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Message: [QUOTE="CL82, post: 3370196, member: 44"] The county seat not far from where I live was getting rundown, dingy and dangerous. People left it at the end of the workday and didn't look back. It isn't a major city like Hartford but I think its history is instructive. There was a major department store, not unlike GFox, which was struggling. The owners redeveloped it very intelligently with upscale apartments above and smaller restaurants and retail stores down below. Kind of like an upscale and larger Storrs Central. No surprise that the concept was resisted because "it was a landmark" which it was. A failing business, but a landmark. After months of acrimonious hearings, the plan was approved and the project was built. It kick started the night life and turned the city around. More upscale apartments went in and then upscale ($1M) town homes. It now is vibrant, safe, walkable and a destination. Note that this "redevelopment" was done with private money. I view this as a good thing as people seem to make better decisions when their capital is being invested. Note also that this turnaround managed to happen without annexing the surrounding communities. Now Hartford is much larger and thus harder to turnaround, but it can be done there as well, if the redevelopment is thoughtfully done. I am not particularly hopeful that it will happen as CT is incredibly shortsighted, but it definitely could be done. I will say that not dividing the the city is absolutely critical. As others have noted, 84 did just that. [/QUOTE]

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