From The Courant: Mayor Supports Retail Development On Washington Near St. Sebastian Church
The Hartford Courant reports that Mayor Dan Drew and Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh expressed their strong support for the Centerplan Companies' proposal for a large retail building on Washington Street, near Wesleyan.
Earlier Eye stories:
Village resident and Architect Jeff Bianocs firm is doing the plans for Centerplan Design group
ReplyDeleteSeems like a slippery slope...one behemoth on these four lots....what will be next? If anything, people are just in and out of fast-food restaurants; I don't see this as encouraging people to stick around town, especially after fighting traffic in that area. What a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteI was at the press conference, the developer is impressive compared with so many others we have seen in council chambers. Disappointing, but not unexpected, was the attitude of the Chamber of Commerce guy. Two questions from audience touching on.. barely even suggesting.. that we try to hold employers who move in to hire local workers, pay living wages, perhaps health insurance??
ReplyDeleteThese are "handcuffs" we can't afford to scare business with, he said kind of angrily. Democratic pols say nothing.Wrong headed thinking. Shameful even and sad.
I'm all in favor of progress, but not at the expense of losing architectual gems like the brick building at the corner of High & Washington. This kind of brickwork, and workmanship just isn't done any more. To replace it with a brick & concrete box is a shame. I could see doing this if the buildings in question were run down, and blight on the surrounding neighbohood, but they're not. And the new bookstore will not be any closer to Main St. then the one it's going to replace. In fact, it'll be a block farther. As Bob R. said,'Shameful even and sad', but in another way.
ReplyDeleteThe brick building is NOT part of the parcel.
ReplyDeleteThere IS a right away behind that beautiful house which might be used for access.
I believe the development itself is fine; it gives us a chance to add a classy newer building to our identity. Let's make sure it is beautiful!
This is fantastic for Middletown! A LOCAL developer is creating LOCAL businesses, employing LOCAL Middletown Residents. Great for the economy and great for the City!
ReplyDeleteSo says the wife of a person who works for the architect Jeff Bianco who is doing this project for Centerplan, and will benefit from this. Both Mills and Bianco are on design review. Biased. Bianco fought Target and other developments, but when it is his turn to make a buck he will sell out his own neighbors.
ReplyDeleteit's not what you know but who you know in Middletown. It will always be that way
ReplyDeleteHow can a bookstore or anything else be proposed that would add more traffic to the already congested Washington Street area that's being discussed. Surely a safer & saner choice exists.
ReplyDelete