Join the SoDo Board: Elections at our Annual Meeting 6/19


Interested in making our neighborhood better?

The South Downtown NRZ has openings for Board Members in the following categories: Residential Tenant, Property Owner, Social Services representative, and Business Owner.
 

Elections are Wednesday, June 19, 2019, 6:00 p.m. at our Annual Meeting.

Any member of the SoDo NRZ can run for Board elections. Membership in the SoDo NRZ requires that an individual must (a) live in or, (b) own property in or, (c) own a business located in, or (d) represent a social services agency located in the South Downtown (SoDo) area. Board Terms are three years, and we request that Board members attend and actively participate in meetings and events, and have a non-partisan interest in improving the quality of life in our neighborhood. We meet on the third Wednesday of the month, September through June.  Click here for more information about the NRZ and the neighborhood boundaries.

To nominate yourself for election, please send a brief paragraph about yourself and why you are interested in joining to SoDoNRZ@gmail.com by 5 pm Friday, June 14. To nominate another person for election, please email their name and contact information to SoDoNRZ@gmail.com by 5 pm, Wednesday, June 12 and we will contact them regarding their interest in the Board.

How big (or small) is our neighborhood?

Spring on Buckingham Street.

The next meeting of your NRZ will be Wednesday, May 15 at 6 pm at South Church (enter on John Street.)

Our special guest this month is Amy Chambers-McKay, the City's new Director of Planning. We will also have a discussion about NRZ boundaries. Should SoDo annex some or all of Downtown, which currently has no NRZ?

Our meetings typically include reports from Hartford 2000, Community Garden, and the Outreach and Social Committees, and updates on fire and police activity in the neighborhood. We occasionally have special guests who share information relevant to the neighborhood. We always hope to be joined by all our neighbors.

June marks our Annual Meeting, and we do need more Board Members. If you are a SoDo resident, property owner or business owner and would like to get involved in the NRZ, please email SoDoNRZ@gmail.com. If you are not sure if your home or business lies within the NRZ boundaries, please check out this map.

You can view past meeting minutes and newsletter editions on our website. And don't forget to check out our Facebook and NextDoor pages for neighborhood news and photos.

What's new in your neighborhood?

Capitol Avenue in Spring

Happy Spring! Baseball season has begun, the flowering trees in Bushnell Park are starting to bud, and Capitol Ice Cream has opened for the season. And best of all, you can experience all of those things in one pretty great walk. Speaking of great, the next meeting of your NRZ will be Wednesday, April 17 at 6 pm at South Church (enter on John Street.)

Our special guest this month is our neighbor Julio Concepcion, who is both our State Legislator and also the Executive Director of the newly re-launched Hartford Chamber of Commerce.


March meeting is all about Park & Main Development

The proposed development at Park & Main Streets abuts the South Downtown neighborhood. It will bring more retail, offices, and residents to our area, but also impacts traffic, pedestrians, and potentially our new Community Garden. Please join us for this important discussion.

A vacant lot at an important intersection...NOTE: In lieu of this month's meeting the community is invited to join the SoDo Board and members in attending the Park and Main Development Meeting. Wednesday, March 20 at 5:30 pm at The Center for Latino Progress (95-97 Park Street). Click the photo or here to RSVP.
 
Meet with neighbors at the Center for Latino Progress to learn more about the Park and Main Street development that is being proposed by Freeman Companies, LLCand Spinnaker. We'll be joined by a presenter from the developers, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

The City of Hartford has been invited to send someone to talk about the nearby sidewalks and street projects near Park and Main Street. This intersection is an important and busy bus stop, and we have a lot of neighbors walking, biking, and taking the bus.

Neighbors from South Green, CSS-CON, South Downtown, and Frog Hollow Neighborhoods have been invited to attend this important gathering.

Food will be provided. RSVP here.

A Valentine to the neighborhood...

A snowy east half of SoDo as seen from Bushnell Towers. Photo by Heather McLarney.
There's so much to love about SoDo. The historic buildings and beautiful architecture. Great restaurants like Peppercorn's, 50 Elm, and Republic. Being able to run out for milk or a sandwich (or ice cream!) at NY Deli and Noble Gas. The small businesses, old and new. The walkability. But most of all, the neighbors. The people who choose to live, work and play in our "village" are what really make it special, If you want to meet some of them and learn what else is going on, come to the next meeting of your NRZ: Wednesday, February 20 at 6 pm at South Church (enter on John Street.)

Our meeting will include reports from Hartford 2000, Community Garden, and the Social Committee, and updates on fire and police activity in the neighborhood. Our special guests will be Erik Johnson, the City's new Director of Development Services, and Steven Yanicke of a new Hartford-based street-furniture startup. We hope to see lots of neighbors there.

Sign up now for the 2019 Progressive Dinner


Don't miss one of Downtown Hartford's most fun events! The Downtown Progressive Dinner, Sponsored by SoDo brings together a jovial group of Downtown Hartford neighbors for food and drink and to foster active community participation. Hosts and Attendees will meet at a beautiful, historic private SoDo home for mingling, wine & beer, and appetizers and get their dinner location assignment. After dining at their hosts' neighborhood homes, everyone will regroup at another local spot for dessert and more catching up. At past events, many said they were reluctant to leave their respective dinner parties, as they were having such a good time! We hope you'll join us Saturday, February 23, 2019, for a wonderful, walkable evening of conversation, food, drink, and community with your fellow Downtown neighbors. Sign up in advance as a Host or Attendee (see links above, no tickets will be sold at the door) to attend, or if you have questions, send us an email at sodonrz@gmail.com.

A portion of the proceeds from the 2019 Progressive Dinner will go towards programs and neighborhood enhancements supported throughout the year by the SoDo NRZ.

Happy New Year!

Aerial shot over SoDo/Main Street looking North to Downtown. Photo by Jeremy Howard.

Happy New Year! There's a new governor sitting on one side of SoDo, and rumor has it a new yoga studio is being built on the other side. And here is a reminder of some other pretty great stuff going on in our capital city. Speaking of great, the next meeting of your NRZ will be Wednesday, January 16 at 6 pm at South Church (enter on John Street.)


Our meeting will include reports from Hartford 2000, Community Garden, and the Social Committee, and updates on fire and police activity in the neighborhood. Our special guest will be Walter Veselka, the new Director, Department of Public Works. We hope to see lots of neighbors there.

Interested in joining the Board? If you are a SoDo resident, property owner or business owner and would like to get involved in the NRZ, please email SoDoNRZ@gmail.com. If you are not sure if your home or business lies within the NRZ boundaries, please check out this map.