2013 Awards Gala Celebrates

Best in Main Streets  

Dr. Fichman receives the CT Main Street Business Owners of the Year award.

 

The weather called for rain and thunder, but even that couldn't dampen the mood as guests mixed and mingled among the artwork at the Wadsworth Atheneum, site of CMSC's annual celebration of achievement on Main Street. For those of you who couldn't attend, here's a quick recap of last Monday's 2013 Awards Gala.

 

▪Connecticut has a new Troubadour of Placemaking! Kip Bergstrom, DECD Deputy Commissioner, was crowned with this special award during the reception portion of the Awards Gala. CMSC created the award as a way to honor Kip for his enthusiastic and endless support of creative spaces in Connecticut. During his acceptance speech, Kip said he believed "more education will lead to less regulation" as people understand the importance of crafting great places that invite people to visit and enjoy Connecticut's communities. Kip may be the official troubadour, but we certainly don't mind singing his praises and saying thanks for the outstanding work. Let's all help to keep it up!

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra welcomes the crowd at the start of the Awards presentation.

 

▪ Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra welcomed guests at the start of the Awards Presentation, noting that although we've had many successes, there is still much to be done. He also mentioned work will begin soon on the Main Street Corridor, which will implement some of the recommendations from the iQuilt Plan (winner of the 2013 Public Space Master Plan award).

 

▪ A very big and heartfelt Thank You went to outgoing CMSC Board Chair Shelly Saczynski. Shelly served as Board Chair from 2009-2013. Under her tenure, CMSC finances increased almost 70%, new staff were hired and our relationships with State agencies (most notably OPM, DECD, ConnDOT and CHFA) were strengthened. But perhaps most importantly, Shelly managed the Board and organization with a deft hand, never missing an opportunity to praise staff and encourage our mission. She provided wonderful guidance and wise counsel during one of the most difficult economies in memory. Fortunately Shelly will remain on the Board as immediate past chair beginning in July (the start of CMSC's fiscal year).

 

▪ The winners took to the stage to receive their awards. There were several honors given out including recognition for Main Street Volunteers of the Year, Main Street Board Members of the Year, the 2013 Nationally Accredited Main Street Programs, the CL&P Award, and of course, the six Awards of Excellence for: Main Street Partnership; Economic & Business Development; Public Space Master Plan; Downtown Event; Historic Preservation and CT Main Street Business Owner of the Year. You can expect to learn more about many of these awards winners when we feature them in future issues of Downtown Update. Click here to see the full list of winners and the PowerPoint presentation from the event. Be sure to check Facebook often as we'll be posting additional photos from the night in the near future.

Come Home to Downtown Taking Off 

About fifty people gathered in the community room of the newly renovated Community Health Center on Main Street Middletown last week to hear about the Come Home to Downtown (CHTD) program and plan for redevelopment of two, attached Main Street buildings. David Sousa from CDM Smith presented the results of the urban design study while architect Bill Crosskey presented options for the redevelopment of the buildings at 418 and 420 Main Street.

Mr. Sousa reported that Main Street Middletown has some great features, including several notable structures and an appropriately-scaled streetscape that contributes to an enveloped feeling. However, there is room for improvement when it comes to side streets off Main Street. It is on these secondary roads that Middletown has the most opportunity to encourage growth and design elements (like trees and lighting) that will draw in visitors and residents. He noted that a lack of parking is an important - albeit counterintuitive - signal of success when it comes to downtowns. Mr. Sousa also reported that cars and traffic in themselves are not bad, but there should be short blocks with many intersections and other traffic calming practices that make the roads safe and usable by not only cars, but pedestrians, bicyclists and others. Meanwhile, Bill Crosskey, the architect CMSC has been consulting with on the program, presented options for the redevelopment of the buildings, one of which included a range of apartment styles and another that featured fewer, larger lofts.

The crowd was responsive, asking several questions of the consultants and their findings. One gentlemen expressed his enthusiastic support of this type of mixed-use development, saying he hoped Middletown could evolve into a downtown similar to Amherst, Mass.

The Middletown Eye published a very thorough overview of the meeting, and additional information and background on Come Home to Downtown can be found on CMSC's website.

Similar Community Meetings have been scheduled for the other two towns, Torrington and Waterbury, that were chosen as pilot communities for the Come Home to Downtown program, which CMSC developed in partnership with the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. The public is encouraged to attend.

Torrington - Wednesday, June 19 at 5:30pm at the City Hall Auditorium, 140 Main Street, Torrington

Waterbury - Wednesday, June 26 at 5:30pm at UConn's Multipurpose Room, 99 East Main Street, Waterbury  

Re-Mains of the Day 

The Inn at Harbor Hill in Niantic. Picture courtesy of CT Tourism Office, Visit CT Facebook page.

▪ Niantic named first-ever Fan Favorite still revolutionary Town of the Year in a contest sponsored by the CT Tourism Office. Governor Malloy announced Niantic as the winner at the recent Connecticut Tourism Conference. Niantic village - a CMSC member community - is located along the shore of Long Island Sound. Although small, their support was mighty, winning the majority of the nearly 10,000 votes cast over a four week period. The Inn at Harbor Hill was voted the favorite destination within Niantic. View Niantic's "One Thing" video and more here.

President's Message 

Connecticut Main Street Center

c/o CL&P

PO Box 270 

Hartford, CT 06141

860/280.2337

www.ctmainstreet.org