Many New Plans for Downtown Hartford

by Deja Robertson
DTHartford Staff

There are many new plans for downtown Hartford, with the transformation of new storefronts, plans for more housing and transfer of a UConn campus moving downtown is all in the works.

The city of Hartford was awarded a $100,000 grant to transform downtown Hartford. The grant is from the state in order to transform vacant downtown storefronts into a more creative destination. The grant is part of the state’s Arts Catalyze Place making program, which invests in Connecticut’s arts-based infrastructure and cultural activities to ultimately draw more people to cities and towns. These creative destinations may transform into retail or pop-up stores, a remote broadcast studio or an art exhibition. New possible locations may be Main Street, Pratt Street and Pearl Street. 

One Hartford citizen Bonnie O’Malley said that she is very fond of visiting art exhibits and would be in favor of the expansion of this program. “The Wadsworth museum and real art ways are popular places I visit, but I am eager to visit a new place as well," O’Malley concluded. 

In favor of this new program that will be implemented to generate a greater sense of community, O’Malley mentioned she would invest her money into a program in which would flourish. With talks of these new transformations brings excitement to residents and possibly a new crowd to visit the city.

Downtown housing blueprints are starting to proliferate as well, with hundreds of new apartments envisioned for the central business district in the next three to five years. Architect Abul Islam plans to build an apartment building at the site of the old Broadcast House on Constitution Plaza. Hartford residents are excited for construction to begin. 

Hartford resident Adreanne Good stated, “I read about this plan in the Hartford Courant; this will be a good look in bringing new residents to live downtown”. Good mentioned the issues she has encountered over the years with Hartford’s limited housing. The new housing plans give her the opportunity to possibly relocate and move to a better fitted apartment.

From wfsb.com: “Facing an estimated $25 million in renovations to its Greater Hartford branch in West Hartford, UConn plans to move the campus to downtown Hartford within a year, bringing along 2,100 students and 60 faculty members”. Moving the Greater Hartford campus back to the city where it began and belongs is the motto that UConn President Susan Herbst is using. 

Ashley Johnson, a sophomore at UConn, stated, “Many of my friends have mixed feelings about the move; I think this will be a great decision for UConn.” Some students are excited for the move, expressing that it enables out of town students to explore more of downtown. While other students’ say it won’t matter to them; being that they are located at the Storrs campus.

With these new plans downtown Hartford may enjoy a boost of new businesses, and more tourists.