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Overview
Development Services
Economic Development
Planning
Marketing, Events, and Cultural Affairs
License & Inspections
Housing
Administration
Development Services Projects
Development At a Glance
Neighborhood Development
Downtown North Redevelopment
Housing in the Neighborhoods
Upcoming Development Overview
Economic Development
ZoneHartford
Permit Streamlining
SC2
Hello Parkville
North Main Redevelopment Study
iConnect
Business Development Grants
Sustainable Infrastructure
Intermodal Triangle
Capital Parks Guide
I-84 Project
Safer People, Safer Streets
Events and Culture
Winterfest
Movies in the Park
Outside the Box
Fireball Run
Community Arts Grants
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i. ii.
“complete streets” policies, which are funded through our
capital improvement program.
Implement the Downtown transportation project, such as
the Intermodal Triangle, which is funded by a $21 million
federal grant, to create improved east/west connections in
the Downtown to our regional transportation hub.
Improve the permit process so that it is easier to navigate,
more predictable, and faster for residents and developers.
Work to improve the operational efficiency of the
department in order to better achieve the above goals.
We will continue to work in the coming year on taking
advantage of grant opportunities that are occurring at
the State and Federal level. Such grants would be able
to afford us the opportunity to continue accomplishing the
above mentioned goals that focus on housing, transportation,
and small business development.
In continuing improvements on our roads, and by working
to prioritize walking and bicycling as alternative modes
of transportation we are able to emphasize the cultural
institutions that have become corner stones in many of our
neighborhoods. When we highlight the hidden gems of our
City, we are not just enriching the lives of those who visit, but
to those who live here as well.
The department has several projects underway, all at
different stages of completion, and this Annual Report
highlights many of the accomplishments of the previous year
as well as ongoing efforts.
The goal of these initiatives is to improve City life through
neighborhood outreach and development, encouraging
economic growth, and creating and sustaining jobs.
Additionally, by maintaining an environment attractive to
residents, visitors, and businesses, the Development Services
Department hopes to facilitate meaningful experiences for
all in the City of Hartford.
Development and economic growth is an iterative process -
one that involves city leaders and the community. We look
forward to working with you to optimize Hartford’s potential.
For more information, please contact:
Thomas E. Deller, AICP
Director of Department of Development Services
250 Constitution Plaza, 4th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
(860)757-9076
tdeller@hartford.gov
Development Services
The Department of Development Services oversees
development for the City of Hartford, under the direction
of Thomas E. Deller, AICP, with attention to the goals of
Mayor Pedro E. Segarra and the needs of city residents.
The six divisions of this department work together to
create and maintain a livable environment for citizens
by developing strong residential neighborhoods, vibrant
commercial areas, and bringing businesses and jobs to the
city. The role of Development Services is to plan and foster
city growth, and to take the steps necessary to achieve our
vision. Additionally, we work to address the economic and
quality of life needs of residents and businesses.
The divisions also work to improve the quality of life for
residents in and outside of the home, by monitoring building
safety, providing safe and appealing public spaces,
supporting businesses, increasing job opportunities, and
fostering public arts and events.
The six divisions include: Administration and Finance;
Economic Development; Licenses and Inspections; Housing;
Planning; and Marketing, Events, and Cultural Affairs.
Development Services is working to:
Implement One City, One Plan through state and federal
grants, the Livable and Sustainable Neighborhoods
Initiative (LSNI), and the iQuilt plan in order to support both
local businesses and residents.
Provide the best resources to neighborhoods based on
their Strategic Plans for development and the needs of
their community through all six divisions and LSNI.
Develop strategies to increase homeownership and
affordable housing opportunities for residents by
identifying accessible resources through the City, improving
and preserving existing housing, and creating a mix of
housing options throughout the City.
Promote entrepreneurship through Small Business
and Corporate Programs by developing meaningful
relationships with businesses and accessing resources on the
state and federal levels to encourage growth and sustain
startups.
Work with the Department of Public Works in order to
complete neighborhood streetscape projects, and utilize
Our mission is to improve the quality of life by activating public spaces, maintaining
building safety, increasing and supporting home ownership, cultivating a business-
friendly environment, growing the tax base, boosting job availability and retention,
and bringing public arts and events to the residents and guests of Hartford.
Every day
we work with
the people of
Hartford to make
this a great city;
a vibrant city
where innovation
and creativity
is promoted,
a livable city
where all have
great housing
choice and job
opportunity, a
sustainable city
where one can
enjoy both the
built and natural
environment.
Thomas E. Deller,, AICP,
Director of Development Services
1
Creating a vibrant, livable,
and sustainable city.
1 2
Economic
Development
The goals of the Economic Development
Division are to grow and attract
businesses, provide technical assistance
to businesses, aid applicants in navigating
the permit process, provide access to
available tax credits and incentives for
businesses, and assist in site selection for
businesses.
The division continually works to
transfer City-owned properties into tax-
generating assets via private investment,
managing and maintaining city-owned
properties, monitoring lease agreements
for such properties, monitoring the
State of Connecticut’s Department of
Economic and Community Development
(DECD) grant for the Park Street
Streetscape Improvements, and pursue
new brownfield remediation grant
opportunities. Currently, the division is
managing brownfield remediation grants
for nine sites, totalling over $3.6 million
in DECD and US EPA funding.
Additionally, staff manages our city’s
Facade Improvement Program which
typically includes renovated entrances,
new signage, lighting, masonry repairs in
order to enhance historic character and
remediate blight. Staff has worked with
property owners to complete 20 facade
projects in Hartford, investing over
$300,000 in improvements.
The team also works with Spanish
American Merchant Association (SAMA)
to administer the $4.7 million grant
awarded from the State of Connecticut
for facade and safety improvements
along the Park Street and Upper Albany
corridors.
For more information, please contact:
Stephen Cole
(860)757-9071
coles001@hartford.gov
Brownfield Site - real property, the expansion,
redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated
by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous
substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
Stephen Cole
Division Director
Deborah Davis
Facade Project Manager
Mayra Ghaffar
Administrative Assistant
Jose Rodriguez
Project Manager
Vanessa Williams
Project Manager
Michael Looney
Director of Projects
Glenn Geathers
Project Manager
Elisa Hobbs
Project Manager
Don Chapman
Principal Planner
Jeffery Cormier
Chief Staff Planner
Lynda Crespo
Administrative Assistant
Jonathan Mullen
Principal Planner
Caitlin Palmer
Senior Planner
Planning
Through their day-to-day responsibilities,
this division carries out the five goals
of the city’s Plan of Conservation and
Development (POCD), which guides and
drives development in the City.
The five goals are: promote livable and
sustainable neighborhoods; protect the
city’s natural and built environments;
enhance mobility through transit,
pedestrian, and bike systems city wide;
advance downtown’s role as the region’s
center for commerce, culture and city
living; and promote and encourage the
integration of sustainable practices.
All of the planning division’s projects
advance one or more of these goals and
in the past year have included: a form-
based rewrite of our zoning regulations
through the ZoneHartford project; a
Capital City Parks Guide to protect,
improve, and better connect our city’s
parks; transportation improvements as
part of the Intermodal Triangle; a master
visioning plan for the redevelopment of
Downtown North and Downtown West;
and revisions to the zoning regulations to
incorporatebicycleparkingrequirements,
urban farming provisions, and encourage
low-impact development principles.
The Planning Division is also actively
engaged with neighborhood
revitalization committees (NRZs),
community groups, business associations,
and civic associations in all of Hartford’s
seventeen neighborhoods. Staff attends
monthly neighborhood meetings and
assist them as needed by creating
reports, plans, maps, and documents
that address the distinct needs of each
neighborhood. The staff of the planning
division also supports several boards
and commissions including the Planning
and Zoning Commission, Inland Wetlands
Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals,
Historic Properties Commission, and the
Historic Preservation Commission.
For more information, please contact:
Don Chapman
(860)757-9048
chapd001@hartford.gov
Jonathan Mullen
(860)757-9050
mullj002@hartford.gov
Caitlin Palmer
(860)757-9083
caitlin.palmer@hartford.gov
The Planning Division creates short and long-term
planning solutions that establish neighborhood-city
connections. Staff also works with developers,residents,
business owners,and various commissions to develop
the city,engaging the community in the process.The Economic Development Division has the tools
and relationships necessary to support businesses of
all sizes. Staff works with commercial services firms,
industrial companies, real estate professionals, and
retailers in order to provide the best resources for
projects and create job opportunities for residents.
3 4
Licenses &
Inspection
The Licenses and Inspection Division
(L&I) is responsible for inspecting new
construction and building renovations in
compliance with the Connecticut State
Building Code for proper construction,
installation, use of appropriate materials,
and the location, operation, maintenance
and use of equipment and systems
involved in site construction.
L&I is also responsible for enforcing the
City of Hartford Zoning Regulations
and Housing Code as well as landlord
registration. Staff also serves as the
general licensing agency for the city
and as such they accept applications and
issue licenses for a variety of specific
uses including pawnbrokers, secondhand
dealers, laundromats, merchandise
vending, peddling, and more. By
coordinating the efforts of various state
and local government officials, we
ensure that licensing and construction for
developments within the city are possible,
efficient but also safe and consistent.
For more information, please contact:
Daniel Loos
(860)757-9235
loosd001@hartford.gov
The Licenses and Inspection Division ensures the
health and safety of the public through the approval
and continual monitoring of the City’s residential,
industrial and commercial structures.
Marketing,Events
&CulturalAffairs
Arts and events provide a way for
residents and visitors to connect with each
other and with the City. MECA strives to
enhance the quality of life in the Capital
City on more than just an economic or
infrastructural level by creating and
supporting meaningful experiences that
motivate residents and tourism.
To promote and encourage continued
excellence in arts and culture, MECA’s
goal is to work with local artists and
cultural organizations to provide a
variety of opportunities throughout the
community - in all of our neighborhoods
- everything from museums, public art,
gallery exhibits, theaters, music festivals,
free movies in the parks, and more.
According to the Greater Hartford Arts
Council’s most recent survey, it is estimated
that more than 4 million people attend
events in the Greater Hartford area
each year. MECA will be assisting with
the development of a culture and tourism
plan for the city to establish a unified
vision, which will ultimately increase
tourism and attract new residents -
generating economic growth for the city
and promoting the city’s brand for being
a welcoming community.
The staff also facilitates and approves
events within Hartford through our
involvement in the Special Event
permitting process. We approve on
average 145 events per year ranging
from small public gatherings to large-
scale parades and park events, with an
average attendance of 3,500.
The City, through MECA, partners with the
Greater Hartford Arts Council (GHAC)
to fund the Hartford Arts & Heritage
Jobs Grants. These grants support
cultural programming that generates
local business, creates and preserves
job opportunities and impacts tourism -
using arts and heritage projects as the
economic engine to drive activity in the
City. Within the last 4 years the City has
contributed one million dollars to this
effort.
For more information, please contact:
Stephen Cole
(860)757-9071
coles001@hartford.gov
Stephen Cole
Interim Division Director
Andres Chaparro
Principal Analyst
Kejuan Dillard
Special Events Coordinator
Lauren Varjabedian
Marketing + Cultural Specialist
The Marketing, Events, and Cultural Affairs Division
(MECA) enhances city life through the facilitation
and promotion of events that provide meaningful
experiences for Hartford residents and guests.
Daniel J. Loos, MCP
Division Director
Elisha Barrows
Housing Inspector
William Bette
Building Plans Examiner
Darlene Childs
Housing Code Enforcement
John Collins
Building Plans Examiner
Domenic D’Angelo
Inspector II
Alvin Ellison
Inspector II
Gustavo Espinoza
Sr. Project Manager
Michael Fuschi
Chief of Bldg. & Trades
Michael Gompper
Inspector II
Shawn Holloway
Housing Inspector
Monir Ighani
Mechanical Engineer
Kieran Kilkenny
Inspector II
Michael Landry
Inspector II - LSNI
Rochelle Little
Housing Inspector
Patrick Looney
Inspector II
Nancy Marrero
Administrative Assistant
Tammy McBride
Zoning Assistant
Kionna Owens-Osayande
Zoning Assistant
Scott Peszko
Inspector II
Dajemi Rodriguez
Administrative Clerk
Tadeus Rogalla
Inspector II - LSNI
Albi Sako
Housing Inspector
Alexander Samboy
Housing Inspector
Amara Shabazz
Administrative Assistant
John Stafford
Inspector II - LSNI
Angella Stevens
Administrative Assistant
David Viens
Inspector II
Michelle Webber
Administrative Assistant
Malachai Williams
Sealer Weights & Measures
5 6
Administration
& Finance
The Administration Division oversees the
Department’s day-to-day operations.
The division ensures that the Department
of Development Services has the internal
resources and support necessary to
function efficiently and effectively. The
division works collaboratively to ensure
that the Department receives services
in the areas of personnel and budget
management, purchasing of goods and
services, and office supplies.
The administrative staff is often the first
point of contact for the public - whether
greeting members of the community
at our front desks at 250 and 260
Constitution Plaza or answering questions
via phone or email - in each of their
respective divisions. This role is vital to
ensuring that the public receives optimal
and efficient service.
Every year, the Administration Division
manages the annual capital improvement
budget (CIP), as well as grant funded
and general fund budgets.
This year, the division also initiated
department-wide standard operating
procedures, these are necessary to create
a uniform system that will reduce the
time it takes to get applications, invoices,
contracts, etc. through the process - from
submission to approval.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Elda Sinani, LL.M.
(860)757-9275
sinae001@hartford.gov
This role is vital
to ensuring that
public receives
optimal and
efficient service.
Dr. Elda Sinani
Director of Administration
Rachel Agosto
Administrative Assistant
(Housing)
Lynda Crespo
Administrative Assistant
(Planning)
Mayra Ghaffar
Administrative Assistant
(Economic Development)
Dajemi Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant
(Licenses & Inspection)
Housing
TheHousingDivisionfocusesoncreatingan
environment conducive to the development
and maintenance of affordable and
market rate homeownership and rental
housing for current and future Hartford
residents. The City utilizes existing and
leveraged resources as it partners with
homeowners, developers, community-
based organizations, local contractors,
lenders and housing professionals to
create a growing number of efficient and
successful housing outcomes.
The division administers a number of
accessible programs and initiatives -
providing down payment assistance
to prospective buyers, rehabilitating
Hartford’s existing housing stock,
providing rental assistance to residents,
and building new residential units - the
activity spearheaded by the Housing
Division is crucial in promoting economic
activity, stable neighborhoods, and an
improved tax base.
By working diligently to create housing
choices for a diverse and mixed income
demographic, the division helps to ensure
that Hartford continues to be a vibrant
Capital City.
For more information, please contact:
Brian Mathews
(860)757-9031
mathb001@hartford.gov
Brian Mathews
Division Director
Rachel Agosto
Administrative Assistant
Celina Caez
Program Supervisor
Luan Ceka
Rehabilitation Specialist
Tonja Nelson
Program Supervisor
Thomas Rotchford
Rehabilitation Specialist
Claude Trapp
Senior Project Manager
The Housing Division seeks to improve neighborhoods
by creating affordable homeownership and rental
opportunities.The Division is committed to improving
the City’s existing housing stock. The Administration Division strives to make a
difference by providing the best support for the
Department of Development Services by serving as
custodians of the department’s financial, office and
human resource needs.
HPLF Public Info Sessions
Information sessions are held at 250 Constitution Plaza, 4th Floor
Wednesdays: 5:15pm | Thursdays: 12:00 - 1:30pm
Not sure who to talk to at
Development Services?
Our main desk receptionist is happy to help,
please call (860)757-9040
> $20 million spent
making a difference in
our neighborhoods
7 8
Development
Services Projects
2 Business Development at a Glance
Neighborhood Development
Economic Development
Sustainable Infrastructure
Events + Culture
Development Services assists
corporations by identifying
commercial spaces, helping
to navigate the process,
and encouraging them to
locate and grow in Hartford.
This past year staff helped
businesses that created 1,000
new jobs, retained 350 jobs, and
helped locate businesses in nearly
500K square feet of commercial
space. Additionally, during the past
year, staff assisted small businesses
to create 65 new jobs and helped to
retain 100 jobs. Staff’s knowledge
of available commercial space and
familiarity with the city is key in
connecting the services and amenities
of small businesses to the needs of the
neighborhoods.
9 10
Neighborhood development is a key aspect of the day-to-day activities of
Development Services. Economic development, planning, housing, and
administration divisions all play a role in selling, rehabilitating, and approving
neighborhood development projects. While much attention right now is
focused on development in Downtown Hartford, Development Services is also
concentrating efforts on projects throughout the city.
The area known as Downtown North was cut off from
the Downtown in the 1960’s by the creation of I-84, was
separated from the Connecticut River to the east by I-91,
and is separated from adjacent residential areas to the
northwest by the Amtrak main line. Urban renewal activities
further contributed to the area’s decline by demolishing
dilapidated structures but failing to replace them with
anything besides surface parking. Since that time, the area
has been characterized by swaths of vacant land and little
new development.
In 2012, the Department of Development Services managed
the RFP for the Downtown North/Downtown West Master
Plan (DN/DW) to create a master-planned district. This plan
included a market analysis, development of design concepts,
and the creation of design standards. The goal of the
plan was to create a framework that would be founded on
implementable projects, based on market and development
realities, and create a vision for long-term development.
As part of DN/DW plan DDS also conducted a marketing
campaign to highlight the results and the development
possibilities that were identified. Also at this time, Hartford
began to attract the interest of the New Britain Rock Cats
as a potential location for a much-needed new stadium
for their Double A minor league baseball team. The City
decided to release an RFP - not just for the construction of
a ballpark - but for the creation of a neighborhood that
would no longer represent the “edge” of something but the
bustling hub of a gateway neighborhood.
In August 2014 the city selected Centerplan Companies LLC
as the developer. Later that year, the developer submitted
plans for the full project area to DDS for approval by
the Planning and Zoning Commission. Construction of the
ballpark began in February 2015 with a completion date
of March 2016.
Downtown North Redevelopment
“The DN/DW plan creates a
framework that is founded on
implementable projects and builds
a vision for long-term development.”
“This area will no longer
represent the ‘edge’ of
something, but the bustling hub
of a gateway neighborhood.”
Architect’s rendering of the ballpark.
Ballpark
•	 6,000 seats ($6 general admission); total capacity
9,000
•	 71 games per year; year round use encouraged
through other events
•	 team name The Hartford Yard Goats
•	 over 3,700 square feet of retail space
•	 stadium named Dunkin’ Donuts Park
•	 contract signed with city is a public-private partnership
guaranteed to exceed many minimum city standards on
local hires, minority/women-owned businesses, and local
sourcing
Ballpark Sparks Development
Grocery Store + Other Retail
•	 full service grocery store to fill current amenity gap
•	 over 50,000 square feet
•	 serving downtown residents, employees, and surrounding
neighborhoods
•	 43,000 square feet of restaurant/brewery space
•	 approx. 75,000 square feet of additional retail space
(excluding ballpark and grocery) on other parcels
Housing
•	 900+ residential units planned in Downtown North
•	 potential to create downtown homeownership
opportunities as well as affordable housing
•	 mix of studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, and 3
bedroom townhomes
•	 ADA accessible apartments available
•	 parking provided onsite in structures
Streetscapes + Parking
•	 over 1,600 new parking spaces, mostly in structures
•	 bike parking required for stadium at rate of 1% of total
seats, developer providing 100 spaces
•	 bike parking provided throughout development
•	 emphasis on pedestrian throughout development with
addition of street trees, design considerations, and
pedestrian and transit amenities
Economic
Development Events + CultureSustainable
Infrastructure
Neighborhood
Development
For more information, please contact
Michael Looney, 860.757.9010
michael.looney@hartford.gov
12
The Housing Division administers programs
which are vital to the development
and preservation of our residential
neighborhoods.Theoldestandmostsuccessful
program is the Housing Preservation Loan
Fund (HPLF). HPLF is a revolving loan fund
program that is designed to help low to
moderate income households repair their
properties and supports efforts to beautify
and improve neighborhoods. The program
is funded by a Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG). In the last year HPLF
has assisted homeowners in improving 73
residential units through blight remediation,
lead hazard stabilization, code violation
correction, energy efficiency improvements
andgeneralhomeimprovements. TheHousing
Division has a strong partnership with the
city’s Livable & Sustainable Neighborhood
Initiative (LSNI) to help eliminate residential
blight. This collaboration between the two
divisions has allowed for the completion of
17 anti-blight remediation projects in the
past year.
The division’s Home Investment Partnership Program, also
known as HOME (funded through HUD) encourages public
and private partnerships between the city and developers
by providing incentives to experienced developers.
This allows the developers to produce affordable
homeownership housing and multi-family rental housing
opportunities. Mortgages and deed restrictions are used
to ensure sustainable long-term affordability; this supports
the city’s goal of fostering the continued development
of homeownership opportunities, the rehabilitation and
construction of affordable multi-family rental properties,
and the elimination of blighted properties. In the past year,
the city has funded nearly $2 million in HOME development
projects.
Continuing with the mission of encouraging homeownership
in the city, staff also manages the Appraisal Gap Financing
Program (GAP). By creating a financial incentive for builders,
developers, and non-profits to develop owner-occupied
single and two unit residential homes, the developer is able
to fill the “gap” between what it costs to build a home and
the appraised value or sales price of that home. Low to
moderate income families are eligible to purchase homes
subsidized with GAP funding through a loan that allows
for full forgiveness after a minimum of 7 years of required
owner-occupancy. In the past year, 9 GAP-funded homes
were sold.
The Housing Division also offers financing assistance for first
time homebuyers through the HouseHartford Down Payment
Assistance Program. HouseHartford makes homeownership
attainable for many families who - without such assistance -
would not qualify for a home. Since its inception in 1996,
the program has helped more than 1,200 families become
Hartford homeowners - last year, 50 households purchased
homes in Hartford utilizing the program. Additionally,
the division oversees two programs related to the City’s
renters. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
allows eligible households of modest means to secure and
reasonably afford safe, decent and sanitary housing. Last
year the City provided assistance to 4,734 families and
individuals. Housing staff manages the Fair Rent Commission,
which protects renters from excessive rent increases. The
City retains a Fair Housing Officer who addresses structural
impediments and discriminatory practices to help ensure
that all residents have equal access to housing opportunities
in Hartford.
HOUSING STATUS
COMPLETE:
5 Constitution Plaza
193 units
179 Allyn
63 units
201 Ann Uccello
26 units
Coltsville
129 units
777 Main
286 units
ACTIVE:
3 Constitution Plaza
49 units
36 Lewis
6 units
Capewell
72 units
390 Capitol
112 units
38-42 Elm
6 units
TOTAL		 942
Housing in the Neighborhoods
543 Ann Uccello Street | After sitting vacant for decades, this endangered historic property
was purchased by the ZAACO Group for development of ground-floor restaurant space and 8
apartment units above.
900 Broad Street | This property was vacant for more than 20 years and acquired by the City
through tax foreclosure in 2013. The City sold this property to the ZAACO group this year to
restore the original ground-floor commercial uses and 14 apartment units.
Coltsville National Historical Park| Neighborhood advocates, preservationists,
Congressmen, and the City supported the designation of the Coltsville National Historic Park,
which was finalized in 2014. Development Services has been working with the National Park
Service to develop a cooperative management agreement that is necessary to officially establish
the Park in order to ensure open communication and coordination between the City and NPS.
Development Services also helps drive neighborhood development by
working to create additional housing stock and provide commercial space
in the neighborhoods through the sale of city land, conducting neighborhood
studies, or working with other agencies or organizations to realize an
opportunity for growth.
Upcoming
Development
13
Economic
Development Events + CultureSustainable
Infrastructure
Neighborhood
Development
Permitting of building and zoning applications
is a key part in any development project but
in 2012 your chance of having your permit
issued the same day was only 4%. The City
of Hartford realized that the process was
hindering development in our Capital City.
In September of 2012, DDS launched Permit
Streamlining for basic applications that
do not require an extensive plan review or
involve other agencies for approval. Since
the program has begun, the city has seen
great improvement and now we now issue an
average of 56.8% of permits applied for on
the same day they are submitted (2015).
Despite the fact that permit approval
times have improved, more could be done.
Through everyday conversations with
developers, contractors, and the community,
additional barriers to doing business in the
city were identified and it was determined
that an online permitting system would be
the ideal solution for customers and staff.
DDS selected Tyler’s EnerGov web-based
automation solutions for the online permitting
system. This system will improve accessibility
for inspectors in the field and allow applicants
to be able to submit plans and documents
for review online and receive feedback and
approvals via email. City departments and
EnerGov are working to define and create
specifications for all permits, enforcement
cases, and applications, with an anticipated
“go live” date of Fall 2015.
Further efforts to streamline the process and
make information more readily accessible
to the public includes an extensive project
to scan and index all building-related plans
and permits located in Constitution Plaza and
City Hall. To date, L&I has had more than
1.15 million documents scanned, which will all
soon be accessible online.
Permit Streamlining
For more information, please contact:
Mike Fuschi, 860.757.9226
mfuschi@hartford.gov
ZoneHartford is a project to update Hartford’s Zoning
Regulations, which regulate development and land uses
within the City. The new regulations will reflect the City’s
goals for encouraging economic development, enhancing
mixed use neighborhoods, and increasing walkability and
transit choice. While the rewrite is a citywide effort, the
project will focus on Hartford’s transportation corridors and
the surrounding areas, as these are the best locations to
encourage new, walkable development in proximity to a
variety of transit options. Additionally, these regulations will
place a larger emphasis on building form rather than solely
focusing on the separation of uses. This will help to ensure
that the built form matches the community’s vision.
The current zoning regulations date back to 1968, a time
when the focus was on creating auto-oriented development
and separation of uses was seen as the most critical concern.
Sincethen,developmentstrategieshaveshiftedtoalsoinclude
pedestrian, bicycle, and transit priorities. Additionally, there
has been an national realization that having certain retail
and commercial uses in proximity to residential uses is a smart
growth strategy. Over the last 40 years, piecemeal changes
to the zoning regulations have been made to address issues
or concerns as they arose, but now a comprehensive update
is needed to provide predictable development outcomes
in our neighborhoods and to simplify our zoning code and
development procedures.
Planning staff has spent the last year working with our
consultant, Codametrics, on the creation of the code. Much
of this time was spent understanding the existing regulations,
city and neighborhood plans, and current land use conditions.
These results were compiled into neighborhood specific
Diagnostic Reports (available online at www.zonehartford.
com). Draft regulations have since been created based on
the findings of the diagnostic reports as well as community
input meetings. This draft is currently under review by
staff, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Zoning
Advisory Group (specifically created for this project).
We anticipate rolling out the revised draft citywide with a
variety of public meetings in various locations around the
city by the end of 2015 in order to explain the code and
invite comments and questions.
ZoneHartford
For more information, please contact
Jon Mullen, 860-757-9050
mullj002@hartford.gov
Economic development creates the conditions for improved quality of life by
expanding the capacity of individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses, and our city.
Development Services focuses on creating effective, collaborative relationships
focused on advancing mutual gain for the public and the private sector.
Economic Development is essential to ensuring Hartford’s economic future.
check out the website! www.zonehartford.com
FAQs about zoning | Diagnostic Reports | Post your own ideas15 16
Permits Approved in the Month the
Application was Submitted
Economic
Development Events + CultureSustainable
Infrastructure
Neighborhood
Development
Strong Cities Strong Communities
Effective economic development requires leadership, fresh
thinking and citizen engagement. As part of the Obama
Administration’s Strong Cities Strong Communities (SC2)
Initiative, and through a competitive process, the Economic
Development Administration (EDA) selected Hartford as one
of three premiere SC2 cities – along with Las Vegas, Nevada
and Greensboro, North Carolina. The other two cities chose
to focus on specific projects and to hire a consulting firm.
Hartford chose a different path by aiming to tap creative
thought within the community.
This program is designed to strengthen local government
capacity by encouraging multidisciplinary teams to develop
innovative strategies that spur Hartford’s economic growth
and establish Hartford as the city for entrepreneurs.
The goal of the SC2 Hartford Challenge is to obtain a
detailed, feasible, and sustainable plan for the City of
Hartford that will include comprehensive strategies and
systems to attract, identify, assist and retain promising
first-time and serial entrepreneurs as they start and grow
companies, and stage II companies having the potential
to grow significantly with new techniques, innovations, and
improvements.
Hartford attracted 58 teams, 168 participants, in the first
phase. These teams submitted proposals and on December
1st, 2014, with the help of 25 interdisciplinary judges, Mayor
Pedro E. Segarra announced the ten SC2 Finalists. These
finalists would be competing for six various cash awards
totalling $800,000, with the winner receiving $500,000.
On May 29, 2015, the Mayor was joined by Jay Williams,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Senators Blumenthal
and Murphy, and Congressman Larson to congratulate the
participants and award the teams.
Hartford chose a
different path by aiming
to tap creative thought
within the community.
Top Ten Finalists:
Hartford.Health.Works: An industry led effort to create
healthcare technology development and manufacturing jobs
in Hartford.
First Place Winner - $500,000
Made at Swift: A food-driven innovation cluster to create
jobs and improve population health.
Second Place Winner - $100,000
Entrepreneur Foundation: Community bootstrapping
through entrepreneurship.
Third Place Winner - $75,000
It’s All Here: Translating talent into ownership.
Fourth Place Winner - $50,000
Hartford Rocks: Addressing Infrastructure, transportation
systems, arts and entertainment to attract and support
young entrepreneurs.
Fifth Place Winner - $50,000
Team FotoFiction: An affordable, creative, mixed-
use urban development solution.
Sixth Place Winner - $25,000
Choose Hartford: Innovative capital to grow businesses.
CJM Innovations: Fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem
for students and young professionals.
MUD Workshop: People / Culture / Connections: An
entrepreneurial ecosystem to empower Hartford’s
Community.
Solutionists: Social entrepreneurship to address high
unemployment and poverty in Hartford.
For more information, please contact
Stephen Cole 860.757.9071
coles001@hartford.gov
1st PlaceWinner Spotlight!
Hartford.Health.Works | Real Jobs through Real Innovation
HartfordandConnecticutfacesignificantdemographic
and economic challenges - an aging population, high
taxes, and competition from NY and Boston. However,
an aging population creates specific demands in the
healthcare technology development, manufacturing,
and services.
Despite the fact that many other CT industries are
in decline, healthcare jobs are growing - Hartford.
Health.Works (HHW) plans to take advantage of
this business opportunity and envisions building on
existing strengths in healthcare technology to create
biomedical companies and attract existing ones to
the city. The group’s efforts could extend into start-
ups sharing lab space and expensive equipment,
and shaping Hartford into a hub of medical device
manufacturing. HHW will make Hartford an attractive
location to start and grow a business, and thus grow
jobs for Hartford residents. Education and training
programs would also be a key component.
HHW showed great promise in the semifinal round,
taking the top award of $60,000 for continued work
in Phase II, and resulted in a partnership with Trinity
College. Trinity will work with the team to apply for
grants to help fund the program.
HHW is led by Mark Borton, owner of Rising-Tide
Health Care in Chester, CT, Beacon, a Hartford-
based medical technology trade group, and Movia
Robotics, a Hartford-based manufacturer.
17 18
Economic
Development Events + CultureSustainable
Infrastructure
Neighborhood
Development
The Northeast neighborhood, once home to a mixed-
income community with a strong manufacturing base, is an
important entry corridor into the city. In May of 2014,
Development Services began working with neighborhood
State Representative Brandon McGee to establish a new
vision for the commercial portion of Main Street, focusing
on the areas north of the Terry Square Trident to the
Windsor town line. Staff proposed a three tiered approach
to reimagine, revitalize, and reassert Main Street as a
commercial destination: 1) a comprehensive business and
residential survey to understand local business conditions; 2)
a phased streetscape improvement project extended from
the Windsor town line south to the intersections of Main and
Earle streets and Windsor Street and Boce Barlow Way;
and 3) a massing and land use vision for the Terry Square
trident area.
The business survey is the springboard to the redevelopment
and revitalization of the Northeast neighborhood. The city
retained the services of GreatBlue Research with the primary
goal of the study to identify barriers to visitation, identify
appealing aspects of a potential streetscape that would
draw visitors, and ultimately identify what is necessary to
increase the amount of business conducted in the Northeast
neighborhood.
The results show that residents are more optimistic about
the benefits of a streetscape project and the positive effect
it will have compared to business owners (78% compared
to 68%); businesses believe customers can easily find
parking compared to residents who also reported parking
issues having a negative impact on their tendency to visit
businesses (68% compared to 42%). These results and
others are being used to guide the subsequent steps of
the process (streetscape design and town center master
plan) and to uncover near-term opportunities to increase
commercial activity.
The city has progressed to the next phase of the project and
has selected VHB as the consultant for the streetscape design
and construction portion of the project. While VHB begins
works on conceptual streetscape improvement options, they
have also been asked to select a sub-consultant to begin the
visioning and massing of development along Main Street.
Hello, Parkville is an exciting new program
designed to promote all things Parkville. This
program is designed to use technology in an
innovative new way by creating a program
that rewards customers for purchasing at
local businesses.
Designated businesses are being featured
prominently on banners throughout the
Parkville area. Businesses are also featured
on the “Hello, Parkville” website and can be
found by visiting wwww.helloparkville.com as
well as the mobile app, which is Apple and
Android compatible and available at the
mobile app stores.
Utilizing smart phones and tapping into an
emerging new hardware/software, Apple’s
iBeacon technology, the program will connect
the community to the city in a first-of-it’s-kind
neighborhood development project. The goal
is to promote your favorite businesses, or as
a business owner to promote your business to
the community in and around Hartford. So
far, there are over 40 business participating
Whether it’s a landmark restaurant on Park
Street, or a new gallery showing at Real Art
Ways, this app will provide all the details
and directions to make sure the experience is
a rewarding one.
Hello, Parkville
For more information, please contact
Stephen Cole 860.757.9071
coles001@hartford.gov
North Main Redevelopment Study
For more information, please contact
Glenn Geathers 860.757.9075
ggeathers@hartford.gov
The Department was awarded a 2013 Arts Catalyze
Placemaking (ACP-3) Arts Leadership matching grant
from the States Department of Economic and Community
Development in the amount of $100,000 to support the
iConnect initiative, as well as $60,000 in matching funding
from the City of Hartford. The ACP program set out to invest
in the state’s arts-based cultural activities and infrastructure
to advance the attractiveness and competitiveness of
Connecticut cities, towns, and villages as meaningful
communities in which to live, work, learn and play.
iConnect re-imagined the retail space and capitalized on
Hartford’s creative and commercial talents. A downtown
has its strengths and weaknesses; Hartford had a thriving
and growing residential and commercial base and a vibrant
arts community but a glut of empty storefronts. The iConnect
project aimed to re-purpose those empty, street-level
commercial spaces to create temporary innovative retail
and incubation spaces inspired by the creative industry.
Thestorefrontspaces fosterconnectivityandcreativethinking
in our community, with artists and arts organizations acting
as the “innovation engine” for creative experimentation,
dialogue, exchange and performance which will ultimately
lead to economic growth.
Over 45 businesses applied to participate in the program;
15 were short listed. Through the course of the project two
permanent retail spaces were opened and have sustained.
Hartford Prints! on Pratt Street and Naturally Dogs and
Cats on Trumbull Street. Throughout the course of the
iConnect project, Hartford Denim Company had a pop-up
retail spate on Trumbull Street next to the entrance of the
XL Center. At the end of the program they decided to work
on growing their already established retail space that is
attached to their factory in Parkville.
Although the grant period for the iConnect project has closed,
there have been several iterations in planning the next round
of retail storefronts and the targeted neighborhood.
iConnect
Naturally Dogs & Cats
Hartford Prints
For more information, please contact
Lauren Varjabedian, 860-757-9045
lauren.varjabedian@hartford.gov
The grant program is designed to build jobs through the creative economy. Hartford-
based artists and small businesses apply to recieve a portion of the $100,000
federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, a job creation and
economic stimulus initiative. This past year, 15 recipients were awarded for art-
based businesses ranging from photography to music composition to fashion design.
Business Development Grants
For more information, please contact
Andres Chaparro, 860-757-4895
achaparro@hartford.gov
19
Economic
Development Events + CultureSustainable
Infrastructure
Neighborhood
Development
is compact, the pedestrian links to existing assets are often
weak; the plan focuses on strengthening the links through
physical and programmatic improvements to the pedestrian
network, including parks, plazas, streets, and sidewalks.
The Intermodal Triangle has since become a reality in
Downtown Hartford with enhanced bus stop facilities,
improved bus stop locations and bus routing, road
improvements including road diets and one to two-way
conversions, transit signal priority for buses on designated
roads, landscaping, and improved wayfinding signage and
lighting.
This year, the City of Hartford, led by the Department of
Development Services, applied for a $20.7 million TIGER VII
grant for the North-South Neighborhood Intermodal Project,
which is estimated to cost approximately $53.5 million that
wouldbeamixofcity,stateandotherfederalfundingsources.
This project is the missing link, it will connect economically
distressed neighborhoods immediately north and south
of downtown - including the recently designated North
Hartford Promise Zone - to all of our recent transportation
successes. This grant would bring bus shelters, real time bus
information, bike lanes and pedestrian improvements to the
US 44/Albany Avenue corridor and extend these concepts
through downtown, connecting CTfastrak with our south
end neighborhoods, the Coltsville National Historic Park,
and employment opportunities at major employers along
the project corridor. The US Department of Transportation
is currently reviewing all proposals and decisions are
expected later this year. Construction for the current TIGER
project will be complete fall 2015.
For more information, please contact
Michael Looney, 860.757.9010
michael.looney@hartford.gov
Three years ago, Downtown Hartford was expecting a
variety of upcoming transportation improvements including
improvements to Union Station, future commuter rail services
to New Haven and Springfield, and construction for CTfastrak
that was about to begin. However, in the face of these
exciting future prospects, the city needed to contend with an
existing transportation network that was not well integrated
into its urban fabric. These conditions were exacerbated by
an image of transit that did not attract riders.
In 2012, the City of Hartford applied for a TIGER IV
transportation grant to strengthen the region’s economic
and employment core through intermodal connections –
pedestrian, bicycle, taxi, bus, and rail. The goal was to
address the city’s challenges with practical, immediate, and
effective transit improvements to the urban core, focusing
on the area between Union Station and Main Street. The
proposal included a reworking of the local bus network and
called for the creation of transportation hubs, transit priority
streets, complete streets, and the realization of the recently
completed iQuilt Plan.
The City was awarded $13.5 million to complete the $21.1
million project, known as the Intermodal Triangle, which
focused on four main elements: improvements around Union
Station to reinforce the station’s role as a regional intermodal
hub, creation of Bushnell Park North as a complete street,
creation of Asylum and Pearl as transit priority streets, and
improvements to Main Street with a focus on public transit.
Much of the Intermodal Triangle project was built on the
foundations of the iQuilt Plan (2010-2012). The iQuilt Plan
is an exciting urban design strategy for walkability and
creative placemaking, focused on strengthening the links
between Downtown’s extraordinary concentration of arts,
cultural and landscape assets. While Downtown Hartford
Intermodal Triangle
Streetscape Improvement Projects:
Approx. Number of Linear Feet Improved:
North Main St.
5,500’
Albany Ave.
18,000’
bike lanes
Woodland St.
850’
bike lanes
Wethersfield Ave.
1,400’
bike lanes
Bedford St.
870’
bike lanes
iQuilt
Plazas create
pedestrian connections.
TIGER VII includes gateway
intersection realignments. Improved public transit amenities.
The Intermodal Triangle creates a pedestrian friendly
experience along the historic Bushnell Park.
Overview of
Intermodal
Triangle.
Heat map shows city’s busiest
public transit corridors.
21 22
Economic
Development Events + CultureSustainable
Infrastructure
Neighborhood
Development
In 2014 the City completed the Capital City Parks Guide
which seeks to reposition the parks system as the connected
network of high quality, diverse parks that was always
envisioned. A connected “ring of parks” is part of the historic
park vision and is also critical to contemporary walkability
and equitable access. The guide focuses on ways to connect
the parks and the city, prioritize investments, and reduce
maintenance burdens. The guide recommends physical
design ideas (taking into consideration past plans) and also
proposes strategies to foster partnerships and stewards of
the system, generate revenue and govern and sustain the
plan and parks system, all with the goal of achieving more
successes amid constrained resources.
The plan is a framework as to how to move forward
and emphasizes short and long terms solutions to restore
the park system’s legacy, create a connected system, and
enhance the network of parks in order to serve all parts of
the community. Several recommendations from the guide
include incrementally increasing park maintenance staff,
implementation of design choices that decrease maintenance
burdens, identifying and increasing revenue generation
particularly in our larger “identify” parks, and emphasizing
appropriate behavior by park users, for example: better
behaviors to reduce the amount of litter in our parks, which
can have a significant effect on maintenance costs.
Development Services is working with the Parks and
Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) to adopt this plan
and create prioritized implementation recommendations
to provide to the Department of Public Works for next
year’s Capital Improvement Program. Additionally, DPW
has begun to implement some of the recommendations by
identifying “low-mow” areas to save time on maintenance
and has also selected a sign design company to create a
park brand and unified park signage with positive messages
to reinforce good behavior.
Capital City Parks Guide
Hartford park employees
maintain more park acres with
less money than comparably
sized cities.
For more information, please contact
Caitlin Palmer, 860-757-9083
caitlin.palmer@hartford.gov
The purpose of the I-84 Hartford Project is to address
the highway’s structural deficiencies, traffic flow and
safety problems, while maintaining access for the City of
Hartford and adjacent communities. At the same time, the
I-84 Hartford Project will strive to reduce the highway’s
adverse impact and footprint on the city, while integrating
it more closely into the regional multimodal and interstate
transportation system, both existing and planned.
The redesign will also consider the city’s economic
development and urban design goals, as such Development
Services has been involved as a member of the Public
Advisory Committee (PAC) from the beginning. The PAC was
formed to help steer the project throughout the long process
of planning, design, and construction and is instrumental in
helping CTDOT develop a project solution that achieves
wide consensus and will benefit the city as well as the region
and state.
Design alternatives are still being explored, for more
information on how to be involved please visit www.
i84hartford.com/get-involved. Construction is expected to
begin in 2020.
I-84 Project
Earlier this year, the City of Hartford joined more than
180 cities across the nation, including multiple Connecticut
municipalities, in a challenge issued by U.S. Transportation
Secretary Anthony Foxx to make our streets safer and
more convenient for pedestrians and bicyclists over the next
year. This challenge commits mayors and elected officials
to improve walking and bike safety through various methods
including identification of barriers, tracking bicycling data,
incorporation of bicycle facilities in transportation projects,
and strengthening safety laws and regulations.
Particularly in Hartford, safe and accessible transportation
networks are vitally important as approximately 35% of
our city’s population does not own an automobile. Creating
and improving the bicycle and pedestrian network will
also encourage more commuter and recreation use of the
network, having a positive effect on our city’s health.
The “Safer People, Safer Streets” challenge also aims to
reverse a rise in pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. Data from
U.S. Department of Transportation show that pedestrian and
bicycle injuries and fatalities have increased since 2009. In
a recent study conducted by the Capitol Region Council of
Governments (CRCOG), between 1995 and 2010, bicyclist
and pedestrian crashes represented less than three percent
of all crashes; however, these crashes represented more
than 17 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Development Services is leading this effort and has gathered
a diverse group of transportation and bicycle/pedestrian
organizations - CTDOT, the Capital Region Council of
Governments, DPW, HPD, Transport Hartford, Bike/Walk
CT, and members of the community - to identify and work to
implement transportation safety measures.
The City of Hartford needs to make their commitment clear
that bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users deserve greater
priority when planning transportation projects, as such this
action team is currently working on drafting a Complete
Streets Policy for the city. The team will also be identifying
priority roads for bike lanes (building off of the Capital
City Parks Guide), applying to become a Bike Friendly
Community with the League of American Bicyclists, and
identifying locations through the city for bicycle facilities.
Safer People, Safer Streets Challenge
For more information, please contact
Caitlin Palmer, 860-757-9083
caitlin.palmer@hartford.gov
Between 1995-2010, bicyclist and
pedestrian crashes represented
< 3% of all crashes
These crashes represented >17%
of all traffic fatalities.BUT
Complete Streets is a nationwide
movement to integrate people
and place into the planning,
design, construction, operation,
and maintenance of our
transportation networks.
For more information, please contact
Thomas E. Deller, AICP 860-757-9076
tdeller@hartford.gov
23 24
Economic
Development Events + CultureSustainable
Infrastructure
Neighborhood
Development
Connecticut’s Capitol City of Hartford has been chosen as
the starting point for “Fireball Run: Space Race,” a trivia-
themed race from Hartford to Florida’s Space Coast that
will be recorded in real time and streamed online. The
series is in its ninth season and is viewed by over 1.7 million
people worldwide.
Hartford’s team the Hartford Hog River Riders will be led
by Jamie McDonald, owner of Bears Smokehouse and Win
Latif whose family owns Tangiers. Both are businesses that
recently relocated to be in Hartford. Our team will be
driving Jamie’s ex-military M925 5 ton transport truck,
equipped with working meat smoker on the back, which also
happens to be the biggest vehicle to be driven on Fireball
Run to date. They will be competing against four teams
of international astronauts, as well as teams of television
celebrities, business owners, senior level executives, industry
celebrities and elected officials. Contestants will race in
vehicles of their choice, which can be anything from exotic
sports cars to everyday sedans.
Among the astronauts who are participating are Capt. Jon
McBride, a retired NASA astronaut; Lt. Col. Marcos Pontes,
Brazil’s first astronaut; Cmdr. Rakesh Sharma, India’s first
astronaut; and Gen. Jean-Loup Chretien, a former French
astronaut.
Live recording begins September 26, 2015 at Bushnell Park
where nearly $30 million worth in automobiles, including
some of those competing in the race, will be on display. The
race kicks off September 27, 2015 in Hartford and ends
October 3, 2015 at Cocoa Beach, Florida
While competing against one another, show participants
will also raise awareness for America’s missing children.
The series has aided in the recovery of 44 missing children
for the Child Rescue Network, a Florida-based nonprofit.
The Hartford Hog River Riders will be advocating in the
recovery of Bianca Lebron of Bridgeport CT.
Fireball Run: Space Race” premieres June 2016. The series
is available on NETFLIX, GooglePlay, Roku, AmazonfireTV,
SmartTV, NEO-TV, and Chromecast. Past seasons and
episodes are available online at www.fireballrun.com.
Fireball Run
“... participants will also
raise awareness for America’s
missing children. The series
has aided in the recovery of 44
missing children...”
The “Outside The Box” program, coordinated by MECA and
the city’s Livable Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative is
geared towards the recognition and celebration of regional
artists. Through this program, artists are asked to paint
City of Hartford utility boxes with original designs. The
location of the utility boxes was identified by MECA and
were painted by 16 local artists in order to contribute to
the vitality and attractiveness of the urban streetscape and
deter graffiti. MECA is currently exploring opportunities to
expand this program into other neighborhoods.
Outside the Box
The 2014/2015 Winterfest Season ran from November
28th 2014 through to February 2nd 2015. This event, which
offers ice skating that is free and open to the public, is a
highlight in Hartford during the cold winter months. With
over 100,000 ice skaters, over 800 pictures with Santa and
over 150 participants in the Learn to Skate program. There
were also event days where various local team mascots
along with team members came down to skate with the
public. Next year the City of Hartford along with the iQuilt
Partnership and Champion Skating is looking to increase the
rink size as well as include more events and activities for
both on and off the ice.
Winterfest
The MECA Community Arts Grant provides financial assistance to support free
arts and cultural related programs throughout the capital city, awarding a
maximum of $1,500 to each program. The grant is designed to provide support
toward artist fees and other artist expenses related to art & culturally enriching
activities taking place in the capital city and serving Hartford residents. Eligible
artists and organizations must be Hartford-based and proposals may involve
visual, performing, literary, or media arts. This past year we awarded a total of
more than $9,500 to ten deserving programs.
Community Arts Grants
For more information, please contact
Kejuan Dillard, 860-757-9526
dillk001@hartford.gov
For four years now, the City of Hartford has hosted free
movies in Hartford’s parks with great success. The MECA
division coordinates the program and this year began the
process in early February to allow the public to weigh in on
which movies would be selected. Much coordination occurs
between the public survey and the showing - special care
is required by the filming industry that places limitations on
what movies can be shown when, therefore MECA works
hard to ensure that a variety of genre’s and interests are
represented in parks across the city. Some of the best
attended movies shown have included Ferris Bueller’s Day
Off, A League of their Own, Annie, and Rocky Horror
Picture Show. Movies in the Park is one of the most beloved
programs offered by the city - free and family friendly and
coming to a neighborhood near you!
Movies in the Park
For more information, please contact
Lauren Varjabedian, 860-707-3258
lauren.varjabedian@hartford.gov
For more information, please contact
Andres Chaparro, 860-757-4895
achaparro@hartford.gov
For more information, please contact
Andres Chaparro, 860-757-4895
achaparro@hartford.gov
For more information, please contact
Andres Chaparro, 860-757-4895
achaparro@hartford.gov
25 26
Open Studio, a CAG recipient.
Economic
Development Events + CultureSustainable
Infrastructure
Neighborhood
Development
COVER, IMAGE
TSM DESIGN
COVER, DESIGN
CAITLIN PALMER
P. I., FIREWORKS
ANDY HART
P. 1, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
TSM DESIGN
P. 3, PRATT STREET
JOSE RODRIGUEZ
P. 4, TRUMBULL KITCHEN
CAITLIN PALMER
P. 4, HEAVEN SKATEPARK
UTILE
P. 5, MECA
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/
HARTFORDMECA
P. 6, L&I
CAITLIN PALMER
P. 7, HOUSING
JOSE RODRIGUEZ
P. 8, ADMINISTRATION
CAITLIN PALMER
P. 9, 777, PRATT STREET, TIGER
IMPROVEMENTS
CAITLIN PALMER
FIREWORKS
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/
HARTFORDMECA
P. 11, BALLPARK
PENDULUM
P. 12, RENDERINGS
UDA/CENTERPLAN
SUBMISSION TO THE CITY
P. 14, 543 ANN UCCELLO
GOOGLE STREETVIEW
ZAACO/JONATHAN CLARK
P. 14, 900 BROAD
GOOGLE STREETVIEW
ZAACO/JONATHAN CLARK
P. 14, COLT BUILDING
AL BRADEN
P. 14, COLTSVILLE MAP
WES RAND, WWW.COURANT.
COM
P. 15, ZONEHARTFORD
LESLIE OBERHOLTZER/
CAITLIN PALMER
P. 17, SC2
TSM DESIGN
Image Credits
P. 19, HELLO, PARKVILLE
WWW.HELLOPARKVILLE.COM
P. 20, ICONNECT
NICK CATO PHOTOGRAPHY
P. 20, BROTHERS CRISP
WWW.THENUTMEG
COLLECTIVE.BLOGSPOT.
COM/2015/04/LOCAL-LOVE-
BROTHERS-CRISP.HTML
P. 21, IQUILT
WWW.THEIQUILTPLAN.ORG
P. 21, PEDESTRIAN PLAZA
CAITLIN PALMER
P. 21-22, BUSHNELL PARK
BETA
P. 21, REALIGNED GATEWAY
DN/DW MASTER PLAN (UTILE)
P. 22, PUBLIC TRANSIT
TIGER VII APPLICATION
P. 22, INTERMODAL OVERVIEW
TIGER IV APPLICATION
P. 22, TRANSIT HEAT MAP
NELSON/NYGAARD
CONSULTING ASSOCIATES
P. 24, COMPLETE STREETS
WWW.BOSTON
COMPLETESTEETS.ORG
P. 25, WINTERFEST
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/
THEIQUILTPLAN
P. 25, MOVIES IN THE PARK
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/
HARTFORDMECA
P. 25, OUTSIDE THE BOX
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/
HARTFORDMECA
P. 26, FIREBALL RUN
WWW.FIREBALLRUN.COM
P. 26, OPEN STUDIO
WWW.OPENSTUDIO
HARTFORD.COM
PG. 27-28, TRAVELERS
CAITLIN PALMHER
SPECIAL THANKS TO
CAITLIN PALMER + LAUREN
VARJABEDIAN FOR THE
CREATION OF THIS YEAR’S
ANNUAL REPORT.
27 28
Dept Dev Serv City of Hartford Annual Report

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Dept Dev Serv City of Hartford Annual Report

  • 1.
  • 2. Table of Contents want to stay in the know?... Connect with us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ HartfordDevelopmentServices Follow us on Twitter @COHecodev Check us out on the Web https://www.hartford.gov/ development-services Want to join our email list? Receive notifications about city events, public meetings, commission meetings and agenda items, and more. Join our Listserv Email your address to DevelopmentServices@ hartford.gov Overview Development Services Economic Development Planning Marketing, Events, and Cultural Affairs License & Inspections Housing Administration Development Services Projects Development At a Glance Neighborhood Development Downtown North Redevelopment Housing in the Neighborhoods Upcoming Development Overview Economic Development ZoneHartford Permit Streamlining SC2 Hello Parkville North Main Redevelopment Study iConnect Business Development Grants Sustainable Infrastructure Intermodal Triangle Capital Parks Guide I-84 Project Safer People, Safer Streets Events and Culture Winterfest Movies in the Park Outside the Box Fireball Run Community Arts Grants 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 19 19 20 20 21 23 23 24 25 25 25 26 26 i. ii.
  • 3. “complete streets” policies, which are funded through our capital improvement program. Implement the Downtown transportation project, such as the Intermodal Triangle, which is funded by a $21 million federal grant, to create improved east/west connections in the Downtown to our regional transportation hub. Improve the permit process so that it is easier to navigate, more predictable, and faster for residents and developers. Work to improve the operational efficiency of the department in order to better achieve the above goals. We will continue to work in the coming year on taking advantage of grant opportunities that are occurring at the State and Federal level. Such grants would be able to afford us the opportunity to continue accomplishing the above mentioned goals that focus on housing, transportation, and small business development. In continuing improvements on our roads, and by working to prioritize walking and bicycling as alternative modes of transportation we are able to emphasize the cultural institutions that have become corner stones in many of our neighborhoods. When we highlight the hidden gems of our City, we are not just enriching the lives of those who visit, but to those who live here as well. The department has several projects underway, all at different stages of completion, and this Annual Report highlights many of the accomplishments of the previous year as well as ongoing efforts. The goal of these initiatives is to improve City life through neighborhood outreach and development, encouraging economic growth, and creating and sustaining jobs. Additionally, by maintaining an environment attractive to residents, visitors, and businesses, the Development Services Department hopes to facilitate meaningful experiences for all in the City of Hartford. Development and economic growth is an iterative process - one that involves city leaders and the community. We look forward to working with you to optimize Hartford’s potential. For more information, please contact: Thomas E. Deller, AICP Director of Department of Development Services 250 Constitution Plaza, 4th Floor Hartford, CT 06103 (860)757-9076 tdeller@hartford.gov Development Services The Department of Development Services oversees development for the City of Hartford, under the direction of Thomas E. Deller, AICP, with attention to the goals of Mayor Pedro E. Segarra and the needs of city residents. The six divisions of this department work together to create and maintain a livable environment for citizens by developing strong residential neighborhoods, vibrant commercial areas, and bringing businesses and jobs to the city. The role of Development Services is to plan and foster city growth, and to take the steps necessary to achieve our vision. Additionally, we work to address the economic and quality of life needs of residents and businesses. The divisions also work to improve the quality of life for residents in and outside of the home, by monitoring building safety, providing safe and appealing public spaces, supporting businesses, increasing job opportunities, and fostering public arts and events. The six divisions include: Administration and Finance; Economic Development; Licenses and Inspections; Housing; Planning; and Marketing, Events, and Cultural Affairs. Development Services is working to: Implement One City, One Plan through state and federal grants, the Livable and Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative (LSNI), and the iQuilt plan in order to support both local businesses and residents. Provide the best resources to neighborhoods based on their Strategic Plans for development and the needs of their community through all six divisions and LSNI. Develop strategies to increase homeownership and affordable housing opportunities for residents by identifying accessible resources through the City, improving and preserving existing housing, and creating a mix of housing options throughout the City. Promote entrepreneurship through Small Business and Corporate Programs by developing meaningful relationships with businesses and accessing resources on the state and federal levels to encourage growth and sustain startups. Work with the Department of Public Works in order to complete neighborhood streetscape projects, and utilize Our mission is to improve the quality of life by activating public spaces, maintaining building safety, increasing and supporting home ownership, cultivating a business- friendly environment, growing the tax base, boosting job availability and retention, and bringing public arts and events to the residents and guests of Hartford. Every day we work with the people of Hartford to make this a great city; a vibrant city where innovation and creativity is promoted, a livable city where all have great housing choice and job opportunity, a sustainable city where one can enjoy both the built and natural environment. Thomas E. Deller,, AICP, Director of Development Services 1 Creating a vibrant, livable, and sustainable city. 1 2
  • 4. Economic Development The goals of the Economic Development Division are to grow and attract businesses, provide technical assistance to businesses, aid applicants in navigating the permit process, provide access to available tax credits and incentives for businesses, and assist in site selection for businesses. The division continually works to transfer City-owned properties into tax- generating assets via private investment, managing and maintaining city-owned properties, monitoring lease agreements for such properties, monitoring the State of Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) grant for the Park Street Streetscape Improvements, and pursue new brownfield remediation grant opportunities. Currently, the division is managing brownfield remediation grants for nine sites, totalling over $3.6 million in DECD and US EPA funding. Additionally, staff manages our city’s Facade Improvement Program which typically includes renovated entrances, new signage, lighting, masonry repairs in order to enhance historic character and remediate blight. Staff has worked with property owners to complete 20 facade projects in Hartford, investing over $300,000 in improvements. The team also works with Spanish American Merchant Association (SAMA) to administer the $4.7 million grant awarded from the State of Connecticut for facade and safety improvements along the Park Street and Upper Albany corridors. For more information, please contact: Stephen Cole (860)757-9071 coles001@hartford.gov Brownfield Site - real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Stephen Cole Division Director Deborah Davis Facade Project Manager Mayra Ghaffar Administrative Assistant Jose Rodriguez Project Manager Vanessa Williams Project Manager Michael Looney Director of Projects Glenn Geathers Project Manager Elisa Hobbs Project Manager Don Chapman Principal Planner Jeffery Cormier Chief Staff Planner Lynda Crespo Administrative Assistant Jonathan Mullen Principal Planner Caitlin Palmer Senior Planner Planning Through their day-to-day responsibilities, this division carries out the five goals of the city’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), which guides and drives development in the City. The five goals are: promote livable and sustainable neighborhoods; protect the city’s natural and built environments; enhance mobility through transit, pedestrian, and bike systems city wide; advance downtown’s role as the region’s center for commerce, culture and city living; and promote and encourage the integration of sustainable practices. All of the planning division’s projects advance one or more of these goals and in the past year have included: a form- based rewrite of our zoning regulations through the ZoneHartford project; a Capital City Parks Guide to protect, improve, and better connect our city’s parks; transportation improvements as part of the Intermodal Triangle; a master visioning plan for the redevelopment of Downtown North and Downtown West; and revisions to the zoning regulations to incorporatebicycleparkingrequirements, urban farming provisions, and encourage low-impact development principles. The Planning Division is also actively engaged with neighborhood revitalization committees (NRZs), community groups, business associations, and civic associations in all of Hartford’s seventeen neighborhoods. Staff attends monthly neighborhood meetings and assist them as needed by creating reports, plans, maps, and documents that address the distinct needs of each neighborhood. The staff of the planning division also supports several boards and commissions including the Planning and Zoning Commission, Inland Wetlands Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Historic Properties Commission, and the Historic Preservation Commission. For more information, please contact: Don Chapman (860)757-9048 chapd001@hartford.gov Jonathan Mullen (860)757-9050 mullj002@hartford.gov Caitlin Palmer (860)757-9083 caitlin.palmer@hartford.gov The Planning Division creates short and long-term planning solutions that establish neighborhood-city connections. Staff also works with developers,residents, business owners,and various commissions to develop the city,engaging the community in the process.The Economic Development Division has the tools and relationships necessary to support businesses of all sizes. Staff works with commercial services firms, industrial companies, real estate professionals, and retailers in order to provide the best resources for projects and create job opportunities for residents. 3 4
  • 5. Licenses & Inspection The Licenses and Inspection Division (L&I) is responsible for inspecting new construction and building renovations in compliance with the Connecticut State Building Code for proper construction, installation, use of appropriate materials, and the location, operation, maintenance and use of equipment and systems involved in site construction. L&I is also responsible for enforcing the City of Hartford Zoning Regulations and Housing Code as well as landlord registration. Staff also serves as the general licensing agency for the city and as such they accept applications and issue licenses for a variety of specific uses including pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers, laundromats, merchandise vending, peddling, and more. By coordinating the efforts of various state and local government officials, we ensure that licensing and construction for developments within the city are possible, efficient but also safe and consistent. For more information, please contact: Daniel Loos (860)757-9235 loosd001@hartford.gov The Licenses and Inspection Division ensures the health and safety of the public through the approval and continual monitoring of the City’s residential, industrial and commercial structures. Marketing,Events &CulturalAffairs Arts and events provide a way for residents and visitors to connect with each other and with the City. MECA strives to enhance the quality of life in the Capital City on more than just an economic or infrastructural level by creating and supporting meaningful experiences that motivate residents and tourism. To promote and encourage continued excellence in arts and culture, MECA’s goal is to work with local artists and cultural organizations to provide a variety of opportunities throughout the community - in all of our neighborhoods - everything from museums, public art, gallery exhibits, theaters, music festivals, free movies in the parks, and more. According to the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s most recent survey, it is estimated that more than 4 million people attend events in the Greater Hartford area each year. MECA will be assisting with the development of a culture and tourism plan for the city to establish a unified vision, which will ultimately increase tourism and attract new residents - generating economic growth for the city and promoting the city’s brand for being a welcoming community. The staff also facilitates and approves events within Hartford through our involvement in the Special Event permitting process. We approve on average 145 events per year ranging from small public gatherings to large- scale parades and park events, with an average attendance of 3,500. The City, through MECA, partners with the Greater Hartford Arts Council (GHAC) to fund the Hartford Arts & Heritage Jobs Grants. These grants support cultural programming that generates local business, creates and preserves job opportunities and impacts tourism - using arts and heritage projects as the economic engine to drive activity in the City. Within the last 4 years the City has contributed one million dollars to this effort. For more information, please contact: Stephen Cole (860)757-9071 coles001@hartford.gov Stephen Cole Interim Division Director Andres Chaparro Principal Analyst Kejuan Dillard Special Events Coordinator Lauren Varjabedian Marketing + Cultural Specialist The Marketing, Events, and Cultural Affairs Division (MECA) enhances city life through the facilitation and promotion of events that provide meaningful experiences for Hartford residents and guests. Daniel J. Loos, MCP Division Director Elisha Barrows Housing Inspector William Bette Building Plans Examiner Darlene Childs Housing Code Enforcement John Collins Building Plans Examiner Domenic D’Angelo Inspector II Alvin Ellison Inspector II Gustavo Espinoza Sr. Project Manager Michael Fuschi Chief of Bldg. & Trades Michael Gompper Inspector II Shawn Holloway Housing Inspector Monir Ighani Mechanical Engineer Kieran Kilkenny Inspector II Michael Landry Inspector II - LSNI Rochelle Little Housing Inspector Patrick Looney Inspector II Nancy Marrero Administrative Assistant Tammy McBride Zoning Assistant Kionna Owens-Osayande Zoning Assistant Scott Peszko Inspector II Dajemi Rodriguez Administrative Clerk Tadeus Rogalla Inspector II - LSNI Albi Sako Housing Inspector Alexander Samboy Housing Inspector Amara Shabazz Administrative Assistant John Stafford Inspector II - LSNI Angella Stevens Administrative Assistant David Viens Inspector II Michelle Webber Administrative Assistant Malachai Williams Sealer Weights & Measures 5 6
  • 6. Administration & Finance The Administration Division oversees the Department’s day-to-day operations. The division ensures that the Department of Development Services has the internal resources and support necessary to function efficiently and effectively. The division works collaboratively to ensure that the Department receives services in the areas of personnel and budget management, purchasing of goods and services, and office supplies. The administrative staff is often the first point of contact for the public - whether greeting members of the community at our front desks at 250 and 260 Constitution Plaza or answering questions via phone or email - in each of their respective divisions. This role is vital to ensuring that the public receives optimal and efficient service. Every year, the Administration Division manages the annual capital improvement budget (CIP), as well as grant funded and general fund budgets. This year, the division also initiated department-wide standard operating procedures, these are necessary to create a uniform system that will reduce the time it takes to get applications, invoices, contracts, etc. through the process - from submission to approval. For more information, please contact: Dr. Elda Sinani, LL.M. (860)757-9275 sinae001@hartford.gov This role is vital to ensuring that public receives optimal and efficient service. Dr. Elda Sinani Director of Administration Rachel Agosto Administrative Assistant (Housing) Lynda Crespo Administrative Assistant (Planning) Mayra Ghaffar Administrative Assistant (Economic Development) Dajemi Rodriguez Administrative Assistant (Licenses & Inspection) Housing TheHousingDivisionfocusesoncreatingan environment conducive to the development and maintenance of affordable and market rate homeownership and rental housing for current and future Hartford residents. The City utilizes existing and leveraged resources as it partners with homeowners, developers, community- based organizations, local contractors, lenders and housing professionals to create a growing number of efficient and successful housing outcomes. The division administers a number of accessible programs and initiatives - providing down payment assistance to prospective buyers, rehabilitating Hartford’s existing housing stock, providing rental assistance to residents, and building new residential units - the activity spearheaded by the Housing Division is crucial in promoting economic activity, stable neighborhoods, and an improved tax base. By working diligently to create housing choices for a diverse and mixed income demographic, the division helps to ensure that Hartford continues to be a vibrant Capital City. For more information, please contact: Brian Mathews (860)757-9031 mathb001@hartford.gov Brian Mathews Division Director Rachel Agosto Administrative Assistant Celina Caez Program Supervisor Luan Ceka Rehabilitation Specialist Tonja Nelson Program Supervisor Thomas Rotchford Rehabilitation Specialist Claude Trapp Senior Project Manager The Housing Division seeks to improve neighborhoods by creating affordable homeownership and rental opportunities.The Division is committed to improving the City’s existing housing stock. The Administration Division strives to make a difference by providing the best support for the Department of Development Services by serving as custodians of the department’s financial, office and human resource needs. HPLF Public Info Sessions Information sessions are held at 250 Constitution Plaza, 4th Floor Wednesdays: 5:15pm | Thursdays: 12:00 - 1:30pm Not sure who to talk to at Development Services? Our main desk receptionist is happy to help, please call (860)757-9040 > $20 million spent making a difference in our neighborhoods 7 8
  • 7. Development Services Projects 2 Business Development at a Glance Neighborhood Development Economic Development Sustainable Infrastructure Events + Culture Development Services assists corporations by identifying commercial spaces, helping to navigate the process, and encouraging them to locate and grow in Hartford. This past year staff helped businesses that created 1,000 new jobs, retained 350 jobs, and helped locate businesses in nearly 500K square feet of commercial space. Additionally, during the past year, staff assisted small businesses to create 65 new jobs and helped to retain 100 jobs. Staff’s knowledge of available commercial space and familiarity with the city is key in connecting the services and amenities of small businesses to the needs of the neighborhoods. 9 10
  • 8. Neighborhood development is a key aspect of the day-to-day activities of Development Services. Economic development, planning, housing, and administration divisions all play a role in selling, rehabilitating, and approving neighborhood development projects. While much attention right now is focused on development in Downtown Hartford, Development Services is also concentrating efforts on projects throughout the city. The area known as Downtown North was cut off from the Downtown in the 1960’s by the creation of I-84, was separated from the Connecticut River to the east by I-91, and is separated from adjacent residential areas to the northwest by the Amtrak main line. Urban renewal activities further contributed to the area’s decline by demolishing dilapidated structures but failing to replace them with anything besides surface parking. Since that time, the area has been characterized by swaths of vacant land and little new development. In 2012, the Department of Development Services managed the RFP for the Downtown North/Downtown West Master Plan (DN/DW) to create a master-planned district. This plan included a market analysis, development of design concepts, and the creation of design standards. The goal of the plan was to create a framework that would be founded on implementable projects, based on market and development realities, and create a vision for long-term development. As part of DN/DW plan DDS also conducted a marketing campaign to highlight the results and the development possibilities that were identified. Also at this time, Hartford began to attract the interest of the New Britain Rock Cats as a potential location for a much-needed new stadium for their Double A minor league baseball team. The City decided to release an RFP - not just for the construction of a ballpark - but for the creation of a neighborhood that would no longer represent the “edge” of something but the bustling hub of a gateway neighborhood. In August 2014 the city selected Centerplan Companies LLC as the developer. Later that year, the developer submitted plans for the full project area to DDS for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Construction of the ballpark began in February 2015 with a completion date of March 2016. Downtown North Redevelopment “The DN/DW plan creates a framework that is founded on implementable projects and builds a vision for long-term development.” “This area will no longer represent the ‘edge’ of something, but the bustling hub of a gateway neighborhood.” Architect’s rendering of the ballpark. Ballpark • 6,000 seats ($6 general admission); total capacity 9,000 • 71 games per year; year round use encouraged through other events • team name The Hartford Yard Goats • over 3,700 square feet of retail space • stadium named Dunkin’ Donuts Park • contract signed with city is a public-private partnership guaranteed to exceed many minimum city standards on local hires, minority/women-owned businesses, and local sourcing Ballpark Sparks Development Grocery Store + Other Retail • full service grocery store to fill current amenity gap • over 50,000 square feet • serving downtown residents, employees, and surrounding neighborhoods • 43,000 square feet of restaurant/brewery space • approx. 75,000 square feet of additional retail space (excluding ballpark and grocery) on other parcels Housing • 900+ residential units planned in Downtown North • potential to create downtown homeownership opportunities as well as affordable housing • mix of studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, and 3 bedroom townhomes • ADA accessible apartments available • parking provided onsite in structures Streetscapes + Parking • over 1,600 new parking spaces, mostly in structures • bike parking required for stadium at rate of 1% of total seats, developer providing 100 spaces • bike parking provided throughout development • emphasis on pedestrian throughout development with addition of street trees, design considerations, and pedestrian and transit amenities Economic Development Events + CultureSustainable Infrastructure Neighborhood Development For more information, please contact Michael Looney, 860.757.9010 michael.looney@hartford.gov 12
  • 9. The Housing Division administers programs which are vital to the development and preservation of our residential neighborhoods.Theoldestandmostsuccessful program is the Housing Preservation Loan Fund (HPLF). HPLF is a revolving loan fund program that is designed to help low to moderate income households repair their properties and supports efforts to beautify and improve neighborhoods. The program is funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). In the last year HPLF has assisted homeowners in improving 73 residential units through blight remediation, lead hazard stabilization, code violation correction, energy efficiency improvements andgeneralhomeimprovements. TheHousing Division has a strong partnership with the city’s Livable & Sustainable Neighborhood Initiative (LSNI) to help eliminate residential blight. This collaboration between the two divisions has allowed for the completion of 17 anti-blight remediation projects in the past year. The division’s Home Investment Partnership Program, also known as HOME (funded through HUD) encourages public and private partnerships between the city and developers by providing incentives to experienced developers. This allows the developers to produce affordable homeownership housing and multi-family rental housing opportunities. Mortgages and deed restrictions are used to ensure sustainable long-term affordability; this supports the city’s goal of fostering the continued development of homeownership opportunities, the rehabilitation and construction of affordable multi-family rental properties, and the elimination of blighted properties. In the past year, the city has funded nearly $2 million in HOME development projects. Continuing with the mission of encouraging homeownership in the city, staff also manages the Appraisal Gap Financing Program (GAP). By creating a financial incentive for builders, developers, and non-profits to develop owner-occupied single and two unit residential homes, the developer is able to fill the “gap” between what it costs to build a home and the appraised value or sales price of that home. Low to moderate income families are eligible to purchase homes subsidized with GAP funding through a loan that allows for full forgiveness after a minimum of 7 years of required owner-occupancy. In the past year, 9 GAP-funded homes were sold. The Housing Division also offers financing assistance for first time homebuyers through the HouseHartford Down Payment Assistance Program. HouseHartford makes homeownership attainable for many families who - without such assistance - would not qualify for a home. Since its inception in 1996, the program has helped more than 1,200 families become Hartford homeowners - last year, 50 households purchased homes in Hartford utilizing the program. Additionally, the division oversees two programs related to the City’s renters. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program allows eligible households of modest means to secure and reasonably afford safe, decent and sanitary housing. Last year the City provided assistance to 4,734 families and individuals. Housing staff manages the Fair Rent Commission, which protects renters from excessive rent increases. The City retains a Fair Housing Officer who addresses structural impediments and discriminatory practices to help ensure that all residents have equal access to housing opportunities in Hartford. HOUSING STATUS COMPLETE: 5 Constitution Plaza 193 units 179 Allyn 63 units 201 Ann Uccello 26 units Coltsville 129 units 777 Main 286 units ACTIVE: 3 Constitution Plaza 49 units 36 Lewis 6 units Capewell 72 units 390 Capitol 112 units 38-42 Elm 6 units TOTAL 942 Housing in the Neighborhoods 543 Ann Uccello Street | After sitting vacant for decades, this endangered historic property was purchased by the ZAACO Group for development of ground-floor restaurant space and 8 apartment units above. 900 Broad Street | This property was vacant for more than 20 years and acquired by the City through tax foreclosure in 2013. The City sold this property to the ZAACO group this year to restore the original ground-floor commercial uses and 14 apartment units. Coltsville National Historical Park| Neighborhood advocates, preservationists, Congressmen, and the City supported the designation of the Coltsville National Historic Park, which was finalized in 2014. Development Services has been working with the National Park Service to develop a cooperative management agreement that is necessary to officially establish the Park in order to ensure open communication and coordination between the City and NPS. Development Services also helps drive neighborhood development by working to create additional housing stock and provide commercial space in the neighborhoods through the sale of city land, conducting neighborhood studies, or working with other agencies or organizations to realize an opportunity for growth. Upcoming Development 13 Economic Development Events + CultureSustainable Infrastructure Neighborhood Development
  • 10. Permitting of building and zoning applications is a key part in any development project but in 2012 your chance of having your permit issued the same day was only 4%. The City of Hartford realized that the process was hindering development in our Capital City. In September of 2012, DDS launched Permit Streamlining for basic applications that do not require an extensive plan review or involve other agencies for approval. Since the program has begun, the city has seen great improvement and now we now issue an average of 56.8% of permits applied for on the same day they are submitted (2015). Despite the fact that permit approval times have improved, more could be done. Through everyday conversations with developers, contractors, and the community, additional barriers to doing business in the city were identified and it was determined that an online permitting system would be the ideal solution for customers and staff. DDS selected Tyler’s EnerGov web-based automation solutions for the online permitting system. This system will improve accessibility for inspectors in the field and allow applicants to be able to submit plans and documents for review online and receive feedback and approvals via email. City departments and EnerGov are working to define and create specifications for all permits, enforcement cases, and applications, with an anticipated “go live” date of Fall 2015. Further efforts to streamline the process and make information more readily accessible to the public includes an extensive project to scan and index all building-related plans and permits located in Constitution Plaza and City Hall. To date, L&I has had more than 1.15 million documents scanned, which will all soon be accessible online. Permit Streamlining For more information, please contact: Mike Fuschi, 860.757.9226 mfuschi@hartford.gov ZoneHartford is a project to update Hartford’s Zoning Regulations, which regulate development and land uses within the City. The new regulations will reflect the City’s goals for encouraging economic development, enhancing mixed use neighborhoods, and increasing walkability and transit choice. While the rewrite is a citywide effort, the project will focus on Hartford’s transportation corridors and the surrounding areas, as these are the best locations to encourage new, walkable development in proximity to a variety of transit options. Additionally, these regulations will place a larger emphasis on building form rather than solely focusing on the separation of uses. This will help to ensure that the built form matches the community’s vision. The current zoning regulations date back to 1968, a time when the focus was on creating auto-oriented development and separation of uses was seen as the most critical concern. Sincethen,developmentstrategieshaveshiftedtoalsoinclude pedestrian, bicycle, and transit priorities. Additionally, there has been an national realization that having certain retail and commercial uses in proximity to residential uses is a smart growth strategy. Over the last 40 years, piecemeal changes to the zoning regulations have been made to address issues or concerns as they arose, but now a comprehensive update is needed to provide predictable development outcomes in our neighborhoods and to simplify our zoning code and development procedures. Planning staff has spent the last year working with our consultant, Codametrics, on the creation of the code. Much of this time was spent understanding the existing regulations, city and neighborhood plans, and current land use conditions. These results were compiled into neighborhood specific Diagnostic Reports (available online at www.zonehartford. com). Draft regulations have since been created based on the findings of the diagnostic reports as well as community input meetings. This draft is currently under review by staff, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Zoning Advisory Group (specifically created for this project). We anticipate rolling out the revised draft citywide with a variety of public meetings in various locations around the city by the end of 2015 in order to explain the code and invite comments and questions. ZoneHartford For more information, please contact Jon Mullen, 860-757-9050 mullj002@hartford.gov Economic development creates the conditions for improved quality of life by expanding the capacity of individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses, and our city. Development Services focuses on creating effective, collaborative relationships focused on advancing mutual gain for the public and the private sector. Economic Development is essential to ensuring Hartford’s economic future. check out the website! www.zonehartford.com FAQs about zoning | Diagnostic Reports | Post your own ideas15 16 Permits Approved in the Month the Application was Submitted Economic Development Events + CultureSustainable Infrastructure Neighborhood Development
  • 11. Strong Cities Strong Communities Effective economic development requires leadership, fresh thinking and citizen engagement. As part of the Obama Administration’s Strong Cities Strong Communities (SC2) Initiative, and through a competitive process, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) selected Hartford as one of three premiere SC2 cities – along with Las Vegas, Nevada and Greensboro, North Carolina. The other two cities chose to focus on specific projects and to hire a consulting firm. Hartford chose a different path by aiming to tap creative thought within the community. This program is designed to strengthen local government capacity by encouraging multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative strategies that spur Hartford’s economic growth and establish Hartford as the city for entrepreneurs. The goal of the SC2 Hartford Challenge is to obtain a detailed, feasible, and sustainable plan for the City of Hartford that will include comprehensive strategies and systems to attract, identify, assist and retain promising first-time and serial entrepreneurs as they start and grow companies, and stage II companies having the potential to grow significantly with new techniques, innovations, and improvements. Hartford attracted 58 teams, 168 participants, in the first phase. These teams submitted proposals and on December 1st, 2014, with the help of 25 interdisciplinary judges, Mayor Pedro E. Segarra announced the ten SC2 Finalists. These finalists would be competing for six various cash awards totalling $800,000, with the winner receiving $500,000. On May 29, 2015, the Mayor was joined by Jay Williams, Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, and Congressman Larson to congratulate the participants and award the teams. Hartford chose a different path by aiming to tap creative thought within the community. Top Ten Finalists: Hartford.Health.Works: An industry led effort to create healthcare technology development and manufacturing jobs in Hartford. First Place Winner - $500,000 Made at Swift: A food-driven innovation cluster to create jobs and improve population health. Second Place Winner - $100,000 Entrepreneur Foundation: Community bootstrapping through entrepreneurship. Third Place Winner - $75,000 It’s All Here: Translating talent into ownership. Fourth Place Winner - $50,000 Hartford Rocks: Addressing Infrastructure, transportation systems, arts and entertainment to attract and support young entrepreneurs. Fifth Place Winner - $50,000 Team FotoFiction: An affordable, creative, mixed- use urban development solution. Sixth Place Winner - $25,000 Choose Hartford: Innovative capital to grow businesses. CJM Innovations: Fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem for students and young professionals. MUD Workshop: People / Culture / Connections: An entrepreneurial ecosystem to empower Hartford’s Community. Solutionists: Social entrepreneurship to address high unemployment and poverty in Hartford. For more information, please contact Stephen Cole 860.757.9071 coles001@hartford.gov 1st PlaceWinner Spotlight! Hartford.Health.Works | Real Jobs through Real Innovation HartfordandConnecticutfacesignificantdemographic and economic challenges - an aging population, high taxes, and competition from NY and Boston. However, an aging population creates specific demands in the healthcare technology development, manufacturing, and services. Despite the fact that many other CT industries are in decline, healthcare jobs are growing - Hartford. Health.Works (HHW) plans to take advantage of this business opportunity and envisions building on existing strengths in healthcare technology to create biomedical companies and attract existing ones to the city. The group’s efforts could extend into start- ups sharing lab space and expensive equipment, and shaping Hartford into a hub of medical device manufacturing. HHW will make Hartford an attractive location to start and grow a business, and thus grow jobs for Hartford residents. Education and training programs would also be a key component. HHW showed great promise in the semifinal round, taking the top award of $60,000 for continued work in Phase II, and resulted in a partnership with Trinity College. Trinity will work with the team to apply for grants to help fund the program. HHW is led by Mark Borton, owner of Rising-Tide Health Care in Chester, CT, Beacon, a Hartford- based medical technology trade group, and Movia Robotics, a Hartford-based manufacturer. 17 18 Economic Development Events + CultureSustainable Infrastructure Neighborhood Development
  • 12. The Northeast neighborhood, once home to a mixed- income community with a strong manufacturing base, is an important entry corridor into the city. In May of 2014, Development Services began working with neighborhood State Representative Brandon McGee to establish a new vision for the commercial portion of Main Street, focusing on the areas north of the Terry Square Trident to the Windsor town line. Staff proposed a three tiered approach to reimagine, revitalize, and reassert Main Street as a commercial destination: 1) a comprehensive business and residential survey to understand local business conditions; 2) a phased streetscape improvement project extended from the Windsor town line south to the intersections of Main and Earle streets and Windsor Street and Boce Barlow Way; and 3) a massing and land use vision for the Terry Square trident area. The business survey is the springboard to the redevelopment and revitalization of the Northeast neighborhood. The city retained the services of GreatBlue Research with the primary goal of the study to identify barriers to visitation, identify appealing aspects of a potential streetscape that would draw visitors, and ultimately identify what is necessary to increase the amount of business conducted in the Northeast neighborhood. The results show that residents are more optimistic about the benefits of a streetscape project and the positive effect it will have compared to business owners (78% compared to 68%); businesses believe customers can easily find parking compared to residents who also reported parking issues having a negative impact on their tendency to visit businesses (68% compared to 42%). These results and others are being used to guide the subsequent steps of the process (streetscape design and town center master plan) and to uncover near-term opportunities to increase commercial activity. The city has progressed to the next phase of the project and has selected VHB as the consultant for the streetscape design and construction portion of the project. While VHB begins works on conceptual streetscape improvement options, they have also been asked to select a sub-consultant to begin the visioning and massing of development along Main Street. Hello, Parkville is an exciting new program designed to promote all things Parkville. This program is designed to use technology in an innovative new way by creating a program that rewards customers for purchasing at local businesses. Designated businesses are being featured prominently on banners throughout the Parkville area. Businesses are also featured on the “Hello, Parkville” website and can be found by visiting wwww.helloparkville.com as well as the mobile app, which is Apple and Android compatible and available at the mobile app stores. Utilizing smart phones and tapping into an emerging new hardware/software, Apple’s iBeacon technology, the program will connect the community to the city in a first-of-it’s-kind neighborhood development project. The goal is to promote your favorite businesses, or as a business owner to promote your business to the community in and around Hartford. So far, there are over 40 business participating Whether it’s a landmark restaurant on Park Street, or a new gallery showing at Real Art Ways, this app will provide all the details and directions to make sure the experience is a rewarding one. Hello, Parkville For more information, please contact Stephen Cole 860.757.9071 coles001@hartford.gov North Main Redevelopment Study For more information, please contact Glenn Geathers 860.757.9075 ggeathers@hartford.gov The Department was awarded a 2013 Arts Catalyze Placemaking (ACP-3) Arts Leadership matching grant from the States Department of Economic and Community Development in the amount of $100,000 to support the iConnect initiative, as well as $60,000 in matching funding from the City of Hartford. The ACP program set out to invest in the state’s arts-based cultural activities and infrastructure to advance the attractiveness and competitiveness of Connecticut cities, towns, and villages as meaningful communities in which to live, work, learn and play. iConnect re-imagined the retail space and capitalized on Hartford’s creative and commercial talents. A downtown has its strengths and weaknesses; Hartford had a thriving and growing residential and commercial base and a vibrant arts community but a glut of empty storefronts. The iConnect project aimed to re-purpose those empty, street-level commercial spaces to create temporary innovative retail and incubation spaces inspired by the creative industry. Thestorefrontspaces fosterconnectivityandcreativethinking in our community, with artists and arts organizations acting as the “innovation engine” for creative experimentation, dialogue, exchange and performance which will ultimately lead to economic growth. Over 45 businesses applied to participate in the program; 15 were short listed. Through the course of the project two permanent retail spaces were opened and have sustained. Hartford Prints! on Pratt Street and Naturally Dogs and Cats on Trumbull Street. Throughout the course of the iConnect project, Hartford Denim Company had a pop-up retail spate on Trumbull Street next to the entrance of the XL Center. At the end of the program they decided to work on growing their already established retail space that is attached to their factory in Parkville. Although the grant period for the iConnect project has closed, there have been several iterations in planning the next round of retail storefronts and the targeted neighborhood. iConnect Naturally Dogs & Cats Hartford Prints For more information, please contact Lauren Varjabedian, 860-757-9045 lauren.varjabedian@hartford.gov The grant program is designed to build jobs through the creative economy. Hartford- based artists and small businesses apply to recieve a portion of the $100,000 federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, a job creation and economic stimulus initiative. This past year, 15 recipients were awarded for art- based businesses ranging from photography to music composition to fashion design. Business Development Grants For more information, please contact Andres Chaparro, 860-757-4895 achaparro@hartford.gov 19 Economic Development Events + CultureSustainable Infrastructure Neighborhood Development
  • 13. is compact, the pedestrian links to existing assets are often weak; the plan focuses on strengthening the links through physical and programmatic improvements to the pedestrian network, including parks, plazas, streets, and sidewalks. The Intermodal Triangle has since become a reality in Downtown Hartford with enhanced bus stop facilities, improved bus stop locations and bus routing, road improvements including road diets and one to two-way conversions, transit signal priority for buses on designated roads, landscaping, and improved wayfinding signage and lighting. This year, the City of Hartford, led by the Department of Development Services, applied for a $20.7 million TIGER VII grant for the North-South Neighborhood Intermodal Project, which is estimated to cost approximately $53.5 million that wouldbeamixofcity,stateandotherfederalfundingsources. This project is the missing link, it will connect economically distressed neighborhoods immediately north and south of downtown - including the recently designated North Hartford Promise Zone - to all of our recent transportation successes. This grant would bring bus shelters, real time bus information, bike lanes and pedestrian improvements to the US 44/Albany Avenue corridor and extend these concepts through downtown, connecting CTfastrak with our south end neighborhoods, the Coltsville National Historic Park, and employment opportunities at major employers along the project corridor. The US Department of Transportation is currently reviewing all proposals and decisions are expected later this year. Construction for the current TIGER project will be complete fall 2015. For more information, please contact Michael Looney, 860.757.9010 michael.looney@hartford.gov Three years ago, Downtown Hartford was expecting a variety of upcoming transportation improvements including improvements to Union Station, future commuter rail services to New Haven and Springfield, and construction for CTfastrak that was about to begin. However, in the face of these exciting future prospects, the city needed to contend with an existing transportation network that was not well integrated into its urban fabric. These conditions were exacerbated by an image of transit that did not attract riders. In 2012, the City of Hartford applied for a TIGER IV transportation grant to strengthen the region’s economic and employment core through intermodal connections – pedestrian, bicycle, taxi, bus, and rail. The goal was to address the city’s challenges with practical, immediate, and effective transit improvements to the urban core, focusing on the area between Union Station and Main Street. The proposal included a reworking of the local bus network and called for the creation of transportation hubs, transit priority streets, complete streets, and the realization of the recently completed iQuilt Plan. The City was awarded $13.5 million to complete the $21.1 million project, known as the Intermodal Triangle, which focused on four main elements: improvements around Union Station to reinforce the station’s role as a regional intermodal hub, creation of Bushnell Park North as a complete street, creation of Asylum and Pearl as transit priority streets, and improvements to Main Street with a focus on public transit. Much of the Intermodal Triangle project was built on the foundations of the iQuilt Plan (2010-2012). The iQuilt Plan is an exciting urban design strategy for walkability and creative placemaking, focused on strengthening the links between Downtown’s extraordinary concentration of arts, cultural and landscape assets. While Downtown Hartford Intermodal Triangle Streetscape Improvement Projects: Approx. Number of Linear Feet Improved: North Main St. 5,500’ Albany Ave. 18,000’ bike lanes Woodland St. 850’ bike lanes Wethersfield Ave. 1,400’ bike lanes Bedford St. 870’ bike lanes iQuilt Plazas create pedestrian connections. TIGER VII includes gateway intersection realignments. Improved public transit amenities. The Intermodal Triangle creates a pedestrian friendly experience along the historic Bushnell Park. Overview of Intermodal Triangle. Heat map shows city’s busiest public transit corridors. 21 22 Economic Development Events + CultureSustainable Infrastructure Neighborhood Development
  • 14. In 2014 the City completed the Capital City Parks Guide which seeks to reposition the parks system as the connected network of high quality, diverse parks that was always envisioned. A connected “ring of parks” is part of the historic park vision and is also critical to contemporary walkability and equitable access. The guide focuses on ways to connect the parks and the city, prioritize investments, and reduce maintenance burdens. The guide recommends physical design ideas (taking into consideration past plans) and also proposes strategies to foster partnerships and stewards of the system, generate revenue and govern and sustain the plan and parks system, all with the goal of achieving more successes amid constrained resources. The plan is a framework as to how to move forward and emphasizes short and long terms solutions to restore the park system’s legacy, create a connected system, and enhance the network of parks in order to serve all parts of the community. Several recommendations from the guide include incrementally increasing park maintenance staff, implementation of design choices that decrease maintenance burdens, identifying and increasing revenue generation particularly in our larger “identify” parks, and emphasizing appropriate behavior by park users, for example: better behaviors to reduce the amount of litter in our parks, which can have a significant effect on maintenance costs. Development Services is working with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) to adopt this plan and create prioritized implementation recommendations to provide to the Department of Public Works for next year’s Capital Improvement Program. Additionally, DPW has begun to implement some of the recommendations by identifying “low-mow” areas to save time on maintenance and has also selected a sign design company to create a park brand and unified park signage with positive messages to reinforce good behavior. Capital City Parks Guide Hartford park employees maintain more park acres with less money than comparably sized cities. For more information, please contact Caitlin Palmer, 860-757-9083 caitlin.palmer@hartford.gov The purpose of the I-84 Hartford Project is to address the highway’s structural deficiencies, traffic flow and safety problems, while maintaining access for the City of Hartford and adjacent communities. At the same time, the I-84 Hartford Project will strive to reduce the highway’s adverse impact and footprint on the city, while integrating it more closely into the regional multimodal and interstate transportation system, both existing and planned. The redesign will also consider the city’s economic development and urban design goals, as such Development Services has been involved as a member of the Public Advisory Committee (PAC) from the beginning. The PAC was formed to help steer the project throughout the long process of planning, design, and construction and is instrumental in helping CTDOT develop a project solution that achieves wide consensus and will benefit the city as well as the region and state. Design alternatives are still being explored, for more information on how to be involved please visit www. i84hartford.com/get-involved. Construction is expected to begin in 2020. I-84 Project Earlier this year, the City of Hartford joined more than 180 cities across the nation, including multiple Connecticut municipalities, in a challenge issued by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to make our streets safer and more convenient for pedestrians and bicyclists over the next year. This challenge commits mayors and elected officials to improve walking and bike safety through various methods including identification of barriers, tracking bicycling data, incorporation of bicycle facilities in transportation projects, and strengthening safety laws and regulations. Particularly in Hartford, safe and accessible transportation networks are vitally important as approximately 35% of our city’s population does not own an automobile. Creating and improving the bicycle and pedestrian network will also encourage more commuter and recreation use of the network, having a positive effect on our city’s health. The “Safer People, Safer Streets” challenge also aims to reverse a rise in pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. Data from U.S. Department of Transportation show that pedestrian and bicycle injuries and fatalities have increased since 2009. In a recent study conducted by the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), between 1995 and 2010, bicyclist and pedestrian crashes represented less than three percent of all crashes; however, these crashes represented more than 17 percent of all traffic fatalities. Development Services is leading this effort and has gathered a diverse group of transportation and bicycle/pedestrian organizations - CTDOT, the Capital Region Council of Governments, DPW, HPD, Transport Hartford, Bike/Walk CT, and members of the community - to identify and work to implement transportation safety measures. The City of Hartford needs to make their commitment clear that bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users deserve greater priority when planning transportation projects, as such this action team is currently working on drafting a Complete Streets Policy for the city. The team will also be identifying priority roads for bike lanes (building off of the Capital City Parks Guide), applying to become a Bike Friendly Community with the League of American Bicyclists, and identifying locations through the city for bicycle facilities. Safer People, Safer Streets Challenge For more information, please contact Caitlin Palmer, 860-757-9083 caitlin.palmer@hartford.gov Between 1995-2010, bicyclist and pedestrian crashes represented < 3% of all crashes These crashes represented >17% of all traffic fatalities.BUT Complete Streets is a nationwide movement to integrate people and place into the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of our transportation networks. For more information, please contact Thomas E. Deller, AICP 860-757-9076 tdeller@hartford.gov 23 24 Economic Development Events + CultureSustainable Infrastructure Neighborhood Development
  • 15. Connecticut’s Capitol City of Hartford has been chosen as the starting point for “Fireball Run: Space Race,” a trivia- themed race from Hartford to Florida’s Space Coast that will be recorded in real time and streamed online. The series is in its ninth season and is viewed by over 1.7 million people worldwide. Hartford’s team the Hartford Hog River Riders will be led by Jamie McDonald, owner of Bears Smokehouse and Win Latif whose family owns Tangiers. Both are businesses that recently relocated to be in Hartford. Our team will be driving Jamie’s ex-military M925 5 ton transport truck, equipped with working meat smoker on the back, which also happens to be the biggest vehicle to be driven on Fireball Run to date. They will be competing against four teams of international astronauts, as well as teams of television celebrities, business owners, senior level executives, industry celebrities and elected officials. Contestants will race in vehicles of their choice, which can be anything from exotic sports cars to everyday sedans. Among the astronauts who are participating are Capt. Jon McBride, a retired NASA astronaut; Lt. Col. Marcos Pontes, Brazil’s first astronaut; Cmdr. Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut; and Gen. Jean-Loup Chretien, a former French astronaut. Live recording begins September 26, 2015 at Bushnell Park where nearly $30 million worth in automobiles, including some of those competing in the race, will be on display. The race kicks off September 27, 2015 in Hartford and ends October 3, 2015 at Cocoa Beach, Florida While competing against one another, show participants will also raise awareness for America’s missing children. The series has aided in the recovery of 44 missing children for the Child Rescue Network, a Florida-based nonprofit. The Hartford Hog River Riders will be advocating in the recovery of Bianca Lebron of Bridgeport CT. Fireball Run: Space Race” premieres June 2016. The series is available on NETFLIX, GooglePlay, Roku, AmazonfireTV, SmartTV, NEO-TV, and Chromecast. Past seasons and episodes are available online at www.fireballrun.com. Fireball Run “... participants will also raise awareness for America’s missing children. The series has aided in the recovery of 44 missing children...” The “Outside The Box” program, coordinated by MECA and the city’s Livable Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative is geared towards the recognition and celebration of regional artists. Through this program, artists are asked to paint City of Hartford utility boxes with original designs. The location of the utility boxes was identified by MECA and were painted by 16 local artists in order to contribute to the vitality and attractiveness of the urban streetscape and deter graffiti. MECA is currently exploring opportunities to expand this program into other neighborhoods. Outside the Box The 2014/2015 Winterfest Season ran from November 28th 2014 through to February 2nd 2015. This event, which offers ice skating that is free and open to the public, is a highlight in Hartford during the cold winter months. With over 100,000 ice skaters, over 800 pictures with Santa and over 150 participants in the Learn to Skate program. There were also event days where various local team mascots along with team members came down to skate with the public. Next year the City of Hartford along with the iQuilt Partnership and Champion Skating is looking to increase the rink size as well as include more events and activities for both on and off the ice. Winterfest The MECA Community Arts Grant provides financial assistance to support free arts and cultural related programs throughout the capital city, awarding a maximum of $1,500 to each program. The grant is designed to provide support toward artist fees and other artist expenses related to art & culturally enriching activities taking place in the capital city and serving Hartford residents. Eligible artists and organizations must be Hartford-based and proposals may involve visual, performing, literary, or media arts. This past year we awarded a total of more than $9,500 to ten deserving programs. Community Arts Grants For more information, please contact Kejuan Dillard, 860-757-9526 dillk001@hartford.gov For four years now, the City of Hartford has hosted free movies in Hartford’s parks with great success. The MECA division coordinates the program and this year began the process in early February to allow the public to weigh in on which movies would be selected. Much coordination occurs between the public survey and the showing - special care is required by the filming industry that places limitations on what movies can be shown when, therefore MECA works hard to ensure that a variety of genre’s and interests are represented in parks across the city. Some of the best attended movies shown have included Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, A League of their Own, Annie, and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Movies in the Park is one of the most beloved programs offered by the city - free and family friendly and coming to a neighborhood near you! Movies in the Park For more information, please contact Lauren Varjabedian, 860-707-3258 lauren.varjabedian@hartford.gov For more information, please contact Andres Chaparro, 860-757-4895 achaparro@hartford.gov For more information, please contact Andres Chaparro, 860-757-4895 achaparro@hartford.gov For more information, please contact Andres Chaparro, 860-757-4895 achaparro@hartford.gov 25 26 Open Studio, a CAG recipient. Economic Development Events + CultureSustainable Infrastructure Neighborhood Development
  • 16. COVER, IMAGE TSM DESIGN COVER, DESIGN CAITLIN PALMER P. I., FIREWORKS ANDY HART P. 1, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TSM DESIGN P. 3, PRATT STREET JOSE RODRIGUEZ P. 4, TRUMBULL KITCHEN CAITLIN PALMER P. 4, HEAVEN SKATEPARK UTILE P. 5, MECA WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ HARTFORDMECA P. 6, L&I CAITLIN PALMER P. 7, HOUSING JOSE RODRIGUEZ P. 8, ADMINISTRATION CAITLIN PALMER P. 9, 777, PRATT STREET, TIGER IMPROVEMENTS CAITLIN PALMER FIREWORKS WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ HARTFORDMECA P. 11, BALLPARK PENDULUM P. 12, RENDERINGS UDA/CENTERPLAN SUBMISSION TO THE CITY P. 14, 543 ANN UCCELLO GOOGLE STREETVIEW ZAACO/JONATHAN CLARK P. 14, 900 BROAD GOOGLE STREETVIEW ZAACO/JONATHAN CLARK P. 14, COLT BUILDING AL BRADEN P. 14, COLTSVILLE MAP WES RAND, WWW.COURANT. COM P. 15, ZONEHARTFORD LESLIE OBERHOLTZER/ CAITLIN PALMER P. 17, SC2 TSM DESIGN Image Credits P. 19, HELLO, PARKVILLE WWW.HELLOPARKVILLE.COM P. 20, ICONNECT NICK CATO PHOTOGRAPHY P. 20, BROTHERS CRISP WWW.THENUTMEG COLLECTIVE.BLOGSPOT. COM/2015/04/LOCAL-LOVE- BROTHERS-CRISP.HTML P. 21, IQUILT WWW.THEIQUILTPLAN.ORG P. 21, PEDESTRIAN PLAZA CAITLIN PALMER P. 21-22, BUSHNELL PARK BETA P. 21, REALIGNED GATEWAY DN/DW MASTER PLAN (UTILE) P. 22, PUBLIC TRANSIT TIGER VII APPLICATION P. 22, INTERMODAL OVERVIEW TIGER IV APPLICATION P. 22, TRANSIT HEAT MAP NELSON/NYGAARD CONSULTING ASSOCIATES P. 24, COMPLETE STREETS WWW.BOSTON COMPLETESTEETS.ORG P. 25, WINTERFEST WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ THEIQUILTPLAN P. 25, MOVIES IN THE PARK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ HARTFORDMECA P. 25, OUTSIDE THE BOX WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ HARTFORDMECA P. 26, FIREBALL RUN WWW.FIREBALLRUN.COM P. 26, OPEN STUDIO WWW.OPENSTUDIO HARTFORD.COM PG. 27-28, TRAVELERS CAITLIN PALMHER SPECIAL THANKS TO CAITLIN PALMER + LAUREN VARJABEDIAN FOR THE CREATION OF THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL REPORT. 27 28