Hartford in Progress july1012 - Hartford Police Department - City of ...

Now Entering Hartford: Progress Now In ProgressA Special Section of The Hartford NewsThis special section was created in conjunction with the City of HartfordDepartment of Development Services and several other organizationsthat are involved in the growth of Connecticut’s Capital City.It is designed to be a snapshot of current development in Hartford andranges from projects that are just in the planning stages to those whichhave been recently completed, from the brand new, $77 million PublicSafety Complex to new streetscapes and businesses in the city’sneighborhoods.

June, 2012 Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan Hartford News Special Edition 3Department of Development Services: Ongoing Projects (continued)Dutch Point TownhomesThe Community Builders, Inc.(TCB) and the Hartford HousingAuthority (HHA) are jointlyundertaking the comprehensiverevitalization of the formerDutch Point Colony under theUnited States Department ofHousing and Urban Develop -ment’s (HUD) HOPE VI Pro -gram. The City of Hartford andthe Connecticut Department ofEconomic and CommunityDevelop ment have also providedfunding for the development.The Townhomes - thefinal stage of the revitalizationproject, will be a mixed-incomecondominium community comprisedof 58 units. Twentysevenof the units will beaffordable for purchase by eligiblelow to moderate-incomehomebuyers. The Townhomesvary in size from 1,008 to 1,964square feet and have variousstyles with 2, 3, and 4 bedrooms.All 58 units will beEnergy-Star Certified.Neighborhood StabilizationProgramThe City is working with localdevelopers to restore single andtwo-family homes for sale tolow and moderate incomeowner-occupants. NSP isdesigned to stabilize neighborhoodsaffected by foreclosure,blight and overall disinvestment.The City is helping supportour neighborhoods by creatingnew affordable, sustainablehomeownership opportunitiesthroughout the City.South Marshall StreetHomeownershipHartford Area Habitat forHumanity, Inc. will construct 16three-bedroom townhomes at160, 180, and 184-194 SouthMarshall Street on a 1.46 acresite located on the southeastend of the street. The newhomeownership units will becontained in four buildingscomprising four units each thatwill contain 1,260 square feet ofliving space on two floors witha parking area under each unit.The property design includesporches above the parkingentrances and backyard greenspace. All units will be EnergyStar Certified and handicapContinued on page 4

4Hartford News Special Edition Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan June, 2012iQuilt ProgressNo doubt about it – Downtown Hartford is moving forward with theiQuilt Plan. The iQuilt Partnership presented the plan to MayorSegarra in January, and collaboration now has it going full steamahead.On June 19, Governor Malloy and our congressional delegationannounced that Hartford’s 2012 TIGER grant application to the USDepartment of Transportation was viewed favorably, and the City willbe awarded $10M to advance the effort. In August, pedestrianwayfinding signage is going to be installed at nearly every intersectionthroughout the downtown. EnvisionFest will bring people downtownon September 29th to showcase what the city has to offer, andchallenge people to think about it in a new way. And in November,Hartford WinterFest will bring ice skating to Bushnell Park for thethird year in a row.Downtown Hartford is loaded with cultural destinations for residents,visitors, and employees, and is compact enough so that nothingis ever a very far walk. In fact, it’s only an eighteen-minute walk fromthe State Capitol to the Riverfront. Despite that fact, our irregularstreet grid and driving culture results in people driving between destinationsmore often than they really need to. In order to encouragemore people to be out on the street, pedestrian wayfinding has beenan early component of the iQuilt Plan for Downtown.In preparation for September’s EnvisionFest, the Hartford BusinessImprovement District, the Greater Hartford Arts Council, and the Cityare working to install pedestrian wayfinding signage on nearly everycorner of nearly every intersection downtown. That’s over sixty intersections.At each corner, the backs of pedestrian walk signals will beoutfitted with spiffy signs (you can get a preview at City Hall, wherea pilot was installed as part of the City Hall Plaza restoration) indicatinghow far in which direction various destinations are. Below, at eyelevel, a map of the downtown (complete with the “you are here” dot)will be installed above the crosswalk button. Together, directionalsignage and maps will make downtown much easier to navigate andremind people just how easy it is to walk to everything the center ofthe city has to offer.In March, the City led a team to develop a proposal to the USDOT’s TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating EconomicRecovery) Grant program. The team, including Connecticut DOT,CTTransit, the Capital Region Council of Governments, the BusinessImprovement District, the Greater Hartford Transit District, and theiQuilt Partnership developed a proposal for Hartford’s intermodalTriangle On June 19, US DOT announced that Hartford will beamong the recipients of this very competitive grant, awarding the Cityten million dollars to implement the Intermodal Triangle.The Intermodal Triangle will link Union Station to Main Street withthe rest of the city’s central business district by improving transitaccess and making the City’s most important streets more walkableand navigable. Improvements, with a match from the City’s capitalimprovement plan, will include enhanced bus stops, pedestrian-orientedcrosswalks, roadway repaving and restriping, and wayfindingsignage. Union Station will be improved as an intermodal hub, andBushnell Park North will be narrowed and reconfigured to be morebike and pedestrian friendly, in order to induce development along itsedge and make way for future improvements to Bushnell Park.The strategy behind the iQuilt is transformative improvement ofpublic spaces, small projects that make a big difference, and programmedactivity to enliven the Downtown and build on ourstrengths. It’s not a single big project, but many little ones that makea big difference.DRAWING COURTESY OF SUISMAN URBAN DESIGNDepartment of Development Services: Ongoing Projects(continued)adaptable. All units will be soldto first-time homebuyers withhousehold incomes at or below80% of the Hartford area medianincome (AMI). Buyers willcomplete 50 hours of HUD certifiedhomeownership training,and will invest 150 hours of“sweat equity” in the constructionof their home.Brackett KnollBrackett Knoll developed byTORAAL Development, LLC inpartnership with the City ofHartford and State ofConnecticut, Department ofEconomic and CommunityDevelopment will develop 20two-family homes on a 7.39acre site in Hartford’s North Endwhere the Northeast BrackettSchool once stood. The homeswill result in 20 owner occupiedunits and 20 rental units for atotal of 40 housing units. Eachunit will contain 3 bedrooms,1.5 baths, ranging in squarefootage from 1,225-1,340. Thehomes will be sold to first timehomebuyers at or below 80% ofthe Area Median Income.Capewell Townhomes –Phase ICIL Affordable Housing Incor por -ated will construct 16 townhomesat 40 Popieluszko Court and 110Wyllys Street on two vacantparcels of land (1.56 acres) at theformer Capewell Horsenail Factorysite. The two-bedroom and threebedroomhomeownership unitswill be contained in four buildingswith unit sizes ranging from 1,230to 1,712 square feet. The zero-lotline property design includes de -tached garages, backyard greenspace, and a common driveway.All units will be sold to homebuyerswith household incomes at orbelow 80% of the Hartford areamedian income (AMI). (See storyat left)Albany Avenue StreetImprovement ProjectThis is a 1.1 mile arterial streetproject involving one of the city’sprimary commercial thoroughfares.The project consists ofroadway safety improvements,streetscape and pedestrian amen -ities including sidewalk repairs,curb bump-outs, cross-walks, andtraffic signal equipment. Theproject recognizes AlbanyAvenues multi-modal characterand includes complete street features.Work will be broken intoseveral primary stages. The projectwill coincide/coordinate witha Clean Water project of theMetropolitan District Commis -sion.Streetscape ImprovementProjectsStreetscape improvement projectsare implemented Citywide bya coordination between thePlanning Division and Depart -ment of Public Works. (See pg. 7)Zoning Regulations UpdateIn 2005, the zoning regulationswere adopted by the Planningand Zoning Commission. OneCity One Plan provided guidancefor the updating of thezoning code to include formand performance based elements.Planning Initiatives,Sustainability GrantThe Sustainable CommunitiesRegional Planning Grant will beused to implement a plan,design standards, and marketingmaterials for DowntownNorth.Planning Initiatives, FTAGrantFederal Transportation Adminis -tration funds were received andwill be utilized to conduct relevanttransportation studies andimplement plans that will servethe long term mobility needs ofthe City and the Capital Region.Planning Initiatives, BusLivability GrantThe Bus Livability Grant will beused to implement a pedestrianconnectivity plan for theAsylum and Farmington Avenueand Union Station area.Planning Initiatives, TransitOriented DevelopmentThe Transit Oriented Develop -ment Pilot Program encouragesmulti family housing units, integrationwith iQuilt and highspeed rail. The project is todevelop TOD overlay zone regulations.Capital Improvement Plan(CIP)The Capital Improvement Pro -gram (CIP) is designed to meetthe 5-year capital needs of theCity in the areas of PublicSafety, Public Facilities, Parks &Recreation, Infrastructure, De -velop ment, and Education. TheCity’s investment in these facilitiesaid educational programs,strengthen neighborhoods, en -hance public safety, and fostereconomic development in keepingwith One City, One Plan.Neighborhood StrategicPlansThe Planning Division assists theNeighborhood RevitalizationZone groups with amendmentsto their strategic plans.Downtown Circulation PlanThe Hartford DowntownCirculation Study led to thedevelopment of a series ofimprovement projects aimed atimproving mobility for a varietyof transportation modes in thecore of the city. These improvementprojects will enable theCity to enhance the downtowntransportation network in aneffort to support economicgrowth and investments,improve regional and local connectivity,and create accessibilitythrough a variety of transportationmodes, includingwalking, transit, and driving.Downtown NorthRedevelopmentThe primary goal of theDowntown North Redevelop -ment Plan is to create mixed-usedevelopment opportunities byassembling development sitesand removing obsolete andblighted buildings, whileencouraging historic preservationin this important peripheralarea of Downtown. The Plancalls for the development of amixed-use urban district withstrong connections to Down -town and the surroundingneighborhoods. The ProjectArea is sub-divided into fivesub-areas, each with specificredevelopment visions andobjectivesConstitution Plaza EastRedevelopmentThe goal of the ConstitutionPlaza East Redevelopment Planis to complete the revitalizationof a key eastern gateway to theCity. The Plan calls for the redevelopmentof two functionallyobsolete properties as high-profile,mixed-use developmentsthat will enhance the considerablepublic and private investmentsin this section ofDowntown.Albany/WoodlandRedevelopment ProjectThe primary goal of the AlbanyAvenue/Woodland Street Pro -ject is to revitalize an extremelycritical intersection in the UpperAlbany Avenue area with a traditionalstrong neighborhoodbusiness presence so that businessesand residents are encouragedto remain in the area. Theresult envisioned will be the creationof neighborhood businessspace into a Town Centerfronting an Albany Avenue andWoodland Street.Downtown West Section IIRedevelopment ProjectThe primary goal of theDowntown West Section II(Union Station – Walnut Street)Project is to remove obsoleteand blighted buildings from acritical perimeter area of theDowntown and to create aContinued on page 5

June, 2012 Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan Hartford News Special Edition 5Department of Development Services: Ongoing Projects(continued)development opportunity formixed use and transit-orienteddevelopment (TOD)Small BusinessRevitalization1200 Park Street – PopeCommons – is a Revitalizedshopping center in the Parkvilleneighborhood which includes arefurbished shopping plaza and anewly constructed building. Thesite is primarily retail space withtenants that include FamilyDollar, Save A Lot, MetroPCS,Vines Wine Shopand Subway. Thisproject has created 75 new jobs.Coltsville ProjectSamuel Colt’s industrial projectspans 260 acres and over600,000 square feet. The renovationof Colt Firearms Complexis a massive development withthe potential to positivelyimpact the surrounding communityand compliment othereconomic development projectsin the city. This mixed-use projectwill have complementingcommercial, retail, museumcomponents and 149 residentialunits. A $12 million streetscapeis now being designed for thesite and $5 million has been earmarkedfor new housing.Currently over 400 are em -ployed at the premisesSmall Business DevelopmentThis program helps small businessesgrow by providing businessplanning assistance, packageingloans for private andpublic lenders, facilitating businessopportunities and communitydevelopment through merchantassociations and neighborhoodrevitalization zones,researching market opportunities,seeking necessary permitsand approvals from local, stateand federal offices, site selectionassistance and façadeimprovements. (See page 7)Neighborhood DevelopmentProject – Blue HillsThe construction of a 9,180 sq.ft. Family Dollar store just startedat 615 and 621-623 Blue HillsAvenue. Total project cost isestimated at $1,500,000. (Seephoto, page 7)Parkville MunicipalDevelopment PlanThis project area is over 300acres; bounded by Flatbush Aveto the south and HawthornStreet to the north.777 Main StreetProject site will be convertedfrom a former Bank into a mixeduse building. 200 market rateand affordable apartment unitswill be constructed. (See pg. 11)Small Business – FaçadeImprovement ProgramThe Façade Improvement Pro -gram is an important economicdevelopment tool for businessretention, business expansionand job creation. The Program isdesigned to improve the physicalappearance and image of theCity’s neighborhood commercialcorridors. Approxi mate ly $12 millionhave been invested in over200 projects through out the cityfor the past 15 years.Sigourney/HomesteadThis site is a 1.6 acres redevelopmentopportunity. Retail developmentis being discussed forthis site.Front StreetThis project will redevelop68,000 square feet of retailspace at Front Street andColumbus Blvd. (See pg. 11)Pearl-TrumbullRedevelopmentThis project will redevelop 95-101 & 111 Pearl Street. Currentproposals seek to create mixeduse affordable and market ratehousing. (See pg. 11)Swift Factory ProjectPlanned conversion of this formerfactory into a “green”business incubator and housingcomplex is ongoing.Lyric BuildingLocated at Park and BroadStreets. Reuse feasibility studyon-going. Potential site forHispanic Culture Center or ParkStreet Branch of the HartfordPublic Library.Land in FarmingtonDeveloper to be selected forsale of city-owned land.La Isla Del EncantoPrimary objective of this exhibitionis to coincide with thePuerto Rican Day ParadeFestivities which celebrates thePuerto Rican Culture with aParade and Music in BushnellPark. The Pump House Galleryitself year round aims to exhibita wide range of traditional andNew Media art. The exhibitionprogram is aimed to provideopportunities for HartfordGreater Hartford artists toexhibit, as well as view, significantworks of their counterpartson the local levelMECA Community Arts GrantMECA Community Arts Grantwill support programmingefforts by individual artists andsmall arts/community organizationsthroughout Hartford. Thegrants will range from $500-$2,000City Canvas Project:Summer/Fall 2012The "City Canvas Initiative", aproject of the Department ofEconomic and CommunityDevelopment (DECD), involves10 cities commissioning andexhibiting the work of stateartists in public spaces. Muralsand other public art works on"high-profile, large blankwalls" in cities will be createdwith the goal of "dramaticallydemonstrating” the impact artcan have in building vibrantcommunities. The Capitol CityCanvas project will feature a toscaleimage of Connecticut’sState Tree – The Charter Oak byartist Adam Niklewicz on thesite of the old SynagogueBuilding at 215 Pearl Street. Theimage of The Charter Oak willbe enlivened by spontaneousflowing water and will only bevisible when wet.iQuilt ENViSIONFESTSeptember 27, 28 & 29.ENViSIONFEST will showcaseand celebrate the ingenuity ofthe city’s and state’s industries,artists and people, while offeringa taste, for the first time, ofthe transformation of Hartfordthrough the iQuilt plan. Get aglimpse of the future as youexperience the iQuilt Planthrough walking, culture andinnovation. http://www.envisionfesthartford.com/Evelyn Preston FundThe Evelyn Preston MemorialGrant, funds music in the cityContinued on page 6Capewell TownhomesAffordable Housing in theShadow of Downtown HartfordThe City of Hartford has revised its plan from the original Capewellfactory rehabilitation/conversion-to-condominiums with 16 HOMEassistedunits - to new construction of 20 HOME-assisted homeownershipunits on the three vacant parcels of land at the Capewell property.The property is located in Hartford’s historic Sheldon/Charter Oakneighborhood, a short walk from Downtown Hartford.In November 2006, the original 6-acre Capewell parcel was subdividedinto five parcels, three of which are vacant land on the southern andsouthwestern portions of the site. The City plans a two-phased approachto develop the three vacant parcels, which are comprised of 2.72 acres– 40 Popieluszko Court, 110 Wyllys Street, and 120 Wyllys Street.These parcels are across the street from the new Dutch Point development.Several years ago, the former Dutch Point Colony public housingproject was demolished as the first step in the Dutch Point revitalizationplan. Over the past five years, the site has been beautifully revitalizedwith the development of 127 affordable rental units. The new constructionof 58 mixed-income homeownership condominiums is currentlyunderway at the Dutch Point site. The proposed Capewell Townhomeshomeownership units on Wyllys and Popieluszko will nicely complementthe Dutch Point property, will increase affordable homeownershipopportunities in Hartford, create construction jobs, and support theneighborhood goal for revitalization of the Capewell property.Enrique and Lesbia Hernandez of Remax Realty in Hartford sayinterest in the Capewell Townhomes is high. “Almost everyone whotours the development is interested in buying,” said Lesbia.The initial development phase includes the new construction of 16zero-lot line townhomes to be constructed at 40 Popieluszko Court and110 Wyllys Street. These two parcels of vacant land are comprised of1.56 acres. The new townhomes development will offer two two-bedroomunits, and 14 three-bedroom units. This first phase will includefour newly constructed three-story four-unit buildings – two buildingsfronting Popieluszko Court and two buildings fronting Wyllys Street.The two and three bedroom units will range in size from 1,200 squarefeet to 1700 square feet with 1.5 – 2.5 bathrooms. Townhome units willhave unfinished basements, kitchen, dining and living areas, laundryfacilities and central air conditioning. Each building will have adetached garage in the rear offering two parking spaces per unit. Thegarages will be zero-lot line structures – separated from the townhomesby fenced backyard green space. Each property will contain a frontporch and small front yard. Landscaping will include screening elementsalong the rear of the site to provide separation from the factorysite.The site will allow for fee-simple ownership – with common elementsrelated to the shared driveway and other infrastructure elementssuch as water lines, sewer lines, etc. A homeowners’ association for thepurpose of collecting common charges and enforce rules for maintenanceof the driveway – will also serve to notify prospective homebuyersof the urban fill remediation conducted and the on-going actionsrequired to maintain direct exposure controls that physically isolate theunderlying fill.The 16 HOME-assisted units will be affordable for low/moderateincomefamilies and will be deed restricted for 15 years to ensure sustainedaffordability.Construction on the project started in November, 2011 and is scheduledto be completed in September, 2013. New residents should beactually moving into the new housing complex by the end of year.Phase II of the project is expected to start in late 2013 and will consistof the construction of four affordable homeownership units.Major funders for the Capewell Townhomes include CT HousingInvestment Fund, City of Hartford & CIL Affordable Housing, Inc.

6Hartford News Special Edition Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan June, 2012Department of Development Services: Ongoing Projects(continued)(Hartford) between the monthsof June – September. Concertstake place in public venues suchas Libraries, parks, playgrounds,etc… and must be free andopen to the public.Permit Application RevisionThe MECA division continues todiscuss ideas to improve thespecial events process. The specialevents application is thefirst step in that process was inneed of a revision. By making itpossible to complete the applicationelectronically, we will beable to streamline the processand increase the efficiency inwhich we issue permits.Hartford Parks – FreeMovies After DarkA summer series showcasing filmsin the City parks. “FREE MOVIESIN THE PARK” promises to be agreat family event bringingattention to some of Hartford’smore underutilized parks.Neighborhood StabilizationProgram (NSP)The City is working with localdevelopers to restore single andtwo-family homes for sale tolow and moderate incomeowner-occupants. NSP isdesigned to stabilize neighborhoodsaffected by foreclosure,blight and overall disinvestment.The City is helping supportour neighborhoods by creatingnew affordable, sustainablehomeownership opportunitiesthroughout the City.Housing Preservation LoanFund (HPLF)This program makes availablehomes repairs to owner-occupantlow and moderate-incomefamilies, and to investor-ownerswith low and moderate-incometenants, as well as no-interestand low-interest loans tofinance home improvementsand repairs of one-to-six familyhomes. General repairs, energyconservation and adaptabilityupgrades are available. “Revol-ving loan” methodology sustainsfunding for future propertyowners.national banks, and homebuyercounseling agencies as programpartners. Available to low andmoderate-income families. Pri -mary residency requirement.HOME recapture provision viadeferred forgivable loans.Gap Financing ProgramThis program facilitates developmentof new and substantiallyrehabilitated one and two familyhomes. Bridges “gap” betweencost of development and fairmarket value (FMV) of the property,and/or “gap” between FMVand the homebuyer’s affordablemortgage. Funding commitmentsto developers. Home -owner ship opportunities forlow/moderate income familieswhen Federally funded, andavailable to all families if Statefunded. Deferred loans to homebuyersat time of home purchase.Primary residency requirement.Porches ProgramProvides zero-interest, deferredloans to finance front façaderepairs and improvements ofone-to-six family residentialhomes. Improvements includefront porches and entry doors,walks, driveways, fencing, landscapingand other improvementsto enhance the appearanceof residential facades.Features an aggressive “loanforgiveness” feature whichmakes allowable repairs moreaffordable. Available to owneroccupantlow and moderateincomefamilies, and toinvestor-owners with low andmoderate-income tenants.Home InvestmentPartnerships ProgramSupports development of af ford -able homeownership and multifamilyrental housing. Low interestloans or grants to developers.Available for very-low and lowincometenants, or low and moderateincome homebuyers. Longterm (5 to 20 years) occupancyand rent restrictions to ensurecontinued affordability. Primaryresidency requirement for homebuyers.HOME resale provision toensure sustainable affordablehomeownership, and HOME re -capture provision for rental properties.Fair Housing Program -Promoting Equal HousingOpportunityThe goal of the City ofHartford's Fair Housing Assis -tance Program is to assuredecent and suitable living conditionsfor every citizen, and toprevent discrimination in thesale or rental of housing. In aneffort to accomplish this goal,the City of Hartford has adoptedthe Fair Housing Policywhich prohibits discriminationin housing. The Fair HousingProgram is in accordance withprovisions of section 46a-64c ofCGS and related Federal FairHousing laws.• Blue Hills MerchantsAssociation (BHMA)• Business For DowntownHartford (BFDH)• Farmington-Asylum BusinessDistrict (FABD)• Hartford Enterprise ZoneBusiness Association(HEZBA)• South Hartford BusinessAlliance (SHBA)• Spanish American MerchantsAssociation (SAMA)• Upper Albany BusinessAssociation (UABA)• Wethersfield AvenueMerchants Association(WAMA)New Businesses• Rio Grill & Bar (BFDH)• The Tea Haute (BFDH)• Cindy’s Nail Salon (BFDH)Merchant GroupsBecause small businesses are the backbone of a healthy economicenvironment, the City of Hartford Department of Development Servicesworks closely with merchants’ associations throughout the city.Groundbreaking for the new Family Dollar Store on Blue Hills Avenue.• Central Market (FABD)• Wentworth Clothiers‘Phansee Gift (FABD)• Drive Auto Group (HEZBA)• Davian’s Clothing (SHBA)• The Finest Touch – NailsBoutique (SHBA)• Furia Restraurant (SHBA)• Hellshire Heights West IndianAmerican Cuisine (SAMA)• Auto Zone (WAMA)• Fichman Eye Center(UAMA)Coming Soon• Crayon & Numbers Day Care(BHMA)• Family Dollar (BHMA)• Downtown Market & Deli(BFDA)• The Action Audio Store(HEZBA)• Atwood Package Store(HEZBA)Targeted Anti-Blight (TAB)Provides financing for the moderateto extensive rehabilitationof Hartford’s blighted andvacant housing stock. Propertyis identified by the City’sLicenses and Inspections Divi -sion as blighted, abandoned, orvacant. The program is de -signed to support efforts toeliminate blighted residentialwhile stabilizing neighborhoodsand property values.Provides low-interest anddeferred rehabilitation loans.Deferred loan recipients have aprimary residency requirement.HouseHartford AssistanceProgramThis provides down paymentand closing cost assistance tohomebuyers to purchase oneto-fourfamily homes. Local and

8Hartford News Special Edition Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan June, 2012

June, 2012 Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan Hartford News Special Edition 9THINGS ARE HEADING NORTH!The City of Hartford is making a concerted effort to redevelop the long-neglected area north of Downtown, which was cutoff from the rest of the neighborhood by the construction of I-84 in the early 1960s.Downtown North Redevelopment PlanNew Public SafetyComplex to Open this FallLocated on High Street at a locationvisible from I-84, Hartford’snew Public Safety Complex willconnect downtown Hartford withthe historic neighborhood to thenorth. The facility is scheduled toopen in early October.The center will be adjacent to theAnn Street Historic Corridor, acomponent of the City’s Rede -velopment Plan for the Down townNorth Project (see story at right).Currently, the Fire Department’sheadquarters is located in the PearlStreet Fire Station in DowntownHartford. Police headquarters islocated on Jennings Road in theNorth Meadows. Since the policemoved to Jennings Road in the1980s, many residents voiced concernabout the police station beinghard to get to and cut off from thecity. The new center is easily accessiblefor pedestrians, cyclists,motorists and those using publictransportation.The new Public Safety Complexconsists of one building with twodistinct components and a parkingstructure.The north component is a replacementof the original 1891 schoolbuilding, and will house the FireDepartment administration, FireMarshal headquarters, the FireCadet program, the emergencycommunications/911 dispatch centerand the site computer center.The south component will housepolice operations including theEmergency Operations Center, theCOMPSTAT crime analysis andstatistics unit and a common fitnesscenter for both Fire and Police.A detention area will contain adedicated Sally Port and 16 cells.There will be a radio repair centerfor both Fire and Police and twolarge vehicle bays. At the south endof the site, a two level parkingstructure for police vehicles willhave direct access from WalnutStreet.Features:• Building Area: 189,000 SF(140,000 SF building and49,000 SF parking structure).• Site Area: 5.84 acres (approximate)• Recreation of the 1891 NorthSecond District School exteriorfacade.• Outdoor granite memorial toHartford Police Departmentand Hartford Fire Department.• Public lobby with art workhonoring the history of theHPD and HFD.• 400kW fuel cell to provideelectrical power for buildingoperations.• Fuel source (steam) for theIsham-Terry House.• Fully sprinklered building andparking deck.• Emergency generator, naturalgas.TimelineDesign began September, 2005Design complete December, 2008Construction began June, 2009Construction complete July, 2012Building opening Early Oct., 2012Cost:Design $5,400,000Site Acquisition 2,100,000Construction 59,500,000Administration 4,800,000Furnishings & Equip. 5,200,000Total $77,000,000Architect: JCJ Architecture,Hartford CT; ConstructionManager: Gilbane ConstructionCompany, Glastonbury CT.Hartford’s new Public SafetyComplex is built on the site of theold Second North District School.The old school’s facade was recreatedand incorporated into thedesign of the complex.The Downtown North Redevelopment Plan covers the area north of Downtown between I-84 and the railroad tracks.The primary goal of the Downtown NorthRedevelopment Plan is to create mixed-use developmentopportunities by assembling development sitesand removing obsolete and blighted buildings, whileencouraging historic preservation in this importantperipheral area of Downtown.The Plan calls for the development of a mixed-useurban district with strong connections to Downtownand the surrounding neighborhoods. The Project Areais sub-divided into five sub-areas, each with specificBy Evelyn R. Richardson,Chair/Coordinator,Friends of Old North CemeteryIt’s been five years since ClayHill residents approached the Cityof Hartford about the deplorablecondition of Old North Cemetery.Since then, a Master Plan was cocreatedby the City and neighborhoodresidents. This plan essentiallyhas two components:Capital Improvements: Cuttingdown and removing old trees,repaving roads, installing signageand fencing, repairing and replacingmonuments and cutting grasson a consistent and timely basis.Communities Component: Createworkforce development, educationaland economic developmentopportunities for area residents,youth and businesses. This willinclude summer and year-roundworkforce development projects;monument restoration training;database recording of more than10,000 people buried at this site;creation of a website, program andmarketing materials; conductingtours and educational projects forschool aged youth and others.Since then, youth have beenemployed during the summer(s) tolearn about monument restoration;researching the historical significanceof this cemetery and learningabout the existence of ColoredSoldiers, former Governors, buriedmembers from such families as theColts and Wadsworth and the factthat this is one of the most diversecemeteries in the nation whereBlacks, Irish, Italians, Jews, andother ethnic groups are buried. InJanuary 2012, the City of Hartfordbegan the process of cutting downand removing old trees; clearingroads for re-pavement and otherupgrades. A plan is in place to cutthe grass on a more consistent basisas well.There are many to thank for keepingthis matter before the City ofHartford and making it a priorityredevelopment visions and objectives. This is one ofthe three recently created redevelopment areas and consistsof over 100 acres of land. This Plan was approvedby the Council in 2009.In 2010, the City acquired and demolished the blightedbuilding at 1161 Main Street. Also in 2010, the Citywas awarded a Sustainable Grant from the DOT for thisarea. Currently, the City is in the process of acquiring58 Chapel Street. This lot is located is in close proximityto 1161 Main Street.The Restoration of “Old North” Cemeteryfor our community. CharlesBarrows leads this list for his unwaveringadvocacy; Michael Fother -gill for educating youth and partneringwith others to raise awarenessof the historical significance ofthis site; and Andrew Woods ofHartford Communities That Care,Inc. for providing youth summerjobs and internship opportunitiesfor Capital Community Collegestudents. We are also pleased tohave City Council members Cyn -thia Jennings and Kyle Andersonadded to our list as champions forthis cause.Old North Cemetery is located inthe North End of Hartford’s ClayArsenal neighborhood on MainStreet between Mahl Avenue andMather Street across from SANDElementary School, which is nowcalled Americas Choice.I live adjacent to the cemeteryand like many of my neighbors; wehave been effected by the neglectthat has plagued this historical andprecious site. Most recently, I wasasked to be the resident Chair andCoordinator of the newly created“Friends of Old North Cemetery”to help keep the momentum goingon this project.If you are a resident of the communityand want to get involved,please contact me at: 860-812-5086or erichardson45@yahoo.com.

10Hartford News Special Edition Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan June, 20122012 Pump House Gallery ExhibitionsBushnell Park, Downtown HartfordGallery Hours: Monday – Thursday, 12pm – 3pmThe mission of the Marketing, Events & Cultural Affairs Division (MECA) is to enhance the quality of life in Hartfordand to support the cultural development of the City by assisting, promoting and encouraging artists, arts and culturalorganizations and events in Hartford. Through its mission, MECA will create meaningful experiences that motivateresidence and tourism in Hartford, Connecticut.The Art Of Corey PaneExhibition Dates: July 2, 2012 – July 31, 2012; Opening Reception: July 12, 2012, 5pm– 8pmArtist: Corey Pane, HartfordHartford FacesAugust 1, 2012 – September 27, 2012; Opening Reception: August 2, 2012, 5pm – 8pmArtist: Charlie Brooks, HartfordHeadsOctober 4, 2012 – October 31, 2012; Opening Reception: July 12, 2012, 5pm – 8pmArtist: Robert Charles Hudson & Barbara Hudson, HartfordUpcoming City-Wide EventsJULYRiverfest 2012: Saturday, July 7thMortensen Riverfront Plaza – 4:00pm to 10:00pm Website: www.riverfront.orgMonday Night Jazz: July 16, 23, and 30 and August 6 and 13Bushnell Park – 7:30pm to 9:30pmGreater Hartford Festival of Jazz – July 20, 21, and 22 – Bushnell Park – 07/20 –5:00pm to 10:00pm, 07/21 – 4:30pm to 12:00am, 07/22 – 3:00pm to 9:00pmMovies After Dark: Friday, July 27th – Bushnell Park – 7:00pm to 10:00pmAUGUSTTaste of the Caribbean and Jerk Festival:August 4th – Mortensen Riverfront Plaza - 1:00pm to 11:00pmWest Indian Parade and Festival:August 11th – Downtown Hartford/Bushnell Park – 12:00pm to 9:00pm.Annual Dragon Boat and Asian Festival:August 18th and 19th – Mortensen Riverfront Plaza – 10:00am – 3:00pmCITY OF HARTFORD, DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICESLICENSES AND INSPECTIONS DIVISIONThe City of Hartford’s Licenses andInspections Division works to ensure thehealth and safety of the public and the soundnessand habitability of the city's residential,industrial and commercial structures.The Division of Licenses and Inspectionsoperates under the Department ofDevelopment Services and is composed ofmany sub-divisions or areas of service:Building and Trades, Housing code enforcement,Administrative operations, Weights andmeasures, Zoning enforcement, and Livableand Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative,(LSNI) Inspector II’s .Building and TradesThe buildings and trades sub-division isresponsible for the enforcement of the statebuilding code and its primary functions are:• accepting permit applications, conductingplan reviews and performing inspections• ensure that structures are safe, secure, andin substantial compliance with the ConnecticutState Building CodeThe area is currently staffed by one BuildingOfficial, one Mechanical Engineer, nineInspector II’s (Assistant Building Officials aslicensed by the State Of Connecticut,Department of Construction Services), oneBuilding Inspector I and Plumbing Inspector I.Traditionally inspectors had been responsiblefor performing inspections specific to theirtrade. The City of Hartford has implementedan Assistant Building Official (ABO) systemas a means to increase productivity and efficiency.The Inspectors obtained the ABO certificationand now have the ability to performall trade inspections.Administrative OperationsUnder the supervision of the1-Administrative Operations Manager,1-Project Manager,The administrative staff consists of2-Administrative Assistants,4-Administrative Clerks,1-General Clerk,This area supports the activities of buildingand trades, housing code enforcement, administrationand is also responsible for the processingand issuance of business licenses, vendorlicenses, etc. Four clerical staff members aremostly responsible for accepting and processingpermit and license applications, includingaccepting payment. Three others support theadministration and other operations of the division.Housing Code EnforcementThe housing code sub-division is responsiblefor the enforcement of the municipal housingcode and is under the supervision of oneHousing Code Enforcement Supervisor and isstaffed by five Housing Code Inspectors.Staff is responsible for responding to complaints,performing Certificate of ApartmentOccupancy (CAO) inspections and roominghouse/hotel licenses. Complaints and servicerequests are generated through the 311 callcenter in addition to requests made directly tothe division.Weights and MeasuresThe City of Hartford is also required bystatute to have a sealer of weights and measures.It is staffed by one Sealer of Weights andMeasures.The duties include verifying the accuracy ofScales from 0lbs to +1000lbs, Timers for Carwashes-laundry dryers-parking lots, Gasolinepump nozzles, Taxi cab meters. The sealer alsoworks with Sealers from the State ofConnecticut as may be requested.Zoning EnforcementIn July 2011 zoning enforcement activitieswere relocated from the Planning Divisionback to the License and Inspections Division.It is currently staffed by one ZoningAssistant.Typical duties of the Zoning Assistantinclude research of property history, inspections,composing and drafting violation andnotice letters to property owners, documentingin MUNIS actions taken, re inspections, consultingwith Planning on issues, etc.Livable and SustainableNeighborhoods Initiative,(LSNI)Inspector II’sIn concert with Mayor Segarra’s “Livableand Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative” theLicenses and Inspections Division has on stafffor support and field inspections one SeniorProject Manager and four (LSNI) InspectorII’s.

June, 2012 Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan Hartford News Special Edition 11ADRIAEN’S LANDING,A WORK IN PROGRESSDowntown Livingmusic venue for over 9,000 squarefeet of space and we are in theprocess of finalizing a lease with apremier, national restaurant. Withthese three anchors in place, thefirst phase of the project will be60% leased. We are in discussionswith a number of other restaurantconcepts that are interested in joiningthese three anchors.”Spotlight, with several locationsin Georgia and Florida has a uniquephilosophy about their business.Last year, Spotlight held a chairselection contest. The chairs used inthe theatre will actually be thechoice of the future customers. It’snot just about showing movies, it’sabout being part of the community.“We are very excited to have theconstruction progress in high gearat our new Spotlight Theatres FrontStreet location. There is overwhelmingsupport from the publicfor our theatre and the chairs thatwere chosen from the “Pick YourSeat” campaign are currently inSince the mid-1990s, hundreds of residential housing units have come online in Downtown Hartford. Until that time, the city’s central businessdistrict had virtually no residents following the urban renewal efforts of the1960s which demolished the old East Side Neighborhood. There are nowthousands more “Downtowners” than there were just 15 years ago. Thedevelopment of retail establishments to serve Downtown residents – andthe thousands who work Downtown – is starting to pick up. With the longawaitedopening of the first phase of the Front Street complex just aroundthe corner (see story at left), Downtown is poised on the verge of a longperiod of sutained growth. At this point, opportunities still abound fordevelopers and potential residents to join in this growth.5 Constitution Plaza,former Sonesta Hotel200 Residential Units & Retail,Estimated $22 million ProjectCost. Developer: WonderWorksDevelopment777 Main StreetThe Front Street section of Adriaen’s Landing in Downtown Hartford.Spotlight Theatres is now under construction at the site. The 720 seat, 4screen theater, which includes a full bar and restaurant, is scheduled toopen in the fall.Adriaen’s Landing is not a place,but a destination. The ConnecticutConvention Center, celebrated itsseventh anniversary on June 5 andit has business booked as far out as2017. The Convention Center hashosted over 1300 events, includingsuch prestigious and high-profilegatherings as the inaugural balls ofGovernor Dannel P. Malloy andHartford’s Mayor Pedro Segarra,but its real evidence of success is inits repeat business. It’s the exceptionalservice customers experienceat the Convention Center that keepsthem coming back.“Groups such as St. Francis’Miracle Ball, ConnectiCon, PriceChoppers, STITCHES, NationalAssociation of Campus Activitiesand the Islamic Circle of NorthAmerica have held their events atAdriaen’s Landing for almost aslong as we’ve been open and willreturn in 2013”, according toMichael Costelli, general managerof the Convention Center. “We continueto win business from our competitorsin Virginia, Pennsylvania,Rhode Island, Maryland andupstate New York.”The Connecticut Science Center,(Science Center) opened for businessthree years ago on June 12. Ithas seen well over 800,000 visitorsand expects to reach the one-millionmark this year. It’s been a successfulattraction for schools, familiesand the professional communitywith its dynamic exhibits andextremely popular Liquid Loungereceptions.With all of the success, it hasn’talways been smooth sailing for theAdriaen’s Landing plan. The FrontStreet development has experiencedsome setbacks over the last12 years. The project attracted afew developers before The NBNitkin Group was able to bringPhase I of Front Street to fruition.Thanks to the reputation andindustry expertise of HB Nitkin, thegood news is the location hasattracted the interest of othernationally-known entities who findHartford to be a prime choice fortheir business.“We have made great strides inleasing the Front Street Districtover the past 12 months. SpotlightTheatres, the 720 seat, 4 screen theater,which includes a full bar andrestaurant, is under constructionand poised to open in the fall”, saysHelen Nitkin, chairman of The HBNitkin Group. “In addition, wehave signed a lease with a liveproduction”, states Joe Paletta ofSpotlight Theatres. “In just a fewshort months the theatre, restaurantand bar will be complete and readyto provide a full entertainmentexperience and together with a livemusic venue and national restaurantcoming to Adriaen’s Landing, FrontStreet is going to be the perfectplace and one stop shop for foodand entertainment. “It’s important for Hartford-basedcorporations to attract a skilled andtalented workforce. Important tothe corporate recruiting effort is avibrant city with attractive housingoptions. Now that Phase I of thedevelopment has shown success,Nitkin can focus on Phase II, housingto support the demand for livingspace in downtown Hartford (seestory at right).“HB Nitkin is also moving forwardon a portion of Phase II – theconstruction of a 115-unit residentialbuilding with additional groundfloor retail uses. We are currentlyworking with lenders to securefinancing for the development”,says Helen Nitkin. “Overall, webelieve the project will provide diningoptions for guests of the variousAdriaen’s Landing venues, as wellas the downtown office population,during the daytime and be the entertainment/diningdestination ofchoice for residents of the GreaterHartford area in the evenings”Adriaen’s Landing is a 10-yearold vision that has become a successfulreality.286 Residential Units,Estimated Project Cost $80million. Developer: Becker &Becker95- 101 & 111 PearlStreet205 Residential Units &Retail, Estimated ProjectCost $50 million. Developer:TBD

12Hartford News Special Edition Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan June, 2012

June, 2012 Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan Hartford News Special Edition 13Transforming the Face and Future of Hartford Hospital(Above) A rendering of Hartford Hospital's new state-of-the-art parking garage, currentlyunder construction. (Below) A view of the completed expansion project in Hartford Hospital'sEmergency Department.Hartford Hospital’s campus is in the midstof an extensive, strategically planned development,known as HH2020 or HartfordHospital 2020. It is a long-term project spanning10 years, and the goal is to have the hospital’sphysical campus reflect its world-class,exceptional patient care.Since late 2009, Hartford Hospital’s campushas sustained and enhanced it long-standingtradition of high-quality patient care,advanced medical technology and strongclinical programs, but no change has beenmore visible to staff, patients and visitorsalike than the physical makeover of the majorbuildings on campus.“This is all about the patient and the patientexperience. Our facilities now reflect ourworld class care,” said Bimal Patel, vice presidentof support services at Hartford Hospital.“Patients and families have high expectationsof their caregivers and the facilities theychoose. This is important work and it’s criticalto ensure our hospital’s success now andwell into the future.”More than $50 million dollars over the lasttwo years have been committed to immediateenhancements, most of which encompassclinical projects, including new privatepatient rooms; some of the most advancedOR equipment in New England; a community-basedfacility on Park Street; a new chapel;a major emergency department expansion;hospital-wide lobby renovations; and thecompletion of the Center for Education,Simulation and Innovation (CESI).CESI is the state’s first simulation centerwhere physicians and other health care professionalsfrom across the country and aroundthe world can learn to use the newest technology,perform sophisticated surgical procedures,and perfect their skills in a safe, simulatedenvironment, so they’re ready to applythose skills expertly when treating patients.CESI features exact replicas of an operatingroom, a delivery room, an intensive care unit,and delivery and trauma rooms. It has thesame equipment as the hospital, includingtwo da Vinci robots and two robotic simulatorsdesigned especially for training purposes.Today, the most visible project in the communityis the construction of the hospital’sbrand new, state-of-the-art parking garage onHudson Street, which broke ground inOctober 2011. The new garage will have ninefloors, 1,250 parking spaces and an employeefitness center. The project, which will create agateway to Hartford Hospital, is budgeted atabout $40 million and will increase the availableparking spaces on campus by 20 percent,providing visitors and patients closer andmore convenient parking at the hospital.The new parking structure will be one ofthe greenest buildings in Hartford, made oflargely recycled content, with electric carcharging stations. Rain gardens will surroundthe building to manage any storm water,which mitigates the demand on the municipalsystem, restores natural aquifers and conserveswater resources. The garage is expectedto open in January 2013.An inside view of Hartford Hospital's newchapel.iQuilt. The “I” stands for innovation. The “Quilt” stands for a series of pathways weavingtogether some 45 of downtown Hartford’s heritage and cultural assets and public spaces byenhancing the parks, squares and streets that connect them.iQuilt is designed to step up Hartford’s economic growth by encouraging people to take anenjoyable walk from one cultural site to another through the addition of public art, educationand entertainment activities, vendors and small parks.It’s a key component of One City, One Plan, Hartford’s 10-year blueprint for conservation anddevelopment.A broad coalition of public, private, nonprofit and community organizations – including theHartford Foundation for Public Giving – is working to connect the pieces of iQuilt.The Hartford Foundation has provided $450,000 in funding to plan and design the iQuiltproject. As the community foundation for the 29-town Greater Hartford region, we are dedicatedto improving the quality of life for area residents.Our support of iQuilt is one example of the more than $14 million in grants the HartfordFoundation has awarded over the past five years to a broad range of nonprofit agencies to sustainand enhance the region’s economic development. We’ve supported homeownership programs,career training, technology improvements, and redevelopment projects…and, withiQuilt, what promises to be a pleasant walk in a more accessible, vibrant downtown.“Hartford is an unpolished gem, home to numerous cultural assets that can stimulate growth and developmentthroughout the city. By leveraging our resources, we will create a more sustainable, vibrant city andeconomically strengthen our region for the better.”- Congressman John B. Larson“At its core, iQuilt is a testament to collaboration, seamlessly linking Hartford’s cultural assets in away that promotes engagement. More importantly, it will drive talent attraction and retention, which is crucialif we are to be the city in which everyone in the state takes pride. It is my hope that this spirit of collaborationwill take hold beyond iQuilt, beyond downtown to every corner of our city.”- Mayor Pedro SegarraTo learn how you can partner with the Hartford Foundation,the community foundation for the 29-town Greater Hartfordregion, please visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.www.facebook.com/HartfordFoundationwww.twitter.com/HartfordFdn

14Hartford News Special Edition Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan June, 2012Greater HartfordArts CouncilArt rests at the center of Hartfordin both name and spirit. For morethan 40 years, the Greater HartfordArts Council has been a leader andcatalyst for the promotion,fundraising and coordination ofarts and heritage programs thathelp celebrate our diverse cultures,enliven the spirit, and enrich theeconomy of Connecticut’s CapitalRegion. Committed to supportingthe vibrancy and power of the artsin the region, the Arts Councilencourages and helps thousands ofindividuals to appreciate and takepART in the arts around us eachday.A full-service cultural affairsagency, the Arts Council providesgrants and services to more than150 organizations each yearthrough funds raised during theannual United Arts Campaign.Providing one of the largestsources of unrestricted funding formajor arts and heritage institutions,as well as project-specific andcapacity-building funding forsmaller associations and community-basedprojects, the Arts Councilfosters a wide-range of activitiesthat give everyone a chance to addart to their lives. So whether you’retaking in a show at the BushnellCenter for the Performing Arts,perusing through the galleries ofthe Wadsworth Atheneum Muse -um of Art, being captivated by theHartford Symphony Orchestra oreven listening to free jazz in thepark, you’re sampling just a smallselection of the amazing work supportedthrough contributions toUnited Arts.In addition to fundraising, theArts Council plays a unique role inthe area’s civic life by providingvalue-added support and services.From cultural promotions andumbrella marketing for thousandsof local events to urban amenitiesand visitor services through theGreater Hartford Welcome Center,the Arts Council helps createHartford as one of the destinationsfor artsy happenings not only inConnecticut, but all of NewEngland.For more information about theArts Council or how to take pARTin the arts in Hartford, visitLetsGoArts.org.This Special Sectionwas published byHartford Publications563 Franklin AvenueHartford, CT 06114Ph: 860-296-6128Fx: 866-875-3785Email:hartfordnews@aol.comWebsite: greaterhartford.comWith the assistance of theCity of Hartford, Departmentof Development Services andvarious other department aswell as numerous businessesand organizations throughoutHartford. Thanks to all!

Letter from the Executive DirectorBY RON PITZHartford Garden Club Plants Trees!!Good friendships grow stronger through community service. The Hartford Garden Club broughtboth friendship and sweat equity to South Downtown in May. With shovels in hand and a positiveoutlook, the club members dug holes, rolled trees by the root ball, and tamped dirt around the heartysaplings. Four dozen trees went into the ground that morning, half in South Downtown and halfin the Charter Oak Sheldon Street neighborhoods. The trees were generously funded by the GardenClub of Hartford and the City. Pictured left to right are Ron Pitz, Mally and Jim Cox-Chapman.The Forest You Always Dreamed OfThe USDA Forest Service, Northeast AreaState and Private Forestry granted Knox$125,000 over three years to develop acomprehensive, community-based modelfor urban forestry in the 21st century. Withmatching funds, this project will empowerKnox and the community to:1) Plant 600 new trees2) Train 75 tree tenders to care for 1,800trees3) Provide workshops in urban forestry4) Assist in Hartford’s development of anUrban Forestry Plan5) Bring Knox’s Trees for HartfordNeighborhood Model to other forestsin Connecticut.Knox engages Greater Hartford citizensin tree plantings every year. We cannotwait to train Hartford’s dedicated environmentaliststo care for Hartford’s new trees.Our urban cores cry for green infrastructure.This project will provide fresh air,shade, and clean water to Connecticut’scities for centuries to come.Community Garden Tour and DinnerPut on your walking shoes and sunglasses for the Garden Tour turned Dinner. We’ll meetat the House of the Good Shepherd at 5:15 on Thursday, August 2nd. The buses (actuallyan air-conditioned bus and an open air trolley) will depart at 5:30 sharp. Cycling enthusiastswill coordinate a bike tour to shadow the bus route. The tour will include a stop at 4gardens and return to Good Shepherd for cocktails and an al fresco dinner as the sun sets.Hartford’s best chefs will prepare specialty dishes with locally grown foods. And, as if thiscould get any better, a quartet from the Hartford Symphony Orchestra will provide musicfor the evening! Knox is organizing a special silent auction, with an assortment of terracotta pots hand-painted by local celebrities! All in all, this is the go-to event of the summer!Tickets are available at www.knoxparks.org or by calling 860-951-7694.Volunteer Value: Hours x Number of Volunteers =Premium Dollars + Community StrengthKnox is very fortunate and privileged tohave a strong, active and engaged volunteer“army” dedicated to maintaining andpreserving Hartford’s spectacular greenspaces. We organize and mange over 2,000volunteers annually. So far this year, 1,332stalwarts joined hands and hearts toenhance our Capital City through a varietyof environmental projects: tree plantings,community garden expansions, gardensreturning to Hartford schools, clean upand beautification of our precious parksand numerous neighborhood cleanups.The dollar value is amazing: 1,332 volunteersput in a total of 4,552.5 hours forBY: H. CHARMAINE CRAIG$99,199.00 in kind service!Our volunteer force is comprised of:Corporate Partners - Aetna, The Hartford,Kohls, United HealthCare, REI, Prudentialand Pratt & Whitney, EDI Landscape andTD Bank. Community Partners – GardenClub of Hartford, Watkinson School,Trinity College, JC Clark Elementary,Pathways to Technology High School,Kingswood Oxford, Open Hearth, HYPE,Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, CRT,Northeast Organic, Farmers Association,the Hartford Job Corp, the Village forChildren and Families, and the Yale Clubof Hartford.Hartford’s Urban Trees are the lungsof the city! City-dwelling trees provideessential oxygen and theirleaves filter tiny particles of dust, ash,pollen and pollution that cause or worsenthe effects of asthma.Another benefit that we derive from treesis the absorption of storm water runoff.Without trees, this runoff picks up toxicsubstances like oil and anti freeze and contaminatesbodies of water and our drinkingwater supplies.Trees serve as air conditioners as their fullleaved crowns createshade and moisturewhich cool buildings andcity streets. This coolingeffect allows us to use lessenergy to cool our buildings.Trees provide habitatfor wildlife. They are akey link in the ecosystemthat sustains us all.During photosynthesis,trees take in and storecarbon dioxide (whichcauses climate change)and they give off oxygen.It is our responsibilityto make sure that thebenefits of trees remainfor future generations. Tomaintain these benefits,we need to maintain ourtrees! Trees, like any living thing, have aproductive lifespan. Like us, they needmore maintenance as they age.Hartford has a backlog of tree maintenanceafter Storm Alfred destroyed 3000trees and damaged countless. More ofthese damaged trees may need to comedown. To protect the survivors, muchKnox Parks has spent the last eighteenmonths walking through a thoroughexamination of who we are, where we’vecome fromand where weare going. Ourmission isstronger,greener, communities;treesand gardensare a means toachieve thatgoal. Theprocess hasbeen led by Causality, a firm specializing innonprofit brand identity.After a year and a half, countless hours ofpruning and trimming still needs to takeplace. To grow a healthy urban canopy,trees that come down must be replaced.Knox has been charged with this responsibilitywhich we are taking very seriously.With funding provided by the Segarraadministration, City Council, and CapitalWorkforce Partners Knox will replace morethan 1,000 of the 3,000 trees in partnershipwith the City of Hartford’sDepartment of Public Works and HeatherDionne, Hartford’s new City Forester. Wehave hired 1 supervisor and 5 crew members,all Hartford residents,to plant and maintainthese trees. So far we haveplanted nearly 300 trees allover Hartford with morefinding new homes eachday. Check out the cornerof Main and Charter Oakwhere the Garden Club ofHartford provided fundingand hard work with nearly50 other volunteers. Thatsame day, thirteen newMaples and three newOaks were planted onColumbus Street in frontof the Hartford Foun -dation for Public Giving.Twenty-one new Mapleswere planted downtownjust last week at the cornerof Ann and Church Stacross from the XL Center.We would love to see each of you at oneof our tree planting or volunteer events.The vision is important but partners tohelp carry out that vision are essential.Thanks to all of our friends, donors, funders,members and volunteers. Wecouldn’t do what we do without your help!Time for Rebrandingdiscussion, debates and interviews, Knoxhas settled on a new logo and a modifiedname. Shortly you’ll see us as Knox, Inc.,with a tag lineof “People,Planting,Programs.”Our new logo,which goeslive soon, isnext to thisarticle.This initiativewas graciouslysponsoredby gifts from the NutmegFoundation, The Hartford Foundation forPublic Giving, and Causality.Foundation & SupportKnox is incredibly grateful for such strongfoundation support in a city with manywonderful charitable organizations!The community garden program is muchstronger this year due to investments byKeep America Beautiful, the Department ofAgriculture and its Agri Viability Grant, TheFund for Greater Hartford, Aetna, the USDAand the Asylum Hill CongregationalChurch. The AmeriCorps Green Crew isthriving under the support of the FisherFoundation, the George and Grace LongFoundation, the Charles Nelson RobinsonFund, the Ensworth Charitable Foundation,TD Charitable Foundation, and Timberland(who provides steel toed shoes for our crew)!Funding trees this summer are: the Courtof Common Council, Capital WorkforcePartners, The Hartford and the City ofHartford. The New Alliance Foundationprovided generous unrestricted funding foroperating expenses. AT&T has generouslydonated used trucks from their fleet to Knoxfor transporting our crew and our tools.We are also fortunate to start the new fiscalyear off with a renewed funding agreementwith the Connecticut Commission onCommunity Service for the AmeriCorpsprogram and the US Forest Service for theplanting of trees in Hartford.

Calendarof EventsSaturday, July 21, Green Team Event,9 AM – 1 PM, Homestead & GardenRSVP to Charmaine atcharmainec@knoxparks.org or 860-951-7694, ext 14.Thursday, August 2, Garden Tour &Twilight Dinner, 5:30 – 9:00 PM, Houseof the Good Shepherd, 155 WyllysStreet. Tickets on sale now atwww.knoxparks.org or 860-951-7694.Saturday, September 15, Green TeamEvent on Tremont Street, 9 AM – 1 PM,RSVP to Charmaine atcharmainec@knoxparks.org or 860-951-7694, ext 14.Saturday, October 13, HartfordMarathon. Run for the Knox Team.Contact Barb atbarbaran@knoxparks.org or 860-951-7694, ext. 21Saturday, October 20, Green TeamEvent at the South Branch, 9 AM – 1PM, RSVP to Charmaine at charmainec@knoxparks.orgor 860-951-7694, ext 14.Community Garden CornerCelebrating 40 years ofCommunity Gardeningin the City of Hartford!BY: H. CHARMAINE CRAIGIn 1972, Knox established its first communitygarden in Keney Park, makingHartford one of the first cities in the UnitedStates to do so since World War II. Gardensare a valuable community asset especiallyin the inner-city where food security andgreen space are scarce commodities. For 40years, the Knox Community GardeningProgram has provided residents with land,water and the opportunity to cultivatetheir own food.Highlights: With the support and financialassistance of United States Departmentof Agriculture, Aetna, the HartfordFinancial Services, CT Department ofEnergy and Environmental Protection,UnitedHealthcare, CT Department ofAgriculture, the Fund for Greater Hartfordand NOFA, the community garden programwill accommodate another 75 gardenersby increasing gardening space from5 to 8 acres.At Earle Street, the garden is currentlyunder construction. Fencing and irrigationis being installed and 20 new gardeners areexpected to break ground by the end ofJune. This is a remarkable victory: usingagriculture as a tool for urban revitalization,green space preservation, and sustainablefood production in a needy neighborhood.Two new gardens have been created atOpen Hearth (a residential facility forhomeless men). There is a small herb gardenjust outside of the kitchen and a largevegetable garden at their wood yard. Bothgarden spaces are tended by the staff andclients.KNOX PARKS75 Laurel StreetHartford, CT 06106860-951-7694www.knoxparks.orgCorporate PartnersKohl’s, April 24: In commemorating EarthDay and Mayor Segarra’s Celebration of ourParks, 55 dedicated Kohl’s volunteersbraved gusty winds and chilly temperaturesto replenish the tree canopy in GoodwinPark, planting 37 new trees. Since 2009,Jerry Nocera and his merry band of workershave toiled in Wexford, Bushnell andGoodwin Parks and contributed $45,000towards the preservation of Hartford’sgreen infrastructure. Kohl’s Cares is a wonderfulexample of local business pitchingin!The Hartford, April 27: The HartfordFinancial Services Group, the Village forFamilies and Children and the City ofHartford celebrated Arbor Day 2012, planting11 new trees at Gray Lodge on SpringStreet. The Hartford Financial ServicesGroup continues to support Knox’s greeninginitiatives and the Asylum Hill neighborhood.Thea Montanez and AnnMarieLaBreck have been instrumental in keepingthe community connections solid.Aetna, May 10: Twenty-seven eager andenergetic Aetna employees were deployedto the corner of Main and Trumbull tospruce-up the lingering eyesore remainingafter the demolition of the infamous “Butt-Ugly” building. Knox staff and Green Crewworked side by side with Aetna volunteersto transform the corner - 25 UprightJunipers in planters were placed outside ofthe wrought iron fence, thus softening theharshness of concrete and providing a treescreen.At the tree grove across the street,they edged and mulched tree rings around25 amazing Japanese Lilacs (wisely plantedby former forester John Kehoe). This veryvisible and well-traveled corner now has anew and refreshed look. Shout out toBrenda Pabon who organized the projectfrom the Aetna side with the support ofChris Montross. In addition, thank you toGlen Geathers and Wayne Benjamin of theHartford Redevelopment Agency for theirsupport and perseverance. Aetna and theHartford Redevelopment Agency bothmade generous donations to cover the costfor this project.Prudential Financial Services, May 10:Thirteen employees from Prudential volunteeredat Wexford Park. Again with theguidance and support of Knox staff andGreen Crew, the Prudential volunteers laiddown 50 yards of mulch to obliterate thegrowing problem of wanton weeds.Located on the north side of the HartfordBusiness Improvement District, WexfordPark has suffered from lack of attentionGarden StudyTerry Hennessy, a researcher coordinating aGarden Study for Knox Parks, has set up a testgarden at Knox Parks. As seen in the photo, hergarden technique is a study in ergonomic gardening!Theresa is helping to gather healthand wellness information from study participants,and will also be managing statisticsabout how much produce is grown in the participant’scommunity garden. You might seeher from time to time in one or more of the gardenlocations around the city. In the meantime,feel free to stop by and check out her garden!and resources. Most people do not realizethat this valuable piece of real estate existsand is a nationally known Skate Park called“Heaven.” The Prudential office toweroverlooks the park, which is usually trashfilled and overgrown with weeds.Prudential’s Valerie DeMarco and VincenzoDastoli approached Knox seeking to assistwith maintenance and upkeep by providingfunding and volunteers. This is anotherclassic example of the power of corporateand community collaboration. Prudentialhas just booked another day of volunteerismfor October 6th.UnitedHealthcare, May 11: 100+ UHCemployees descended on our new 3-acregarden paradise at Earle Street in the northeastneighborhood. They weeded, pickedup large amounts of debris, cut back invasivebrush and created 20 new communitygarden beds. It was a glorious sight seeingall these helping hands converting thisunused piece of land into a productivespace for food production, neighborhoodgathering, and a micro urban agriculturebusiness. This development will greatlybenefit the residents and Mt. MoriahChurch who is leasing the land to Knox for10 years. For the last two years,UnitedHealthcare has partnered with Knoxto expand our community garden program,providing more space, increasingyields and improving access to fresh, local,healthy produce. Maurice Edwards andMaria Tsitsirides have been heroic in organizinghuge numbers of volunteers fromtheir company to support the Knox missionwith their labor force and financialcontributions.Pratt and Whitney has a group of volunteerscoming downtown to revamp a greenspace at Homestead & Garden later thissummer!EDI Landscape has been a great supporterof Knox, donating petunias for the bloomspots and helping to prep the greenhousefor the party last March. Their work is wellknown, from landscaping at Hartford HighSchool to the color panorama at theFarmington Valley Shoppes in Canton,they have added beauty and inspirationeverywhere, including Knox!!TD Bank has brought in professionals toteach the AmeriCorps Green Crew aboutmoney management and investing! Theyare even available to help mentor crewmembers interested in starting their ownbusiness.Retail Spotlight: REIRecreational Equipment Inc., or REIas it is commonly known, quietly bolstersmany area nonprofit groups withgrant funds, volunteer support, andextra kindnesses too varied to name.Along with Knox, REI is a true partnerto the Farmington River WatershedAssociation, Riverfront Recapture andthe Connecticut Forest and ParksAssociation.Well, we’d like to thank REI for caringfor the green and blue places that keepHartford fun and healthy.If you’d like to thank them, stop bytheir local Co-Op and become a memberof the nation’s largest consumercooperative. As a member you will beeligible for profit sharing in the form ofa dividend, or 10% back on every fullpriceditem you need to get off thecouch and get outside. This includes apreventative poison ivy cream (one ofthe world’s greatest inventions) andmuch, much more!Green Crew NewsBY ERICUS ADAMSCommunity PartnershipsThis spring, the Green Crew partneredwith the Hartford Adult Education Centerto give the school a facelift. Studentshelped install planters and a raised gardento spruce up the neighborhood. The crewlooks forward to returning to the center tonot only take their G.E.D test, but alsoplant mums in the fall. Thanks to all of thevolunteers (both staff and students) forhelping to continue making the city ofHartford a greener place.Drive, Dedication, andDetermination = DarnellIt was around thistime last year thatDarnell McIntoshcouldn’t continue hisjourney as a GreenCrew member and wasexited from the program.Darnell was dealingwith personal issuesthat got in the way ofhim fully dedicating himself to not onlythe program but to his family.We frequently talked about his struggles.Eventually, it was clear to the both of usthat he could not continue serving as aGreen Crew AmeriCorps member.I am proud to say that Darnell overcamea lot of the struggles he faced. In March ofthis year, Darnell reapplied to join theGreen Crew program. While serving hiscommunity 40+ hours a week, he alsofound time to go back to school for hisHigh School Diploma.He credits the program for keeping himmotivated and supporting him, but Ibelieve he had the key to his success thewhole time. Darnell is currently doingresearch to find the best college for him.He is so excited about his future and can’twait to put his education award to gooduse! Congratulations Darnell!Program NewsThe Green Crew, a proud member of theAmeriCorps National Service Network, willmove from a 6-month program to a 12-month program. This change will help tobridge the gap of youth unemployment byconnecting members with more communityengagement opportunities and allowingthem to participate in the workforce readinesscomponent of the program. With thisnew program design, we will provide morein-depth trainings and educational opportunitiesto better prepare members forschool and job placements post graduation.The new program cycle is expected to beginSeptember 2012. Application will be availablemid-July 2012.Welcome NewBoard MembersKnox Parks is happy to welcome newboard members this spring. MauriceEdwards is a program manager and computerscientist at UnitedHealthcare. Heand his wife and three darling daughtersare avid gardeners and lovers of all thingsnature. Julie Daly is the executive directorof Hartford’s Young Professionals andEntrepreneurs (HYPE). Julie has been along time supporter of Knox and hasactively engaged HYPE’s membership withKnox volunteer events. Rich Dalidowitz isa business projects program manager withAetna. A true environmentalist, Rich evenknows the Latin names of trees andplants!!! He brings strong fiscal and nonprofitmanagement experience to theboard.

June, 2012 Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan Hartford News Special Edition 17Hartford Parking AuthorityAnnounces On-StreetParking InitiativesConvenient parking is consideredessential to Hartford’s economic andcommunity development. TheHartford Parking Authority (HPA) isresponsible for making that vision areality and focuses on constantimprovement. The HPA overseesmetered and regulated parkingWhat’s new with on-streetparking in Hartford?HPA’s new Parking Ambassadorsare visible on Hartford streets from8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday (look for their redshirts or jackets). This team of sixpeople is available to assist parkerswith making change for the Payand-DisplayStations, providingdirections, answering questions, andmore.A Pay-and-Display Station is asolar-powered, multi-space parkingmeter that is easy to use. It has anelectronic display and clock and providesdirections for payment and displayof the receipt on the vehicledashboard. The receipt may be usedat any metered space in the systemduring the period of time purchased,allowing parkers to move fromspace to space as desired.Parking Ambassadors enforcespaces on Hartford streets, as well asoperates and maintains the Cityownedparking facilities. Theseinclude the Church Street Garage,MAT Garage, Morgan StreetGarage, and Hartford Public Libraryparking deck. In a partnership witha new subcontractor, RepublicParking System, the HPAannounced several on-street parkinginitiatives that began May 16 and aredesigned to make parking more customer-friendlyfor Hartford residentsand visitors.“Parking plays a key role in visitationand revitalization of our CapitalCity. Hartford needs to beConnecticut’s leader in parking technology,innovation and customerservice,” said Hartford Mayor PedroE. Segarra. “HPA are the experts onall City parking matters. They’rehere to inform, educate and assist thepublic with understanding of how topark legally and safely,” he added.“We invite Hartford residents andvisitors to consider us ‘your place fora space’, said Mark K. McGovern,Chief Executive Officer of theHartford Parking Authority. “Westrive to offer the best value for parkingin the City and to make our servicesas accessible and convenient aspossible. Working with RepublicParking now takes HPA to a higherlevel of customer-first, customerfriendlyservice,” he continued.metered and regulated parking. Thishelps downtown businesses by creatingmore curbside availability forshort-term visitors and deliveriesduring weekdays. Longer-term parkers(those who want to park forlonger than two hours) are invited topark at HPA garages, which opensup more spaces on the street.On-street parking in Hartford isfree after 6:00 p.m. and on weekends(when legally parked in a metered orregulated space, within limitationsnoted by signage next to the space).The HPA recommends taking noteof the parking signs on each block,and asking the Parking Ambassadorsfor assistance if the signs are notclearly understood. Signs are usedto mark restricted areas or to indicatetimes when parking is not allowed.Because tickets happen and are anecessary part of making parkingaccessible for everyone, the HPA hasalso made citation payments andappeals easier and more convenientto resolve, including online atwww.hartfordparking.com.HPA’s relationship withRepublic Parking SystemOn March 1, 2012, Republicbegan managing the 2,290-spaceMorgan Street Garage and the1,299-space Church Street Garage.Effective May 16, Republic is alsooverseeing the 1,770 meteredspaces in and around downtown.Republic is responsible forstaffing the garages, collectingparking fees, and maintenance ofthe garages. Street-side, Republicmaintains the city’s 250 Pay-and-Display Stations, as well as administersparking citations and collections.Republic is based inChattanooga, Tenn. and has operationsin 90 U.S. cities, includingStamford, CT and Springfield, MA.For more information, contact theHartford Parking Authority at860.527.7275 or visit www.hartfordparking.com.NSP HOMES IN HARTFORD61 Otis St., Htfd. $149,900Beautiful 3-4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths,Colonial. New kitchens cabinets w/newcounter tops and new appliances.Refinished hardwood floors with woodtrim. New front porch. All new vinyl flooringin kitchens and baths.308-310 Capen St, Htfd. $129,900Great 2-Family Home with new flooringthroughout, insulation in attic. Freshlypainted. New Energy Star hot waterheater boilers. Bring your buyers!186-188 Laurel St, Htfd. $195,000Update two family home w/new kitchencabinets and baths.1st unit w/3beds&1.5 bath.2nd floor combined w/3rdfloor w/ 3 beds & 2.5 baths.298 Hillside Ave., Htfd. $129,900Charming 3-bedrooms colonial, substantiallyrenovated. New kitchen cabinets withcounter tops and new appliances.Bathnewly renovated w/all new fixtures, new carpet,new hot water heater system(EnergyStar). New insulation in attic & basement.New driveway.202 Laurel St, Htfd. $189,900Victorian charm with modern comforts! 3-BR, 2.5 bath. Modern kitchen w/ centerisland & clean steel appliances w/ doublesink. Laundry room on 2nd flr. New roofs &windows. Energy Star rated heating system.Walk-up attic can be finished for expansion.10-12 Liberty St, Htfd. $169,900SALE PRICE!!! Beautiful update twofamily home w/new kitchen cabinets&counter tops.New baths,newwindows.1st floor w/2beds & 1bath.2ndfloor w/3beds & 2 full baths.Funding for these homes was made possible throughthe Neigh borhood Stabilization Program in cooperationwith the State Department of CommunityDevelopment and the City of Hartford.303 Hillside Ave, Htfd. $159,900Spacious 3-bed colonial, completely renovated.New kitchen with oak cabinets w/newstainless steel appliances. New roof and windows.The heating system has been updatedand new water heater. Hardwood floors.69-71 Pliny St, Htfd $169,900Spacious 2-fam. home with over 3,500 sq.ft. 1st flr. combined w/ 2nd flr w/ total of 5-BR & 2 full baths. 2nd unit 3rd flr.) with 3-BR, 1 bath, formal living rm, dining rm. &large eat-in kitchen. This 2-family featurestasteful walnut style kitchen cabinets, hdwd.flrs, laminated tiles & carpet.Lesbia HernandezCell: 860-209-4895Office: 860-756-0980lesbia.hernandez@remax.netEnrique Quintana(Cell) 860-967-7829RE/MAX Renaissance370 Franklin AvenueHartford, CT 06114

18Hartford News Special Edition Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan June, 2012A New Concept: Affordable, Veteran-Focused Assisted LivingCommunity Renewal Team (CRT) is teamingup with the Veterans Administration tocreate a new model of affordable assistedliving for senior and disabled veterans andtheir spouses. Veterans Landing inNewington will be the first of its kind in NewEngland and one of the first nationwide tofocus solely on the needs of veterans. With103 studio and one-bedroom apartments,this groundbreaking program will help lowandmoderate-income veterans maintaincomfortable independence for as long aspossible, while helping to ease the burden onthe overtaxed veteran health care system.Connecticut’s veterans are rapidly aging:Nearly 75% of the 222,632 veterans living inConnecticut are older than 55, and morethan half are 65 or older. A significant numberare living on modest fixed incomes, andlack the means to cover private assisted living– which may be as high as $8,000 permonth.Veterans Landing has been designed bythe same team – from architect to administrativedirector – responsible for The Retreat,CRT’s award-winning assisted living residenceat 90 Retreat Avenue in Hartford. Asthe first urban-built, affordable assisted livingfacility in Connecticut, The Retreat waspart of a state pilot initiative that sought todetermine whether assisted living servicescould successfully be provided to very lowincome, Medicaid-eligible elderly/disabledindividuals. The Retreat uses an exceptionallyrobust model of activities and partnershipsto ensure that the elderly residents are enjoyingfulfilling lives while contributing in ameaningful way to their community.CRT has also developed considerableknowledge of the issues facing low-incomeand at-risk veterans, through several otherprograms. Veterans Crossing is CRT’s transitionalrooming house in East Hartford, wherehomeless veterans receive intensive casemanagement and assistance with employment,medical or mental health issues, reestablishties with their families, and movetoward stable housing. CRT is also the onlyConnecticut agency offering SupportiveServices for Veteran Families, helping verylow income veterans avoid homelessness oracquire more affordable housing after beingevicted.Based upon this experience, CRT and itsaffiliate, The Meadows Real EstateCorporation, were chosen as the preferreddevelopers and operators of the new assistedliving residence, to be built on the campusof the VA Connecticut Health Care System inNewington. Activities, medical and socialservices will be offered within the building,but vets will also be connected with themany services offered elsewhere on the campus.Unlike any existing facility in the nation,Veterans Landing will offer comprehensiveassisted living for veterans in a dedicatedhome – not an area within a larger hospitalor nursing home. Focused on the uniqueneeds of veterans, it will blend medical care,help with daily living, and extensive social,recreational and emotional supports.Veterans Landing will include 95 one-bedroomand eight studio apartments. Each unitwill have a kitchenette, handicapped-accessiblebathroom, and living room. In additionto housing with 24-hour access to medicalcare, residents will receive assistance withactivities of daily living (personal hygiene,housekeeping and transportation), and anoutstanding array of recreational and socialactivities that encourage personal growthand community involvement.THE CHALLENGES AHEADTwo financing challenges face the project:Building the structure (at a cost of approximately$ 30 million) and keeping the monthto-monthcosts affordable for residents. To dothis, CRT is expanding on existing partnershipswith Connecticut state agencies,including the Department of Social Services,the Housing Finance Authority, and theDepartment of Economic and CommunityDevelopment. The agency has successfullyused federal low-income housing tax credits(LIHTCs) and HUD 202 Program funding forconstruction of other projects. HUD also providesVASH vouchers (Veterans AffairsSupportive Housing) to help individual vetsoffset their housing costs. CRT continues tocultivate relationships with private fundingsources, including financial institutions andfoundations.In the end, the primary goal of VeteransLanding is to provide a residential communitywhere low- and moderate-income veteranscan maintain or even improve their medicaland mental health, and enjoy their senioryears among their peers. CRT is seeking partnersand investors to move the project forward,for the sake of those who have givenso much for their country.For information about Veterans Landing,please contact Gus Keach-Longo, CRT’sDirector of Senior Services, at (860) 560-5632.

June, 2012 Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan Hartford News Special Edition19Wadsworth Atheneum Receives $2 Millionfrom Connecticut State Bond CommissionMuseum Launches Phase II ofComprehensive Renovation ProjectSlated for Completion in 2014The Wadsworth AtheneumMuseum of Art recently announcedthat it has received a $2 milliongrant from the Connecticut StateBond Commission and an additional$2.5 million in support from anumber of foundations and individuals,enabling the museum tolaunch Phase II of a comprehensiverenovation project across all five ofthe museum’s historic buildings.When completed in 2014, the renovationwill result in the addition of8,000 square feet of reclaimedgallery space, a 14% increase, andthe complete reinstallation of themuseum's permanent collection.The renovation will also bring significantimprovements for visitors,including improved wayfinding,new interior and exterior signage,bi-lingual signage, and space forcommissioned art on the exterior ofthe museum.“I would like to thank GovernorDannel P. Malloy, our StateLegislators, and Hartford MayorPedro E. Segarra for helping usrealize our goal to make the museummore accessible, welcoming,and engaging to our constituentshere in Connecticut, as well as tonational and international audiences,”said Susan L. Talbott,Director and CEO, WadsworthAtheneum Museum of Art. “We arehonored that the State ofConnecticut and a range of privateand foundational donors have madethis tremendous investment in thefuture of our institution, and we arededicated to finding new ways toengage our community with themuseum’s renowned collectionsand historic facilities.”Phase II of the ongoing renovationproject includes renovations,improvements and energy conservationmeasures that will impactapproximately 70,000 square feetof space, which contain 54 galleriesand 20 public spaces. These renovationswill enhance and improvethe visitor experience, enabling thereopening of long-closed galleryspaces and the reinstallation of themuseum’s entire permanent collection.The refurbishment andreopening of existing gallery spacewill greatly increase the amount ofboth artworks on view and spaceavailable for community-focusedprograms.“The museum will remain opento visitors as the renovation takesplace,” Talbott continued. “Gal -leries will reopen as they are completed,providing greater access toour world-class collections andenabling the museum to continueserving the public through our exhibitionand public programs.”In addition, this phase will alsoinclude the museum’s CollectionStorage renovation, which consistsof renovations to the basement ofthe museum’s Morgan Memorialbuilding to create new storagespaces for its furniture, metalwork,ceramics, glass, and sculpture collections.The new facility will alsomaximize storage efficiency andcreate workspaces for staff andscholars.The museum has secured over$2.5 million to support theCollection Storage Renovationproject, including two anonymousgifts totaling $1.9 million, $325,000from the National Endowment forthe Humanities, $132,500 from theInstitute of Museum and LibraryServices, and $50,000 from theAmelia Peabody CharitableFoundation.In 2011, the museum’s iconicThe Wadsworth Atheneum has been a presence on Main Street in Downtown Hartford since 1844. It is the oldestpublic art museum in the nation. The Atheneum is embarking on Phase II of an overall renovation. When completedin 2014, the renovation will result in the addition of 8,000 square feet of reclaimed gallery space.Morgan Great Hall reopened,marking the completion of the firstphase of the renovation. The completerenovation of Morgan GreatHall, one of the museum's mostprominent galleries, included theinstallation of ten new clerestorywindows to manage the levels ofnatural light.The space has now been reinstalledfor the first time with largescaleworks from the museum'sContemporary art collection byartists such as Willem de Kooning,Helen Frankenthaler, RobertRauschenberg, Sean Scully, andFrank Stella.Other components of Phase Iincluded the refurbishment of themuseum’s front entrance on MainStreet; waterproofing of the façadeand roof on the Morgan, Avery andGoodwin buildings; below gradewaterproofing of the Morgan buildingbasement and the north side ofthe Wadsworth building; updates tothe HVAC system, enabling significantenergy savings; and the establishmentof two green roof areas.The Wadsworth Atheneum Muse -um of Art is located at 600 MainStreet in Hartford, Connecticut. Themuseum is open Wednesdays toFridays, 11 am – 5 pm andSaturdays and Sundays, 10 am – 5pm, and the first Thursday of everymonth 11 am – 8 pm. Please visitwww.wadsworthatheneum.org formore information.

20Hartford News Special Edition Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan June, 2012Hartford Public Library Opens New WingThis mural of Hartford history (a portion of which is shown above) is now hanging in the new “AmericanPlace” room at the Hartford Public Library, Downtown Branch, 500 Main Street, Hartford. Viewing from leftto right, we see various 18th and 19th century workplaces, including a stone quarry, locomotive shop and ashipyard. Behind and to the right of the shipyard can be seen the Hartford waterfront as it looked in the mid-19th century. Above the skyline is an inset picture of the Colt Armory. Below this is Sam Colt himself, holdingone of his revolvers. Next to him is a man, possibly Christian Sharps or Richard Lawrence, holding a SharpsRifle, which was manufactured in Hartford from 1855 - 1876. Below the factory picture is Mark Twain withone of Col. Albert Pope’s high-wheelers and a family getting ready to set off on in outing in one of the earlyautomobiles which were also produced by Pope. (Photo courtesy of the Hartford Public Library)Electrical Contractors, Inc.Industrial • Residential • CommercialTraffic • Telecommunications24 Hour Service3510 Main Street • Hartford CT 06120CT Lic. E-1# 102800Ph. 860-549-2822 • Fax 860-549-8570www.ecincorporated.comLou Bona, Presidentlbona@ecincorporated.comThea Montanez, Hartford Public Library board president, Hartford MayorPedro Segarra and Matthew K. Poland, chief executive officer, HartfordPublic Library cut the ribbon to officially open Hartford Public Library’snew wing this past April. Funding for the new wing came from the City ofHartford and the State Library. The new wing includes a new state-of-theartCenter for Contemporary Culture, which will offer entertainment andeducation for the residents of the city of Hartford, as well as a new andimproved home for the library’s American Place, which provides servicesto immigrants and other new arrivals to Hartford. The American Placewill also house the Passport Office, classroom space for ESOL andCitizenship classes, and a computer area for self-guided instruction.

June, 2012 Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan Hartford News Special Edition 21Q&A with Liam McGee, Chairman, President and CEO of The HartfordThe Hartford has been headquarteredin Hartford’s Asylum Hillneighborhood for more than 90years. How does the company supportthe neighborhood?We have been involved withAsylum Hill for years. Our companywas a founding partner of theNorthside Institutions Neighbor -hood Alliance, or NINA, whichhelps working families find newhomeownership opportunities. Wehave also been a long-time supporterof The Village for Families andChildren, the Asylum Hill Boys andGirls Club, and West MiddleElementary School.Improving Asylum Hill remains aphilanthropic priority for TheHartford. Our company formalizedthis commitment in November2010, with a $7 million, five-yearinvestment in the neighborhood.We strive to make a lasting differenceby partnering with communityleaders to revitalize the neighborhood,educate children, and developoutreach programs for the familiesthat live here. Exemplifyingour culture of service and outreach,employees place a high value onvolunteering their time and skills inthe community.How has the neighborhood benefittedsince November 2010?A major accomplishment is thedemolition of the blighted CapitolWest building in Asylum Hill. Alongtime eyesore, the building hasbeen torn down and the property isbeing transformed into an invitinggreen space. We were pleased topartner with the city of Hartford onthis project, and I congratulateMayor Segarra on his commitmentto revitalization.Another neighborhood revitalizationeffort is our partnership withNINA. Together, we helped restoresix blighted properties and plant 50trees to help re-establish thecanopy. I’m proud that 150 volunteersfrom The Hartford have giventheir time to NINA.What about education and communitysupport services?Golden Anniversary MeansRejuvenation for the CathedralStretching 280 feet into the skyand featuring a magnificent stainlesssteel cross, the Cathedral ofSaint Joseph makes a strikingappearance for those who travelinto Hartford everyday. The viewinside the cathedral is amazing aswell. Visitors are greeted by theresplendent beauty of 26 stainedglass windows commissioned byworld-renowned artist JeanBarillet, and a one-of-a-kind mesmerizingceramic of Christ locatedat the rear of the high altar. It istruly majestic place, and fittinglythe Mother Church of theArchdiocese of Hartford where peoplefrom across the archdiocesecome to praise God. Upon closeinspection, however, one can seethat the years have begun to tarnishher beauty. Like many structuresthat are 50 years old, she is in needof substantial rejuvenation and modernization.As she celebrates hergolden anniversary in 2012, theArchdiocese of Hartford has startedto tackle one restoration project at atime.Some projects have already begunand have been completed. A leakyroof was replaced, a stairwell alongthe east side of the front entrancewas restored, and a new audio systemwas installed enhancing thesound quality throughout the cathedraland its side chapels.Archbishop Henry J. Mansell tookthe opportunity to speak to parishionersabout some of the improvementsduring the celebration of the“50th Anniversary Mass” of theconsecration of the cathedral, whichtook place on May 20th with over1800 people in attendance.He talked about one of the mosthighly anticipated improvements –the installation of the new permanentaltar. Weighing 4800 pounds,and measuring 4 feet wide and 12feet long, it is made of solid Biancomarble, and is a spectacular sight.Funded by the Knights ofColumbus, the new altar is dedicatedto their founder, Father Michaelborn and raised in Waterbury.The Archbishop also announcedthat discussions were underwaywith benefactors who will fund theconstruction of a handicappedaccessible entrance on the west sideof the cathedral. The designs call forthe construction of a driveway connectingthe parking lot of the cathedralon Asylum Street (which facesthe back of the cathedral) with thenew entrance. The entrancewaywould house an elevator, whichwould give transport to the first andsecond floors. Each floor wouldhave eight handicapped-accessiblerestrooms for a total of 16.Talks are also ongoing to transformthe lower cathedral into agathering area where people couldmeet after Masses for a variety offunctions. Classrooms for religiouseducation are also planned for thisspace.We have seen a lot of progress ineducation in Asylum Hill. Our partnershipwith Junior Achievementand Hartford Public Schools hasreached more than 1,000 studentsand helped increase their financialliteracy, workforce preparedness,and entrepreneurial skills. Ninetypercent of participating teachers saytheir students demonstratedincreased understanding.The Hartford is also involvedwith West Middle ElementarySchool, which is a few blocks fromour headquarters. Hundreds of studentshave participated in the afterschooland summer programs andmore than 200 Hartford teammatesvolunteer at the school every year inprograms such as Reading Buddiesand Math Buddies.Through the Hartford Consor -tium for Higher Education’s CareerBeginnings program, our companyhelped fund a new on-site studentadvisor at Hartford Public HighSchool to assist students with thecollege application process.Since financial literacy is a philanthropicpriority, we also partneredwith Co-opportunity and theUnited Way to create the FinancialResource Center, which providesfinancial literacy and budget planningresources to Asylum Hill residents.So far, we have been able toreach 135 Asylum Hill residents.We also support The Village forFamilies and Children, the YWCAof Hartford, and the ChrysalisCenter.Have you been pleased with thisprogress?While there is always more workto do, The Hartford is encouragedby the progress in Asylum Hill.Our teammates have given generouslyof their time, volunteeringtheir skills and expertise to helpimprove the neighborhood. Morethan 1,000 employees have volunteeredapproximately 6,500 hoursin Asylum Hill since November2010.The city of Hartford has been ourhome for more than 200 years, andwe welcome all the efforts underway from City Hall, our schools,non-profit groups, and neighborhoodorganizations to make the citya better place in which to live andwork.

22Hartford News Special Edition Hartford Progress: An Update on One City, One Plan June, 2012CTfastrak Rapid Transit Rolls ForwardThe new CTfastrak rapid transitproject is the beginning of a newera of transportation inConnecticut, combining the fast,traffic-free service of a train withthe frequent, direct-to-your-destinationflexibility of a bus. Withexpress and feeder routes that willuse a new dedicated roadway forcommuters to avoid traffic congestionon local streets and on I-84,CTfastrak will benefit a large geographicarea and provide a one-seat,no transfer ride to regional employment,shopping, cultural, educationaland healthcare destinations.In addition to direct services,CTfastrak will connect with: 19Hartford express bus routes; 37Hartford local routes; 12 NewBritain/Bristol local routes; 28Waterbury local routes; Amtrak railservice in Hartford and future NewHaven-Hartford-Springfield railservice in Hartford, West Hartfordand Newington; and the WaterburyBranch Line Metro-North serviceto Bridgeport, Stamford and NewYork City.Eleven landscaped transit stationsalong the way will enhance localcommunities in Hartford, WestHartford, Newington and NewBritain with increased access anddevelopment opportunities. A fivemile multi-use trail for pedestrianstion phase starts? "The Hartfordregion definitely is in need of moremass transit options. Most peopleare still driving cars while we needfewer cars on I-84 and I-91 especiallyduring commute hours. So,the new CTfastrak project seemslike a great idea and will help tospur on new economic opportunitiesin the area," said James Verano,owner, Black Eyed Sally'sRestaurant, Hartford. " As I see theCTfastrak developing, I believecommuters will enjoy it's one-seatto connect to everywhere concept.""I think central Connecticut commuterswill use the futureCTfastrak bus transportation systemwith surprising frequency andwith surprising results. From a realestate professional perspective, theand cyclists offers more transportationchoices.What are some Hartford commuteropinions’ about the newCTfastrak project as the construc-new transit system will definitelycreate new commercial and residentialdevelopment opportunitiesalong its route," explained MarcGottensdiener, president, MarcGottensdiener & Associates,Hartford. "Our area needs animmediate economic stimuluseffort, and the CTfastrak project is aprogressive program that will createnew jobs and provide new businessopportunities."For more information and the latestupdates about CTfastrak, visitwww.CTfastrak.com.