches would be installed under the shade of the remaining trees. The plaza would be resurfaced with pavers, and more of the original base of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument would be exposed.

•Create a "Nathan Hale Plaza" for the schoolhouse and install a new bronze statue of Nathan Hale with open arms to welcome visitors. The historic structure would be placed on a permanent foundation at the southwest corner of the Water Street Parking Garage. A raised plaza would provide seating for schoolchildren and other visitors and would house sewer pump station equipment currently in a brick structure that will be razed.

•Turn the vacant land at the south side of the parking garage into open space. A pedestrian walkway between the parking garage and Parade would be removed. The new space would feature a pergola and stalls for vendors during events.

•Slow traffic. Textured pavement would be installed on lower State Street, Water Street and Atlantic Street. Sidewalk "bulb-outs" at the corner of State and Bank streets would narrow the roadway. To try and make the area safer for pedestrians, a series of raised crosswalks, including one with a traffic light, would be installed. Traffic medians in the middle of Water Street would separate lanes for through traffic and passenger drop-offs.

• Improve the Water Street Parking Garage. A glass-enclosed elevator on the southwest corner of the parking garage would attractively restore an elevator to the garage, improving handicapped access. Ramps to make the Parade handicapped-accessible would also be added. •Promote New London with a series of bronze statues and plaques. Besides the Hale and Whale statues, a life-sized statue of an elephant seal would draw people to the entrance of Waterfront Park. Bronze plaques throughout the Parade would highlight New London's history. Signs would make it easier for visitors to navigate downtown.



Article 2
http://www.theday.co...4e-e8188602bb94



Hyde secured funding for the approximately $10 million Parade project from eight sources, totaling $8.2 million in federal grants, $1.1 million in state grants and $850,000 in city spending.

In a separate project, $1 million in state Maritime Heritage Park funds will finance the installation in the Parade of three bronze statues and a series of bronze panels explaining New London's rich maritime history.

The lower Parade will feature a life-sized, bronze fountain of a sperm whale's tail, said Ed Krent, principal of Boston-based Krent/Paffett/Carney Inc. Water will flow off the fluke as if the whale just surfaced.

A bronze statue of Nathan Hale with open arms will welcome schoolchildren and visitors to the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse.

A bronze elephant seal — an oft-overlooked but important product of New London's maritime economy, Krent said — will welcome people to the entrance of Waterfront Park past Union Station and emit the call of a male seal when visitors draw near. The panels, researched with the help of New London Landmarks and the New London County Historical Society, will be installed around the Parade to highlight New London's role as the East Coast's third largest whaling center as well as the city's connection to Revolutionary War-era privateering, Native Americans and the sea, the Amistad, submarine developments, and other topics.

Article 3
http://www.theday.co...27-1103169b58d7

The Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, which already has moved five times within the city, will be moved again, across Atlantic Street, to its own plaza next to the parking garage. It will feature a bronze statue of Hale, celebrating not only his life as the Revolutionary War spy who lamented he had "but one life to lose for my country,'' but also his work as an educator. The life-size likeness of the 6-foot-1-inch Hale, a Yale graduate at 18 and a champion broad jumper, will welcome people with open arms

INTERACTIVE MAP!!!
http://media.theday....ade/parade.html
ok its not that fun, but it is good.
it shows a before and after as well as having several videos.

apparently people aruond NL are unhappy that the design ends up turning earthen berms into paved plazas taking away a good amount of green space.
I can see how they would be displeased, but I have been to this area quite a bit an no one uses these dirt berms. if the green space were usefull or actually enjoyed by people I would be right with them, but I think this new plan will make the space much more useful, and well actually used by people. and it will make the nar by green space much more park like and inviting. currently there is no reason to be near the central parking garage. it is surrounded by lawn, but it is certainly not a park. now after the parade is re done the plaza built, and traffic calming, the whole area will become much more inviting.

I also like that Hale house has a better location.  a location of its own, and some plaza/park space to make it comfortable amd make use of what was just a patch of lawn and trees between 2 ugly constrete structures.

lets be honest this is a carefully designed way to create a nice first impression to visitors from the cruise ships. I suppose it serves the same for train and buss passangers, but mainly tourists.

I know when I lived on Long island and took the train from NL to college in RI it was a very un inviting area. walking from the ferry to the train station was downright scary (it still needs quite a bit of work) and then walking from the train station up the hill to Bank street was, well discouraging. granted there is much more on bank street to walk to now. back in the day I think I just walked to subway


I had my first date with my now wife start on Bank street at the muddy waters cafe.

Edited by The Voice of Reason, 24 June 2008 - 10:42 AM.

[The Voice of Reason]

Despite some last-minute questions from City Councilor Mike Buscetto III, the council voted 7-0 Monday night to award an $8.6 million contract to start work on a massive overhaul of the public space known as the Parade plaza.

[The Voice of Reason]

This project is IN PROGRESS.



photos that do not show much to follow.

big piles of dirt though.

[The Voice of Reason]