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| 55 Elm Street, as seen from the east side of Pulaski Circle. Photo: Google Maps. |
Spinnaker Real Estate Partners has shared their plans for the redevelopment of 55 Elm and surrounding buildings.
Redevelopment of 55 Elm
Spinnaker Real Estate Partners has shared their plans for the redevelopment of 55 Elm and surrounding buildings.
Two Part-Time Community Jobs Open
Hartford Next, the non-profit coalition of all Hartford‘s Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (NRZs) and the City of Hartford, has two part-time positions open. See flyers below or their website for details and application information.
New mural at Hudson & Buckingham, please donate!
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| A slice of the new mural, click through to see the full design. |
Help us make the corner of Hudson and Buckingham Streets a little brighter! CT Murals and artist Alex Ranniello are partnering with local community organizations in the South Downtown neighborhood to create a vibrant and colorful mural at 177 Buckingham Street.
The mural is meant to reflect the positive energy that comes with summertime sunshine while honoring New England's first female African-American Mayor, Carrie Saxon-Perry. The landscape also gives tribute to Hartford's Puerto Rican community by incorporating the Coqui frog in the background.
This project is in collaboration with Hartford's SoDo NRZ, Catholic Charities, and building owner Marc Gottesdiener.
February Meeting and News
Photo of SoDo as seen from Bushnell Tower courtesy of Heather McLarney.
Usually, at this time of year, the SoDo NRZ Social Committee is busy preparing for our annual fundraiser, The Downtown Hartford Progressive Dinner. This would have been our tenth year hosting 75+ neighbors for a fun, walkable evening of drinks, dinner, dessert, and socializing at a variety of private homes and apartments in SoDo, Charter Oak, and Downtown. For many of us, the Progressive Dinner was the last major social event we attended in 2020. Most public events were postponed or canceled in the days following, and then the state went into shutdown just three weeks later.
Modeled (with permission and guidance) after a similar event in the West End, the dinner raises funds used for SoDo improvement projects and donations to organizations that help our neighbors in need. More importantly, it is a celebration of urban living, the walkability of our capital city, and neighborly camaraderie. Over the years, the dining and living rooms of Progressive Dinner homes have witnessed new friendships formed, apartment hunting, job referrals, and at least two first dates!
We certainly hope that there will be future SoDo Progressive Dinners. As wonderful as technology is for keeping us connected (and we love seeing your faces at our monthly SoDo meetings on Zoom), there is little that compares to the joy of breaking bread with one another. In the meantime, we take great comfort in knowing that our neighborhood is more than just a few city blocks outlined on a map, it is the neighbors themselves that make it special.
The next SoDo NRZ meeting of the 2020-21 year will be Wednesday, February 17 at 6:00 pm on Zoom. RSVP by 4pm the day of the meeting to SoDoNRZ@gmail.com for the link and Agenda, or click here to download both.
Our guest speakers include Doug Ovian of Connecticut Public Defenders Community & Housing Courts, sharing information on how Community Court works and its role in the CT judicial system. Also, Sam Pudlin, Transport Hartford Ambassador, on CT DOT's proposed Road Safety Bill. We look forward to catching up on neighborhood news with you!
Our meetings typically include reports from Hartford NEXT, Capital Ave. Redevelopment Project, Community Garden, and the Outreach and Social Committees, reports from HPD and HFD on activity in the neighborhood, and updates from various City offices such as Community Engagement, Planning & Development Services, and Sustainability. We occasionally have special guests who share information relevant to quality of life in the city or the neighborhood.
Volunteer Needed
Volunteer needed to assist with short term SoDo NRZ administration project. Must be highly organized, proficient in Google Drive, Microsoft Office, and Gmail, and have access to own computer and internet. SoDo member preferred. Email sodonrz@gmail.com for more info.
January Meeting and Mural Survey
The next SoDo NRZ meeting of the 2020-21 year will be Wednesday, January 20 at 6:00 pm on Zoom. RSVP by 4pm the day of the meeting to SoDoNRZ@gmail.com for the link and Agenda, or click here to download both.
Our guest speakers include Matt Conway of The RiseUP Group, sharing information on a new mural planned for private property on Buckingham Street (you can take a survey and share your input in advance here). Also, John Thomas of Community Solutions will join us with information on the Swift Factory Project. We look forward to catching up on neighborhood news with you!
Snow Removal is a MUST
Clearing your sidewalk is not just a courtesy for your neighbors, it is a City Ordinance: Snow must be removed from sidewalks, curb ramps, and fire hydrants within 6 hours of a storm ending, or by 9 am if the storm was overnight, otherwise it is a $99/day fine until the issue is corrected. Contact Hartford311 for more info or to report a violation.
