Pedestrian Killed By Car In Washington Street Accident

Update, 3:15PM, from Middletown Police Traffic Unit
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We have notified the next of kin for the female victim in the pedestrian MVA.  Jean Carroll (age 52) was struck by a vehicle earlier this morning.  She was transported to the hospital for serious injuries.  Ms. Carroll later died as a result of those injuries.  Ms. Carroll was a resident of the City of Middletown.
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From the Middletown Police Traffic Unit
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On Saturday, September 27, 2014 at about 12:56 A.M., a serious motor vehicle versus pedestrian collision occurred at the corner of Washington Street and Broad Street. A 2009 Chevrolet Impala, operated by: Mr. Leonard Sanders, age: 52, of Middletown, was traveling in a westerly direction on Washington Street approaching Broad Street. The vehicle and the pedestrian made contact on Washington Street by Broad Street.

The operator of the vehicle reported no injuries. The pedestrian was transported to Hartford Hospital for life threatening injuries sustained in the collision. The identity of the pedestrian is unknown at this time. The pedestrian is a white female, approximately 40 years old, 5’ 6” tall, 160 lbs. with light brown hair with highlights.

Witnesses to the collision or who might know the identity of the pedestrian are asked to contact Officer Botsacos of the Middletown Police Department’s Traffic Unit (860)-638-4061.

Another Major Accident Shuts Down Washington Street

Washington Street was closed to traffic in both directions on Friday evening, from Newfield Street to High Street, as a result of a multi vehicle collision. At 8PM, police were interviewing witnesses and reconstructing the accident cause. There did not appear to be any serious injuries.

P&Z Passes Controversial MX Zone Changes

The Planning & Zoning Commission passed extensive changes to the code governing the MX zone, opening the door for a planned development on Washington Street and perhaps much more throughout the city.

The Council Chamber was packed with people, many sitting on the floor or watching and listening as best they could on the TV in the City Hall lobby.

The Commission voted 6-0 in favor of text changes championed by the Centerplan Corporation, the Mayor and the Chamber of Commerce, but opposed by neighbors of the planned development and many other citizens.

The Middletown Press says the vote "end[s] weeks of debate", despite the fact that Ed McKeon, leader of the opposition, says neighbors will mount legal challenges to the change. But then, the Press didn't interview him or any of the other scores of concerned citizens who packed the Chamber.

The Patch and Wesleying blogs also covered the meeting, as did TV stations Fox 61 and Channel 3.

More to come later today on The Eye.

Stripmauled, Or 10 Good Reasons to Oppose the Washington Street Development

COMMENTARY

Local developer Centerplan, with the blessings of Middletown’s Mayor and Chamber of Commerce, and with the cooperation of Wesleyan University, has proposed a commercial development on Washington Street, between Pearl and High, on the Northern side of the street.  It will be a three-story office and retail complex.  I live in sight of the proposed development.

UPDATE: The Wesleyan forum on the proposed development (Tuesday Nov. 27, 4:30 PM) has been moved to a larger space on campus,  PAC 001 (on Church St, just East of Olin Library).  The developer, Centerplan will be making a presentation.  On Tuesday November 27, at 4:30 pm in 41 Wyllys, Room 112, Wesleyan will hold a community forum on the proposed development.

 

This proposed development is a bad idea for a lot of reasons. 

I’ve got ten of them, and I’m happy to share.

 CHARACTER ASSASSINATION – The new development will completely alter a streetscape that’s lasted a century and a half, and permanently destroy the character of an entire neighborhood.

This particular block of Washington Street and the contiguous blocks from Newfield to Broad, feature large, vintage, architecturally unique residences, some since converted to light retail and office use, but all interesting and beautiful.  The Park Washington Apartments on the corner of Washington and Park, is the exception.

This new commercial development will insert a modern, hulking behemoth into the streetscape by demolishing at least three (maybe more) of those buildings, and throwing up a concrete, steel and brick corporate structure.  If you want to get a sense of what might happen, stand on the South corner of Broad and Washington, and look Northeast.  At the corner of Washington and Wetmore you can catch a glimpse of the past and the future.

 (The block in question circa 1924) The development will also replace lawns, gardens and mature trees with a blacktop parking lot and drives, and a concrete, steel and brick box.

Since there is good evidence that Wesleyan is selling other structures and property on Washington Street, once could conjecture that the strip-mall development West of Newfield, will soon creep all the way to Main.