UP|Connecticut

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?

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.

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.

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

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?

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?

Downtown Homeless Shelter?

grock — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:30:23 +0000

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

Hartford Business Owners Too Lazy for Success?

jcrc — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:00:44 +0000

I think Quizno's is open on Saturday as well. In fairness to other places, we didn't do that much more on the parade day. And last few Sundays are very quiet, normally I don't mind but last week I missed the Pats Colts game. I bet had I been watching Belichick wouldn't have called that boneheaded play.

Hartford Business Owners Too Lazy for Success?

The Voice of Reason — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:31:36 +0000

It is true that only a few events actually are recognized by the local business community.

I was downtown for the marathon and the city was hopping. I didnt actually notice too many resturants closed, but most everything else was. regardless, that was a Saturday and and the marathon is a known draw that keeps people downtown for 6 hours. Also St Patricks day is another time the business people recognize the benefits. generally its just the bars and such, but hell, even places like Dish were open. And I am sure CCVS did bang up business.

45,000 people seems like a plenty good reason to open. the marathon only brings 30,000 downtown right?
I really hope the business comunity starts to wake up on these big weekends. I fully agree with Mr House.

I remember when I was in my early 20s, there were a few bars in my town jockeying to be the place to be. each had their regulars, but there clearly was not enough business for all of them. On slow nights, each of the bars would close. no set time, no warning, just close for the night. sometimes, this would be 11PM, and in a 4AM state, that was just crazy. eventually, one of the bars decided that they would be open untill 3 AM at the least no matter what. mainly because of a cool bartender who wanted to stay out herself. This bar promptly became the place to go, and they were open untill 4+ every night. yes, even on sunday/Monday they did brisk business from all the hospitality workers.
having 1 bar guaranteed to be hopping made more people come out at night than before, and the other 2 bars even did decent business.

Vauhgns, City Steam, and Jojos are the rock that keeps downtown going.

In my dream world, it is these events that the city will support and build on.
If we had that 2 day boat race, and a few other big events to add to the 8 or so events we have now, the city could showcase its assets to the outlying community. Mind you closed stores is not showcasing. So we have a long way to go here.

Hartford's United Football League team

beerbeer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:57:59 +0000

No one can spell Rentschler. So when UConn fans exchange posts on the "Boneyard" or other internet boards, it's always "the Rent." Since the UConn fans call it that, and it's their stadium, I have no problem with the nickname.

Hartford Business Owners Too Lazy for Success?

HartfordTycoon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:04:04 +0000

I totally agree with Dennis. I mean WTF??? These are the same business people who complain about Hartford being dead but they do nothing to take advantage of the times when Hartford becomes alive. It's really ridiculous and inexcusable. These business owners ony have themselves to blame for their lack of success if they are not willing to serve the Downtown crowds when there are large events. They say they want a larger customer base on weekends in order to justify opening but they will never build this customer base if they are not open. I really can't even wrap my mind around what the problem is. I understand payroll and all that, but damnit just make sure you have someone to work on event days!

Hartford Business Owners Too Lazy for Success?

LOV — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:24:12 +0000

not harsh enough. i've lived downtown for years now, i don't need a parade to figure that there's no where to go on saturday and sunday until 4pm if you wanted to have decent food and drink - i have to say i am surprised about mcdonalds though, it always seems open, if only to act as a restroom for the homeless.

the article is exactly right, people will go back to their suburbia and will spend that money there.

how can hartford expect to charge the rents at 21 and condo prices when even the basic necessities of the city are not available on the weekend, not to even mention lack of a grocery store? that's why the downtown realestate is so depressed, you can only sell this dream to so many gullibles before they realize that they still have to get the hell out of downtown if they ever need anything.

nothing will get better until the city starts offering things that a city should offer, the fluff can only take it so far.

grock, on 16 November 2009 - 10:25 PM, said:

I wasn't in Hartford for the parade but I kind of agree especially on UConn Sunday games. Kinda sad cause Channel 3 used to be big supporters of Hartford until they moved to Rocky Hill.
http://dennishouse.w...ng-a-bag-lunch/

Hartford's United Football League team

Mr. Brass Bonanza — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:16:02 +0000

I'll support the Hartford UFL team as well. There will probably be three or four home games next season, so I can definitely swing that. I've been watching the UFL on Verses and have been pretty impressed.

Hartford Business Owners Too Lazy for Success?

grock — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:25:26 +0000

Hartford Photos Needed

Cotuit — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:23:07 +0000

As part of the redesign on UP, we've made a change to the City Pages. We will be using the UP Flickr Group to create slideshows of each city on it's page (See Hartford's page here).

The slideshow works by reading tags from photos shared in the UP Flickr Group (See Providence page for example). Right now we have no photos in there tagged Hartford.

So if you have Hartford photos on Flickr, please join the UP Flickr Group and share your Hartford tagged photos. They will then show up on the UP Hartford City Page.

Thanks!

Hope in the City

The Voice of Reason — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:14:13 +0000

HartfordTycoon, on 15 November 2009 - 08:39 AM, said:

Did we miss the announcement that Travelers has moved their HQ back to Hartford? This is not the only recent article I've come across labeling them as Hartford based. If this is the case, Hartford has added 2 Fortune 500 headquarters over the past year with Northeast Utilities and possibly Travelers. Add those to United Technologies, The Hartford, and Aetna within the city and Stanley Black & Decker in New Britain and new ING spin off in Windsor we may seriously be getting some of that old Hartford business clout back. Now that would be hope in the city! 5 Fortune 500s in Hartford with 2 more in the burbs. 7 Fortune 500s in Hartford County would also put us on equal footing with the 7 Fortune 500s that Fairfield County boasts and bring the total in CT to 14. Pretty damn impressive!

Hartford Business Journal

Former Travelers Cos. chairman and chief executive Robert I. Lipp will leave the Travelers board when his term expires, the Hartford insurer said.

Travelers is often refered to as Hartford based, even by the wall st journal and their ilk, but they say NY headquartered if they ever mention HQ.

I think they have to change it officialy with the SEC etc, It would be news for sure.
I think it will come in time.

PROPOSED: Hartford-New Haven-Springfield Commuter/High Speed Rail Line

MadVlad — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:19:19 +0000

If this can get going, Springfield should (I would imagine) be added to the Metro area, creating a much more attractive area to people not from here 9at least topically).

Bring Back The Whale!!!

MadVlad — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:16:45 +0000

The last Whaler to play on the Hurricanes was Glen Wesley. Within 3 years, there were more former Whalers on the Philadelphia Flyers than there were on the Hurricanes, there certainly hasn't been a reason to root for them in forever 9or ever, in my opinion)...

Stanley Black & Decker

HartfordTycoon — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:00:10 +0000

This is just such a great deal for NB and CT.

Hartford Courant

With The Stanley Works now in the process of buying Black & Decker for $4.5 billion in stock, the Emhart name seems likely to regain some of its former prominence in Connecticut. One old Emhart division, still part of Black & Decker, is in Shelton.

The combination with Black & Decker — which will more than double Stanley's size — offers a shot of industrial self-esteem for Greater Hartford, and a rare opportunity for the tough-luck manufacturing city of New Britain to expand the headquarters of the firm that has defined it for 166 years.

"Think about what that means to a community like New Britain, where you don't have a large number of — any — corporate employers of their size," said Rathgeber, who grew up in New Britain and remains active in civic affairs there. "You lose your one Fortune 500 company, then that's not just psychologically devastating."

But New Britain isn't losing Stanley. Assuming the deal passes muster with shareholders and regulators, it gains the more powerful headquarters of Stanley Black & Decker. With that comes added clout in the economic life of the region — including control of some of the old Emhart empire.

"Everywhere you go you see Stanley, and Stanley has always meant quality. When you're overseas trying to attract a company from Germany or Malaysia or Brazil and you say, 'Stanley has their headquarters here,' that says something," said Ed Stockton, a former chief economist for United Technologies Corp. who also served as commissioner of the state Department of Economic Development under Gov. Ella T. Grasso. "It's very fortunate that Stanley essentially bought Black & Decker."

Hartford Courant Editorial: Stanley Works Merger Is New Britain's Gain

For once, a state to the south is losing jobs to Connecticut rather than luring them away.

The Stanley Works/Black & Decker merger is Maryland's loss and New Britain's gain. Local hand-tool maker Stanley is buying power-tool company Black & Decker and moving its Towson, Md., headquarters and 250 executive jobs to the Hardware City.

Connecticut knows too well the heartbreak of losing jobs; we feel Maryland's pain. Black & Decker means as much to the Baltimore area as, well, Stanley does to New Britain. Stanley has moved plenty of its Connecticut jobs overseas.

But in a reversal of the usual "Connecticut's costs are too high" mantra from businesses, a Baltimore Sun columnist pointed out that Connecticut's personal and corporate income tax rates are lower than Maryland's.

Hope in the City

HartfordTycoon — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:39:53 +0000

PROPOSED: Hartford-New Haven-Springfield Commuter/High Speed Rail Line

HartfordTycoon — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:33:34 +0000

People are starting to get what this is all about. It's about making the Hartford-New Haven-Springfield Metro area a reality.

Hartford Courant

By quirk of history, the central part of Connecticut has two major small cities instead of one large urban center. As the major 17th-century colonies of Hartford and New Haven evolved, they sometimes competed.

In 1718, New Haven nailed down the Collegiate School, which had been in three other communities and would soon be named after benefactor Elihu Yale. Hartford and New Haven were co-state capitals until Hartford became the sole capital in 1875.

Both steps continue to define the cities. New Haven, blessed with Yale and a location on the Northeast Corridor/I-95, has become Connecticut's central academic, transportation and cultural hub. Hartford, though hardly bereft of top cultural and academic institutions, is known both for politics and as a prominent insurance and aerospace center.

By themselves, each city has major strengths and weaknesses. But what if they were one city? That is the promise of the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail line. If there is efficient rail service that ties the two cites together within 30 minutes, Connecticut will have its first complete city in its modern history.

Rell Announces Plans To Open NBC Studio In Stamford

drc72 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:53:50 +0000

The Voice of Reason, on 12 November 2009 - 08:16 PM, said:

kind of a classic right away.

anyhoo, With the big film studio approved in Windsor, and as of today, the studios in Mass now having problems getting aproved. now more tv studios in fairfield, this tax credit is getting it done!

I'm sure that wouldn't be enough to convince voices for children.... Anyhow I could care less what they think as they are irrelevant.

Bring Back The Whale!!!

drc72 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:21:08 +0000

beash19, on 14 November 2009 - 09:03 AM, said:

Yes it's always nice when Karmanos' team loses. There was a time when I rooted for the players but would really like to see that jerk fail.

Boy genius Paul Maurice might be on his way out.

Bring Back The Whale!!!

beash19 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:03:48 +0000

drc72, on 13 November 2009 - 09:32 PM, said:

A little off topic:

I don't know about you guys, but I am really enjoying seeing the hurricane's get spanked.

Yes it's always nice when Karmanos' team loses. There was a time when I rooted for the players but would really like to see that jerk fail.

Bring Back The Whale!!!

drc72 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:32:02 +0000

A little off topic:

I don't know about you guys, but I am really enjoying seeing the hurricane's get spanked.

Quote

Kings extend Hurricanes’ winless streak to 13

By JOEDY McCREARY, AP Sports Writer Nov 11, 10:29 pm EST

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)—Leave it to the new guy to show the Los Angeles Kings how to finish.

Randy Jones(notes) had a goal and an assist in his debut with the Kings, and Los Angeles beat Carolina 5-2 on Wednesday night to extend the Hurricanes’ winless streak to 13..............
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2009111107&prov=ap