UP|USA Northeast

Greenup Providence

Cotuit — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:35:10 +0000

mikearden, on 20 November 2009 - 04:52 PM, said:

Were the recycling bins all stacked up? Now that's a good use of someone's time.

No, they were all lined up side by side and actually wrapped around the side of the house to illustrate the ridiculousness of it all I guess.

What are they building there?

wiglaf — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:05:18 +0000

Does anyone know what is happening at the former child care building on North Main St? It seems to be in the process of heavy renovation

Greenup Providence

mikearden — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:52:52 +0000

Cotuit, on 20 November 2009 - 04:19 PM, said:

House across the street last night.

4 Big Green Cans, 8 empty recycling bins.

Deliciously passive aggressive, within the letter of the guidelines, and totally ridiculous.

But mostly deliciously passive aggressive

Were the recycling bins all stacked up? Now that's a good use of someone's time.

Greenup Providence

Cotuit — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:19:14 +0000

Trash Bins For Sale

Cotuit — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:16:29 +0000

Dan, on 20 November 2009 - 03:11 PM, said:

Don't give anybody ideas. Next thing you know there will be a white van cruising around snatching up empty blue and green bins and selling them for $10 each on craigslist; FREE delivery in Providence with a minimum $40 purchase!

Actually, I've heard that they are for sale on the street for $3/each. Steal them, undercut the city. Or you know, the city could have just given them away for free, since the city already paid for them.

What are they building there?

Cotuit — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:14:38 +0000

Dan, on 20 November 2009 - 03:42 PM, said:

Behind the 7 Eleven on Atwells, across the street from the old GE plant, where the aluminum shelter with the graffiti American Flag on the side used to be. What is going on there?

The Box Office

PROPOSED: "Johnston Town Center" (hotel/retail)

Cotuit — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:12:57 +0000

Dan, on 20 November 2009 - 03:28 PM, said:

...or money

Well, money to re-imagine the whole area yes. But someone apparently has $40-million to start. If only someone in the city could say, "yes, we'd like you to invest $40-million dollars, but invest it on the curb please." Then we'd have the first step toward transforming the area.

What are they building there?

Dan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:42:32 +0000

Behind the 7 Eleven on Atwells, across the street from the old GE plant, where the aluminum shelter with the graffiti American Flag on the side used to be. What is going on there?

PROPOSED: "Johnston Town Center" (hotel/retail)

Dan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:28:42 +0000

Cotuit, on 26 October 2009 - 05:00 PM, said:

Redevelop all these damn plazas into a transit village with dense housing, office, and retail... sigh. What could be if their were any vision for it.

...or money

Trash Bins For Sale

Dan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:11:48 +0000

Greenup Providence

Dan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:01:16 +0000

mikearden, on 09 November 2009 - 03:19 PM, said:

We did get a sticker on our trash cans a few weeks ago that told of the upcoming program. But today there were letters stuck to almost every trash can on my street, and hardly any trash got picked up.

The Green Up program is a farce. Here's how it "works" ---

If you have a green can full of garbage and no green or blue bins, your trash doesn't get emptied and you get a sticker and a flyer. If the recycling truck comes and takes your stuff and you bring the bin back from the curb to wherever you keep it, your trash doesn't get emptied and you get a sticker and a flyer. If you put out only a blue bin or only a green bin, your trash doesn't get emptied and you get a sticker and a flyer. If you have one blue bin and one green bin and two trash cans with garbage, your trash doesn't get emptied and you get a sticker and a flyer.

The city is now inundated with weeks-old garbage overflowing from big green cans and blowing around the streets, and nobody understands why its not being collected. It's a big green mess.

You stay trashy, Providence!

DOT at it again - I-84 patch job

The Voice of Reason — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:43:33 +0000

MichaelQReilly, on 20 November 2009 - 08:36 AM, said:

Rick Green changed his tune pretty quickly. My link I'm looking forward to hearing some feedback from those who attended last night.

It was an interesting meeting.

I do not know where to begin, but maybe to say that I met Bill M in person, so that was a plus.

There was not enough time for comment

if you bring 30 people together you are going to need more than 30 minutes for discussion. It was a great start however. They broke us into 3 groups

transportation
design and the build environment?? I honestly do not recall the name of this group)
and Economic development.

I was in the econ development group. So I can not speak for what happened in the others.
we all shared ideas, then reported back to the group in a short 2 minute presentation.

after that we had a discussion, and made clarifications amongst the entire group.

lots of notes were taken, and I hope those notes get translated into the plans.

It should be noted that the earlier session had everyone writing on maps and sharing thoughts with the consultants individually, so a huge amount of info was put into play there.

DOT at it again - I-84 patch job

MichaelQReilly — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:36:10 +0000

Rick Green changed his tune pretty quickly. My link I'm looking forward to hearing some feedback from those who attended last night.

Edit: Here is WFSB's story on this from last night. Nothing much we don't already know.

Proposed Super 7

PBoyce79 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:27:32 +0000

Super 7 just added 2.3 miles to the north, Gov. Rell was also the first person to drive along the bypass.
Brookfield Route 7 bypass is open to traffic
Also the widening just south of I-84 is underway in Danbury.
The Widening of Route 7 in Wilton is also close to completion.
There is only now a small section that is not four lanes from Norwalk to New Milford.

COMPLETED: Hartford 21

ConnMan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:30:46 +0000

Looks like there's construction paper on the door and windows of one of H21's store fronts on Trumbull. Anyone know what's going in?

>> Providence West Neighborhoods

Liamlunchtray — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:43:22 +0000

Anyone know whats up with the old Daily Bread building on Broadway? Paper up in the windows, new coat of paint...

DOT at it again - I-84 patch job

MichaelQReilly — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:22:58 +0000

beerbeer, on 19 November 2009 - 09:26 AM, said:

Will removing the viaduct have a major impact on the economy or quality of life in Hartford? I would have to say no. But it does need to be replaced, so it be should done in a thoughtful way. But as far as having any real effect on the city, no one has made that case, most effects will be minimal.

I somewhat disagree with this. I think that if the 84 barrier was lessened the parts of Asylum Hill and Main Street on the far side of 84 would almost immediately see a rise in property value due to being incorpoated into the fabric of downtown. As things currently stand, especially with Main Street, the part North of 84 might as well be in another state altogether from the perspective of someone downtown.

DOT at it again - I-84 patch job

beerbeer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:26:43 +0000

Starwood hotels Worldwide HQ to Stamford

HartfordTycoon — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:06:40 +0000

Obviously great news for Stamford and CT.

POSTPONED: 110 Westminster Street

Pseudo_Work — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:31:41 +0000

runawayjim, on 18 November 2009 - 07:57 PM, said:

The mayor isn't any better. He needs to grow a pair too.

Very true. The good thing about him, though, is that since he lacks said pair, there's almost nothing he wouldn't do for votes. If we make it clear that this is a campaign issue for many people (which it is), he'll crack.

POSTPONED: 110 Westminster Street

runawayjim — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:57:26 +0000

Pseudo_Work, on 18 November 2009 - 10:49 PM, said:

Frankly, it would be as simple as changing the zoning so that parking was no longer a conforming use downtown, or instituting a tax on it. However, that will never happen because Joey P owns most of the lots. Let me tell you a story about him.

A few years ago, when he bought the Cranston Street trolley barn, a friend of mine had her letter to the editor of the Providence Journal published in the paper, where she talked about his pattern of knocking down buildings for temporary parking which becomes permanent, and how the trolley barn would fall soon if nothing was done to stop it. Shortly after that, she got a phone call from him at 6:30 A.M. on a Saturday, during which he said that "if she doesn't like it, then she should get the governor to get his ass down here, and move the state police barracks into my building", and hung up. It came down, predictably, after suffering a period of neglect.

Zoning will never change because Joey will put a hit out on every member of city council, or at least ruin every one of their careers personally (that is, if they're not already in on it themselves). It sounds like a cartoonish and antiquated story, but it's the truth, and I certainly don't blame a single one of them for being scared of him. Until someone's willing to take a bullet, we'll just have to wait around until he and his thugs are gone by attrition. They're the ones who are really running the city, not the mayor.

The mayor isn't any better. He needs to grow a pair too.

POSTPONED: 110 Westminster Street

Pseudo_Work — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:49:57 +0000

POSTPONED: 110 Westminster Street

Gusterfell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:36:46 +0000

^ How about no demolition permit until financing is secured and the new building is ready to break ground.

Starwood hotels Worldwide HQ to Stamford

The Voice of Reason — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:01:08 +0000

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-starwood-moving-its-hq-to-stamford,0,4800739.story

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, one of the world's largest hotel operators, will move its global headquarters to Stamford in early 2012, along with about 800 jobs, the company confirmed Wednesday.

nice snag for the state. seems like a hefty pricew to pay, but thats a 6.25 Billion company
417 on the fortune list

DOT at it again - I-84 patch job

mikel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:26:53 +0000

The fact that the viaduct is ending its useful life and is going to need major state work is enough to make this a priority. The DOT should be seriously listening to city residents, businesses, the greater Hartford community, and taking into account how the highway negatively affects the city and how other cities worldwide prosper without having massive highways cut through the heart of them. The only reason it shouldn't be a priority is all likelihood, the DOT will as usual do the wrong thing anyway so it probably is a waste of time.

DOT at it again - I-84 patch job

The Voice of Reason — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:12:12 +0000

MichaelQReilly, on 18 November 2009 - 02:52 PM, said:

Anyone planning to attend the input session tonight? I wish I could go to present my plan , but I won't be getting out of work in time.

I will be there, but its tomorrow.

What are they building there?

Pseudo_Work — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:11:41 +0000

Linden41, on 18 November 2009 - 03:06 PM, said:

Anyone know what's going on in the old Daily Bread building at 184-188 Broadway? Good to finally see some activity in there...

I've been wondering that too. I checked the building permit in the window, but it doesn't say anything. Either way, I'm thrilled they got rid of that fugly awning type thing that was there before.

What are they building there?

Linden41 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:06:50 +0000

Anyone know what's going on in the old Daily Bread building at 184-188 Broadway? Good to finally see some activity in there...

DOT at it again - I-84 patch job

HartfordTycoon — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:48:37 +0000

I am among those who don't see removing I-84 as a vital priority. Sorry, I just don't see the need to take on this issue now. I use 84 all the time to get in and out of Hartford or even from one side to the other. I don't know, I just can't get worked up about it. We have tons of undeveloped land in Hartford and I would be much more inclined to think this is a big deal if we were running out but we are not. This is just one guy's opinion though, so by all means do whatever you guys want to advocate for whatever you think would be the best for 84.

DOT at it again - I-84 patch job

MichaelQReilly — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:52:09 +0000

Anyone planning to attend the input session tonight? I wish I could go to present my plan , but I won't be getting out of work in time.

DOT at it again - I-84 patch job

Theophrastus Bombastus — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:11:44 +0000

mikel, on 12 June 2009 - 05:56 PM, said:

I believe the best plan is the no-build plan. Remove I-84 through Hartford. The End. But we need to get passenger rail running first.

The guy at the Courant doesn't agree with you:

http://blogs.courant.com/rick_green/2009/11/highway-teardown-hartford-i-84.html#more

Downtown Homeless Shelter?

LOV — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:10:01 +0000

have you seen/walked through bushnell park on any summer day for that matter? i see the same faces on the same benches for years. in the summer it's a camp-for-all in the park. it disturbs me to jog through there. one of the skives followed my girlfriend around when she was out running there.

the city needs to get some balls and enact vagrancy laws. sure, people need help, but when you're loitering around for 3 years in the same spot, you're obviously not doing anything else to help yourself and should kindly move on.

Luca Brasi, on 18 November 2009 - 01:03 PM, said:

Have you ever seen Barnard Park during the day? I don't know who ever thought this was a good idea but it should be fought every inch of the way. You can't expect people to invest millions when you throw this in their backyard.

IN PROGRESS: Highgrove Stamford

phirsch — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:23:56 +0000

Highgrove, the Robert A.M. Stern designed luxury high-rise in Stamford, CT will be ready for occupancy in December 2009. Highgrove consists of 92 residences and 3 guest suites. The high-rise contains a combination of two, three and four bedroom condominium homes that provide an average of 2,558 square feet of living space. Unique amenities include private elevator access to each home, a wine cellar, 24-hour doorman, concierge, indoor swimming pool with a retractable roof, spa and fitness center, private screening room and indoor valet parking.

The residences at Highgrove feature such exquisite finishes and appointments as ceilings heights that soar 10 feet and higher; hardwood floors; outdoor terraces; fireplaces in select homes; year-round room-by-room personal climate control; state-of-the-art designer appliances and pre-wiring for cable and high-speed Internet. Kitchens are outfitted with granite or marble countertops and Sub-Zero and Wolfe appliances. Bathrooms feature marble countertops and flooring and custom-designed vanities and cabinetry.

Highgrove’s centralized location on Forest and Grove streets in Stamford’s Central Business District provide residents with direct access to the neighborhood’s many restaurants, retailers, and cultural and entertainment venues, as well as the nearby Stamford Transportation Center, which offers a short commute into Manhattan. The condominium is a joint venture project between real estate development firm Ceebraid-Signal and the New York-based real estate investment arm of Investcorp International.

A limited number of two, three, and four bedroom condominium residences are available at prices starting from $1.2 to $3.5 million dollars. Residences will be ready for occupancy starting in early spring 2010.

The Highgrove Sales and Design Center is located at 992 Summer Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06905. To schedule an appointment to meet with a member of Highgrove’s sales team, and view the fully furnished 3,000 Sq. Ft. model residence, please call 203-323-9990. To experience a virtual tour of Highgrove and our latest news and photos, please visit www.HighgroveStamford.com

[attachment=6055:Final+Lobby+Vestibule.jpg]
[attachment=6056:Final+Pool+1.jpg]
[attachment=6057:Highgrove photo.jpg]

Downtown Homeless Shelter?

jcrc — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:16:26 +0000

I'd say we find a place in West Hartford and a place in Glastonbury. On the positive side, with extra foot traffic in that area, now Starbucks has no excuse not to open on weekends.

Downtown Homeless Shelter?

Luca Brasi — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:03:46 +0000

Wow.

Hartford will never get it right. I'm sure the people who just spent millions rehabbing Lewis St. over the last few years are real excited about this one. The south end of Main St. is the way it is just because of this. Development is hindered by homeless shelters, halfway houses and a methadone clinic all within a few blocks of each other. Have you ever seen Barnard Park during the day? I don't know who ever thought this was a good idea but it should be fought every inch of the way. You can't expect people to invest millions when you throw this in their backyard. Forget someone developing the corner of Pearl and Lewis into an apartment building.

Downtown Homeless Shelter?

The Voice of Reason — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:40:59 +0000

http://blogs.courant...helter-con.html

so here is a little info from the paper.

looks like they are leaning towards that church building next to Vitos on the corner of gold and Lewis.

217 Washington Street was at least well outside of downtown.

It seems to me that the city could put the shelter on Windsor Street. This city has so many buildings capable of supporting the community, the last thing it needs to do is put homeless people in downtown.

There has to be a location on a bus line that is simular to 217 Washington.

its also a Winter only "no freeze" shelter, so it has limited seasonal use.

We should build a shelter just north of the new public safety building. it should also house the methadone clinics/parole offices etc that are littered around the city.

Downtown Homeless Shelter?

LOV — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:23:34 +0000

guys, don't worry, it's not a real "shelter'. it's only a bus station for the proposed hartford to new britain bus line... we're going to bus our homeless to new britain :yahoo:

way to go hartford

grock, on 17 November 2009 - 04:30 PM, said:

Is this true? Mayor Perez wants to put a homeless shelter on Lewis Street?

POSTPONED: 110 Westminster Street

09/21/38 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:06:57 +0000

All of the parking lots downtown are where buildings formally stood. There should be an amendment to the existing law that says if a developer falls thru with their plans for building after demolition than they have to re-create the original building or sell the land to the next developer who will build on the lot.

Downtown Homeless Shelter?

newlondonboy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:41:06 +0000

Not only is it true . . but it was quietly managed to avoid any public scrutiny. The Business Improvement District was asked to delay communicating this info to the business owners. More concerning, is that Miguel Matos estimated that over 50% of the participants are registered sex offenders. I am aware of one major business announcement that was cancelled due to this new information. While not immune to the plight of the homeless, to put a shelter that kicks its residents out at 7 am each day to spill into the cbd at rush hour. . that includes a high percentage of sex offenders next to two apartment buildings, the city's crown jewel (bushnell park) and blocks from a magnet school . . is bad policy. and seriously puts at risk the cbds fragile recovery.

Downtown Homeless Shelter?

newlondonboy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:35:12 +0000

grock, on 17 November 2009 - 04:30 PM, said:

Is this true? Mayor Perez wants to put a homeless shelter on Lewis Street?