Downtown Hartford Residents and Businesses: would you want to be represented by an NRZ?

 

Attention Downtown Hartford Residents and Businesses: Would you want to be represented by an NRZ? What’s an NRZ?

NRZ stands for Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, in other words, a neighborhood association.

Hartford has 13 NRZs representing all Hartford neighborhoods, except downtown. Why? Because back when the statute (Public Act 95-340) was codified in 1995, there were hardly any residential buildings in downtown.

However, in the intervening decades, downtown Hartford has experienced enormous growth in construction of new residential buildings and renovation of former office buildings as mixed use and residential properties. Two existing NRZs bordering downtown are interested in providing representation to portions of downtown...

Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association (AHNA) and South Downtown NRZ (SoDo).

We both strive to provide similar services to our neighborhoods. We have developed Strategic Neighborhood Plans that address issues including blight remediation, economic development, work with local police, traffic safety and transportation.

Our Strategic Neighborhood Plans provide guidance for the City in determining what to do and when to do it.

And, just to be clear, NRZs are totally run by neighborhood volunteers and there are no fees or dues.We need your input to decide whether and how to proceed, so we asking you to complete a very short survey.

SoDo October Meeting

Capitol Avenue, looking SW, on an early October day.

Reminder: our next SoDo neighborhood meeting is this Wednesday, October 15, at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, 136 Capitol Avenue (enter through the small building to the right of the main church), or join us via Zoom (details in the newsletter, linked below).

Discussion topics will include our new Funding Committee, potential donations, and a SoDo LOVE Hartford neighborhood cleanup project for October. 

Check this month's newsletter for links to join the Meeting or download the Agenda and Minutes from the last meeting as well as more neighborhood news and photos from the SoDo neighbors tour of 55 Elm.

 

Love Hartford Neighborhood Cleanup

 

Join your neighbors on Saturday, October 25 for a neighborhood cleanup, part of the City and Knox Foundation's Love Hartford Week.

We'll collect some litter in our neighborhood and then meet up as a group at Cafe Amore for a coffee (SoDo's treat!)

RSVP required, so Knox knows how much equipment to send.

Meet on the northwest corner of Main & Buckingham Streets, in Buckingham Square Park. Gloves, trash bags, water, etc. will be provided. Even if you can participate for only half an hour, your help is appreciated!

Following the cleanup, all participants are invited to Cafe Amore for refreshments.

SoDo Neighborhood Plan

 

For the past year, The SoDo NRZ has been working with FHI Studios and to create an official Neighborhood Plan to serve as a guide for the neighborhood's development in the upcoming decade. The goal of the Plan is to help SoDo neighborhood residents and stakeholders identify community priorities, build consensus around long-term vision, and ensure the consistency of community goals with those of the City. The community-driven plan builds on current and previous planning efforts to highlight the goals and priorities of the neighborhood, gaining insight from resident and stakeholder surveys, on-the-ground engagement, and guidance from the SoDo NRZ. Additionally, the SoDo Strategic Plan is included in the appendix of this neighborhood plan. The strategic plan varies from the neighborhood plan by focusing on targeted revitalization strategies, economic development initiatives, and infrastructure improvements specific to the NRZ area, whereas the neighborhood plan provides a broader, community-driven vision addressing land use, housing, connectivity, and overall neighborhood character.

You can read the SoDo Neighborhood plan here. Comments are welcome, email sodonrz@gmail.com.

SoDo Tour of 55 Elm

 

The folks at Spinnaker have graciously invited their SoDo neighbors for a sneak peek at SoDo's newest apartments at 55 Elm.

Thursday, September 25, 5:30 pm. Three tours of 12 people each. Each tour should be about 30 minutes. Online RSVP required. **Due to the limited number of slots on each tour, please consider your affirmative RSVP to be a commitment.**

By way of historical background, 55 Elm was built in the Renaissance Revival style in 1926 as the HQ for the CT General Life Insurance Co. (now CIGNA). It housed the Attorney General, Comptroller, and other state offices from about the 1960s to 2019. After an extensive renovation, it now contains 164 apartments. 

September Meeting and Neighborhood News

 

A scene from The Longest Table Hartford, on June 21.

The final days of Summer are here and while (thankfully) it is not as hot as it was the night of our Longest Table Hartford, the city is still hopping with outdoor events! Farmers markets, yoga in the parks, night markets and street salsa on Pratt, historic tours of the Arch in Bushnell Park and the Ancient Burying Ground on Gold - there are still plenty of things to do outside before the leaves start turning. Not sure what is happening when? Visit the “Things To Do” page of this website, or the Hartford.com website.

If you missed the recent Courant article discussing the redevelopment of empty downtown office buildings vs. the redevelopment of Bushnell South, you can read it here (gift link). This website includes links to a four-year backlog of articles about development, traffic safety, and housing in our neighborhood.

Our first SoDo meeting of the 2025-26 year will be Wednesday, September 17 at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, 136 Capitol Avenue (enter through the small building to the right of the main church), or join us via Zoom (link below). Discussion topics will include our Neighborhood Plan, next steps for development of 110 Washington Street, and a SoDo LOVE Hartford neighborhood cleanup project for October.  Check this month's newsletter for links to join the Meeting or download the Agenda and Minutes from the last meeting as well as more neighborhood news.

MDC begins 3-month façade project

 

This week, the MDC began working on the exterior of its HQ building located at 555 Main Street. Work activities include power washing each side and the removal and replacement of all caulking.

This work is weather-dependent but is expected to last approximately three months. Work will begin on the Wells Street side of the building during normal business hours, before continuing to the other three sides of the building. Certain portions of the work, including on the Main Street side of the building, will be conducted in the evenings and/or on weekends.

Pedestrian and vehicular access to the building may be impacted as the contractor works around the building. For your safety, please observe any signage in and/or under the work areas and use caution when walking or driving near work zones. Please observe any pedestrian or traffic pattern changes that may be set up around the building.