Dept Dev Serv City of Hartford Annual Report

Table of Contents

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Overview

Development ServicesEconomic DevelopmentPlanning Marketing, Events, and Cultural Affairs License & InspectionsHousingAdministration

Development Services ProjectsDevelopment At a Glance

Neighborhood DevelopmentDowntown North RedevelopmentHousing in the NeighborhoodsUpcoming Development Overview

Economic DevelopmentZoneHartfordPermit StreamliningSC2Hello ParkvilleNorth Main Redevelopment Study iConnectBusiness Development Grants

Sustainable InfrastructureIntermodal TriangleCapital Parks GuideI-84 ProjectSafer People, Safer Streets

Events and CultureWinterfestMovies in the ParkOutside the BoxFireball RunCommunity 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 Services250 Constitution Plaza, 4th Floor Hartford, CT 06103 (860)757-9076 [email protected]

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

1Creating a vibrant, livable,

and sustainable city.

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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)[email protected]

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 ColeDivision Director

Deborah DavisFacade Project Manager

Mayra GhaffarAdministrative Assistant

Jose RodriguezProject Manager

Vanessa WilliamsProject Manager

Michael LooneyDirector of Projects

Glenn GeathersProject Manager

Elisa HobbsProject Manager

Don ChapmanPrincipal Planner

Jeffery CormierChief Staff Planner

Lynda CrespoAdministrative Assistant

Jonathan MullenPrincipal Planner

Caitlin PalmerSenior 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 incorporate bicycle parking requirements, 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)[email protected]

Jonathan Mullen(860)[email protected]

Caitlin Palmer(860)[email protected]

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.

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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 [email protected]

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 & Cultural Affairs

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)[email protected]

Stephen ColeInterim Division Director

Andres ChaparroPrincipal Analyst

Kejuan DillardSpecial Events Coordinator

Lauren VarjabedianMarketing + 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, MCPDivision Director

Elisha BarrowsHousing Inspector

William BetteBuilding Plans Examiner

Darlene ChildsHousing Code Enforcement

John CollinsBuilding Plans Examiner

Domenic D’AngeloInspector II

Alvin EllisonInspector II

Gustavo EspinozaSr. Project Manager

Michael FuschiChief of Bldg. & Trades

Michael GompperInspector II

Shawn HollowayHousing Inspector

Monir IghaniMechanical Engineer

Kieran KilkennyInspector II

Michael LandryInspector II - LSNI

Rochelle LittleHousing Inspector

Patrick LooneyInspector II

Nancy MarreroAdministrative Assistant

Tammy McBrideZoning Assistant

Kionna Owens-OsayandeZoning Assistant

Scott PeszkoInspector II

Dajemi Rodriguez Administrative Clerk

Tadeus RogallaInspector II - LSNI

Albi SakoHousing Inspector

Alexander SamboyHousing Inspector

Amara ShabazzAdministrative Assistant

John StaffordInspector II - LSNI

Angella StevensAdministrative Assistant

David ViensInspector II

Michelle WebberAdministrative Assistant

Malachai WilliamsSealer Weights & Measures

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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 [email protected]

This role is vital to ensuring that public receives optimal and efficient service.

Dr. Elda SinaniDirector of Administration

Rachel AgostoAdministrative Assistant(Housing)

Lynda CrespoAdministrative Assistant(Planning)

Mayra GhaffarAdministrative Assistant(Economic Development)

Dajemi RodriguezAdministrative Assistant(Licenses & Inspection)

Housing

The Housing Division focuses on creating an 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)[email protected]

Brian MathewsDivision Director

Rachel AgostoAdministrative Assistant

Celina CaezProgram Supervisor

Luan CekaRehabilitation Specialist

Tonja NelsonProgram Supervisor

Thomas RotchfordRehabilitation Specialist

Claude TrappSenior 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 SessionsInformation 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

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Development Services Projects2 Business Development at a Glance

Neighborhood DevelopmentEconomic Development

Sustainable InfrastructureEvents + 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.

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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

InfrastructureNeighborhood Development

For more information, please contact Michael Looney, [email protected]

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The Housing Division administers programs which are vital to the development and preservation of our residential neighborhoods. The oldest and most successful 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 and general home improvements. The Housing 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 Plaza193 units

179 Allyn63 units

201 Ann Uccello26 units

Coltsville129 units

777 Main286 units

ACTIVE:3 Constitution Plaza49 units

36 Lewis6 units

Capewell 72 units

390 Capitol112 units

38-42 Elm6 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.

UpcomingDevelopment

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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

[email protected]

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. Since then, development strategies have shifted to also include 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

[email protected]

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.comFAQs about zoning | Diagnostic Reports | Post your own ideas15 16

Permits Approved in the Month the Application was Submitted



Strong Cities Strong CommunitiesEffective 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

[email protected]

1st Place Winner Spotlight! Hartford.Health.Works | Real Jobs through Real Innovation

Hartford and Connecticut face significant demographic 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.

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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

[email protected]

North Main Redevelopment Study

For more information, please contact Glenn Geathers 860.757.9075

[email protected]

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.

The storefront spaces foster connectivity and creative thinking 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, [email protected]

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

[email protected]



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 would be a mix of city, state and other federal funding sources.

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, [email protected]

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



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 GuideHartford park employees maintain more park acres with less money than comparably sized cities.

For more information, please contact Caitlin Palmer, [email protected]

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, [email protected]

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

[email protected]

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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

[email protected]

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, [email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]

25 26

Open Studio, a CAG recipient.



COVER, IMAGETSM DESIGN

COVER, DESIGNCAITLIN PALMER

P. I., FIREWORKSANDY HART

P. 1, DEVELOPMENT SERVICESTSM DESIGN

P. 3, PRATT STREETJOSE RODRIGUEZ

P. 4, TRUMBULL KITCHENCAITLIN PALMER

P. 4, HEAVEN SKATEPARKUTILE

P. 5, MECAWWW.FACEBOOK.COM/

HARTFORDMECA

P. 6, L&ICAITLIN PALMER

P. 7, HOUSINGJOSE RODRIGUEZ

P. 8, ADMINISTRATIONCAITLIN PALMER

P. 9, 777, PRATT STREET, TIGER IMPROVEMENTSCAITLIN PALMER

FIREWORKSWWW.FACEBOOK.COM/

HARTFORDMECA

P. 11, BALLPARK PENDULUM

P. 12, RENDERINGSUDA/CENTERPLAN

SUBMISSION TO THE CITY

P. 14, 543 ANN UCCELLOGOOGLE STREETVIEW

ZAACO/JONATHAN CLARK

P. 14, 900 BROADGOOGLE STREETVIEW

ZAACO/JONATHAN CLARK

P. 14, COLT BUILDINGAL BRADEN

P. 14, COLTSVILLE MAPWES RAND, WWW.COURANT.

COM

P. 15, ZONEHARTFORDLESLIE OBERHOLTZER/

CAITLIN PALMER

P. 17, SC2TSM DESIGN

Image CreditsP. 19, HELLO, PARKVILLE

WWW.HELLOPARKVILLE.COM

P. 20, ICONNECTNICK CATO PHOTOGRAPHY

P. 20, BROTHERS CRISPWWW.THENUTMEG

COLLECTIVE.BLOGSPOT.COM/2015/04/LOCAL-LOVE-

BROTHERS-CRISP.HTML

P. 21, IQUILTWWW.THEIQUILTPLAN.ORG

P. 21, PEDESTRIAN PLAZACAITLIN PALMER

P. 21-22, BUSHNELL PARKBETA

P. 21, REALIGNED GATEWAYDN/DW MASTER PLAN (UTILE)

P. 22, PUBLIC TRANSITTIGER VII APPLICATION

P. 22, INTERMODAL OVERVIEWTIGER IV APPLICATION

P. 22, TRANSIT HEAT MAPNELSON/NYGAARD

CONSULTING ASSOCIATES

P. 24, COMPLETE STREETSWWW.BOSTON

COMPLETESTEETS.ORG

P. 25, WINTERFESTWWW.FACEBOOK.COM/

THEIQUILTPLAN

P. 25, MOVIES IN THE PARKWWW.FACEBOOK.COM/

HARTFORDMECA

P. 25, OUTSIDE THE BOXWWW.FACEBOOK.COM/

HARTFORDMECA

P. 26, FIREBALL RUNWWW.FIREBALLRUN.COM

P. 26, OPEN STUDIOWWW.OPENSTUDIO

HARTFORD.COM

PG. 27-28, TRAVELERSCAITLIN PALMHER

SPECIAL THANKS TO CAITLIN PALMER + LAUREN

VARJABEDIAN FOR THE CREATION OF THIS YEAR’S

ANNUAL REPORT.27 28

Documents

Dept Dev Serv City of Hartford Annual Report