[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by JayCT

You have to understand how America began to suburbanize beginning really in the early 20th Century with streetcar suburbs. Basically streetcar companies built their lines radiating out from the city center and the suburbs were born. The dream of owning your own home on its own piece of land was born and the availability of home mortgages for the masses made that dream a reality. And the affluence of Hartford and other Connecticut made that dream a reality long before other states. In Hartford you see these early suburbs in West Hartford, Old Wethersfield and Windsor. All saw a lot of development in the 1920’s.

The Great Depression and World War II delayed a lot of development so there was a tremendous pent up demand after the war. Add to that, people made and saved a lot of money during war because there wasn't a lot to spend it on. Couple that with the availability of low cost GI loans and you saw a building boom that went on for several decades. The construction of highways that began before the war, opened up a lot of new areas for development that were previously inaccessible. It was the perfect storm for what America has become today. Jay

Show off!

[bushewick]

Originally Posted by JayCT

You have to understand how America began to suburbanize beginning really in the early 20th Century with streetcar suburbs. Basically streetcar companies built their lines radiating out from the city center and the suburbs were born. The dream of owning your own home on its own piece of land was born and the availability of home mortgages for the masses made that dream a reality. And the affluence of Hartford and other Connecticut made that dream a reality long before other states. In Hartford you see these early suburbs in West Hartford, Old Wethersfield and Windsor. All saw a lot of development in the 1920’s.

The Great Depression and World War II delayed a lot of development so there was a tremendous pent up demand after the war. Add to that, people made and saved a lot of money during war because there wasn't a lot to spend it on. Couple that with the availability of low cost GI loans and you saw a building boom that went on for several decades. The construction of highways that began before the war, opened up a lot of new areas for development that were previously inaccessible. It was the perfect storm for what America has become today. Jay

I know about the post war suburban boom, I'm just saying that a city so small should have not had an expressway built right above much of the downtown. I think it's a major part of why it never bounced back compared to other cities. Bad decision IMO

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by bushewick

I know about the post war suburban boom, I'm just saying that a city so small should have not had an expressway built right above much of the downtown. I think it's a major part of why it never bounced back compared to other cities. Bad decision IMO

The move of people to the suburbs started long before I-84 was built through downtown. In fact, one of the most important symbols of that happened right here in Hartford and would shape the Great suburbanization of our country.

In 1957 the Connecticut General Insurance Company (now CIgna) opened its beautiful suburban headquarters in the fields of Bloomfield. It was one of the first self contained suburban office campuses and corporate America went nuts. It was shiny and new and beautiful and comfortable. It had stunning views of the countryside and was light and airy. Business executives from around the world came to see this wonderful new campus and it served as a model for similar campuses and office parks right up to today. It was a marvel of it’s time and was the reason that another wonder of modern American architecture, Constitution Plaza, was built.

Back then politicians and planners were worried that other major companies would follow suit so they had to do something and that included building highways into downtown and Constitution Plaza. That kept major businesses like Connecticut Bank & Trust, Phoenix Mutual Insurance WTIC Television Station, Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance and Travelers from building similar campuses outside the city. Without the highway, how would the thousands of downtown workers get to their jobs?

We need to stop judging decisions made 60 years ago by today’s standards. We have to look at the problems that officials were facing at that time. They had to do something to fight the flight from the city that was taking place. People wanted to own their own homes. They didn’t want to live in apartments any longer. Attempts to build new apartments in the city were not successful. People were tired of the noise and pollution and being on top of each other. The only way to get away from that was the suburbs where thousands of new modern homes were being built. It was the American dream and the residents of Hartford were living it to its fullest. Jay

[JayCT]

Glad to see Hartford Health is moving forward with their plans to consolidate workers downtown. Jay

https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...rb4-story.html

[tbanks3]

Seems like good news regarding development near the stadium downtown:

https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...g3y-story.html

[brownedbits]

Originally Posted by tbanks3

Seems like good news regarding development near the stadium downtown:

https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...g3y-story.html

I just walked by there earlier today, site work is already ongoing!

[JayCT]

This is a unique opportunity for the city. Hopefully the city can make it work. Jay

https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...g6y-story.html

[JayCT]

Shelbourne Global Solutions, one of Hartford’s biggest landlords, is adding yet another major property to its portfolio, the historic Fuller Brush building on North Main Street. They clearsee opportunity here. Jay

https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...gzm-story.html

[mdovell]

Highways splitting communities isn't new or unique "The other side of the tracks" is a real saying. I'd recommend reading The Power Broker about how this was in NYC.

The trouble I see with the city is speed limits need to be lowered. There can be things to see but the planning was all wrong. People will pay more attention to a sky scraper vs a side street.

But the foundation issue will encourage development in the city. I just don't know if office workers will really come back and sports are a long way off. On site day care should be a big push.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Shelbourne Global Solutions, one of Hartford’s biggest landlords, is adding yet another major property to its portfolio, the historic Fuller Brush building on North Main Street. They clearsee opportunity here. Jay

https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...gzm-story.html

That's a beautiful building. Does Shelbourne Global Solutions have a pretty good track record?