Adios to Plaza Mayor...

Its official. Plaza Mayor is no longer. The Hartford Redevelopment Authority officially voted to end the long stalled project that would have brought a mix of shops, apartments and a large plaza to the corner of Main and Park Streets. The city has no plans for the site.

The project was both a victim of community outrage and the economy. Some opposed the size of the residential towers that would have towered over the rest of the neighborhood, possibly blocking views. And then of course there is the economy. This project did not get the shovel in the dirt before the recession started. It was not as lucky as Hartford 21 or Trumbull on the Park. Many also questioned who would want to live in an upscale apartment at Main and Park when they could just have easily lived at Hartford 21 and dealt with less safety issues. The horrific hit and run on Park Street last summer (Summer 2008) did not help....

Alas I think we have to wait for the market to take this parcel somewhere. We shouldn't have to rely on the city to actively develop the site. We must wait for someone to want to build something on the site, when the economy is better and the developer is certain he or she can get the funding they need.

Another idea....Make the parcel a small park or little plaza with benches, some bike racks and maybe allow a few vendors to set up and sell food (maybe some Park Street restaurants which are within walking distance of the site). Right now the site is an eyesore. It is a mix of overgrown grass and rocks that makes this section of the city look bad. It is an extremely busy intersection that looks shabby and I am not afraid to say that.

Maybe we can do something to the site while we wait to see where the market takes it...