Archive for the 'Renting' Category
Regionalism in CT
This Sunday’s Courant contained an excellent editorial about regionalism as a possible strategy for addressing the financial challenges our numerous local governments face. It is a very helpful piece because it not only introduces & defines the idea, but also looks at pros & cons. Finally, the article cites other US metropolitan regions that are already making strides with this strategy and articulates first steps for Greater Hartford.
Town finances impact all of us (even renters) through property taxes. They are a hot button issue for the traditional pro-school and anti-tax groups that emerge every time a budget comes up for debate. There is always lots of rhetoric, and there is sometimes cooperation and compromise, but there are rarely constructive suggestions or discussions that address the underlying issues. Which is not surprising because the established rules of the game are that everything is local.
The Greater Hartford Real Estate Blog has written about the financial stresses that local governments face on a couple of occasions. One post focused on West Hartford’s ongoing budget situation, while the other was more general and looked at the difficult economics of running a town. We see financial trouble on the horizon at all levels of government. And like many others have not been sure how best to work within the rules.
Rather than continuing to beat each other up at a local level, another way to address the challenges is to team up at a state and/or regional level and try to work together. The Courant has stepped to the front by making an initial proposal that includes the following:
1. Launch a study at the state level to identify whether or not core services can be more efficiently delivered on a regional basis (with the focus on federal metropolitan areas rather than counties).
2. Begin dialogs about regionalism at the town level immediately, and launch a major education campaign if the state study shows meaningful savings are possible.
3. Create incentives at the state level to encourage towns to participate.
4. Consider enhancing the existing entities that already think on a regional level so they can play more of a leadership role.
Regionalism is a new arrow in our quiver as we all go through the local budget balancing process. It joins tax hikes, reduced services, begging for more state money, and increased efficiency as the primary tools for making sure that town revenue matches town expenses. And of the five, it seems most likely to make a meaningful long-term impact.
So give the editorial a quick read. Talk about it with your friends, neighbors and coworkers. And if it seems as promising to you as it does to us, tell your elected officials to reach out to their counterparts in other towns.
Hartford’s Asylum Hill – An Auto-Free Option
The Asylum Hill neighborhood doesn’t get as much attention as some other areas in Hartford. For those not familiar with the city, Asylum Hill is a Hershey Kiss shaped neighborhood bounded by the streets of Sargeant on the north, Woodland to the west and I84 to the east and south.
Having riden the bus down either Farmington Avenue or Asylum Avenue nearly every day over the past four years, I’ve gradually realized that Asylum Hill is perhaps the only neighborhood in Greater Hartford in which a resident could legitimately survive without a car.
First and foremost Asylum Hill has plenty of easily accessible job opportunities, with major employers like The Hartford, Aetna, St. Francis Hospital, and the Connecticut Culinary Institute all within walking distance. Beyond those institutions, there are numerous small businesses lining the two major streets. Folks willing to ride the bus can get to downtown, West Hartford Center, Westfarms Mall or the CIGNA campus in Bloomfield without needing to transfer.
The second critical factor is that residents can shop for the supplies they need on a day-to-day basis. With the opening of the Green Apple market on Farmington, residents are now able to get fresh fruits and veggies on a consistent and reliable basis. Other small markets and convenience stores are scattered throughout the neighborhood. There are a number of other eateries and specialty shops on Farmington, and even a few fast food options. Household items may be more difficult to come by, requiring a half-hour bus ride out to the Westfarms area. Perhaps this is the time to mention that the neighborhood is very centrally located in the region, with excellent highway access. So convincing a friend with a car to take a quick trip to wherever should not be a problem.
The neighborhood also has an impressive collection of cultural and community institutions. The Mark Twain House, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and Children’s Theater are all clustered on Farmington, with the Hartford Conservatory on Asylum. A number of churches, some of the most beautiful in the city, have prominent positions in the neighborhood. The recently renovated Hartford Public High School serves as a focal point in the community, and there is are a number of community gardens tucked in empty lots.
Finally, there are a wide variety of residential options. Many of the housing choices are either apartment or condo units in multifamily structures. Much has been made of the very visible and recently halted project that David Nyberg is doing on and around Imlay Street, and there appears to be other renovations underway elsewhere in the neighborhood. The northern part of the neighborhood has more single and multi family properties, though there are also plenty of options in larger buildings.
Asylum Hill is a complete urban neighborhood with jobs, retail, culture/entertainment and housing together in a walkable community. It’s time they got the recognition they deserve for being the best available option for the auto-free (or auto-light) lifestyle in Greater Hartford.
The Fight for Young Professionals in the Hartford Area
Young professionals, usually associated with Generation Y (1980-1994), are where it’s at. Local towns and cities in central Connecticut are fighting over them because there are a lot of them (Gen Y is the largest demographic group since the Baby Boomer generation) and they have a lot of spending power.
Hartford has spent quite a bit of time and money courting young professionals to work and live in the city. Hartford 21, the Lofts at Main & Temple, Trumbull on the Park, in addition to other rental options downtown were created with the Gen Y demographic in mind. The currently stalled Front Street development, Colt Gateway, and Riverfront Recapture efforts were also part of the plan.
Blue Back Square in West Hartford is also seen as an attractive area for young professionals, with its restaurants and shops. While the condos there are essentially out-of-reach based on pricing, there is an upscale rental option with The Lofts at Blue Back Square.
And now Simsbury seems to be throwing its hat in the ring. The Simsbury zoning commission voted last week to a new mixed-use development that would have a rental component, marketed toward the young professional demographic.
With all of these options, where are the young professionals ultimately going to choose to live? While I am not technically part of Gen Y (I was born in ‘76 and am a staggering 32 years old), I think I am still considered a young professional. What I see my clients and friends gravitating towards are areas that are close to work (long commutes are really a drag), walkability to shops, restaurants, and coffee shops, and some type of nightlife, whether it be a low key coffee shop or wine bar or a techno-thumping club.
Perhaps more importantly, are employers in the Greater Hartford area going to be able to attract enough young talent that all of these options can survive? At what point is saturation reached? I may be incorrect in my thinking, but I’m going to say it anyway. I have a feeling that the Simsbury development might be a little late to the game and Simsbury might not be the ideal location for young professionals because of its more rural nature and lack of “things to do.” But only time will tell…