Giant Rubber Ducks & Riverfront Planning Workshop Synopis

Example of the  giant rubber duck in Thames River London, as  a
 tourist attraction that is "outside of the box" , an example for a whimsical
 possibility for Middletown 's riverfront
given by Project for Public Spaces

New York City based firm Project for Public Spaces (PPS) was hired by the City of Middletown for $68,000 to hold 3 public workshops and complete a report of schematic design ideas for Middletown's Riverfront. PPS is a NYC based  non profit architecture and urban planning firm specializing in programming of public spaces. The City currently owns 8 acres of land on the riverfront, including the land which the current sewage treatment plant is located which is scheduled to be closed over the next decade. Over 100 enthusiastic citizen participants attended the two  workshop style sessions.

PPS came in late August to present a preliminary over view of their services to the Riverfront Development Committee, the preliminary powerpoint was a repeat of this with more in depth detailed case studies of other riverfronts around the world. At that first meeting, citizen and former councilman Earl Roberts asked about hydrologists and engineers being hired to deal with the flooding at Harbor Park and suggest remedies. Roberts inquired about the issues surrounding the River being tidal and dredging. Mayor Drew's Riverfront Task Force Committee informed the crowd that PPS's role was more idealistic and preliminary to get the ball rolling and no engineers would be involved at this time.

From an example of annual flooding to some degree or another,  posted via public youtube channel by Vishal Desai, is a video shot in 2011  when there was major flooding of Harbor Park. 



The committee allowed for only limited questions to Project for Public Spaces at this time regarding timing of the next workshops. The issue of river hydrology was not revisited at the subsequent meetings. Also not included in PPS scope would be speaking with the Department of Transportation to deal with the Route 9 On/off ramp at Exit / On ramp 17 or lights on the highway.  

At that meeting, PPS gave an overview of what it called the "Power of Ten" which was repeated at this presentation. Meaning, have 10 attractions for a particular site. Planner Architect Megan Walker, Wesleyan University Alumni, also went over PPS's design mantra of "Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper" as a preliminary kick off point to start to revitalize an area. PPS suggests planning festivals, temporary installations, seasonal art, or other event at a location before more investments are made to 1.) attach people and 2.) see how viable the site is as far as interest.

The week prior to the Riverfront workshop, which was not mentioned,  a Bass Tournament sponsored by the Bass Federation Eastern Division Championship took place at Harbor Park. According to the Courant, over 90 participants entered with more spectators in attendance. The tournament lasted 3 days. Annually, Harbor Park is host to the Head of the Connecticut Regatta, which draws thousands. The Regatta was brought up at the workshop, and PPS reps say they wished to have more events that draw a similar number of people. This year there were new events on the waterfront such as the Caribbean Carnival event and the Youth Gospel Explosion by Shiloh Baptist Church. In 2010, the city used $100,000 in grant money to install floating docks near the moorings for public canoe launch. The Lady Katherine, docked at the park, does annual Fall Foliage tours discounted to senior citizens. 

Much of last weeks two workshops by PPS were about the "Lighter Faster Cheaper" technique but not all.The brainstorming session began with MAT buses hired by the City to take citizen participants (over 100 in attendance both days) to sites part of the riverfront area. Light refreshments and baked food was provided. Small groups visited the Omo Manufacturing property, Peterson Oil, River Road and the former Jackson Corrugated factory, Harbor Park, DeKoven Drive entry to Harbor Park, and the tunnel under the highway leading to the riverfront. Some of the mentioned sites, such as the Omo property need remediation. Private property along the Riverfront and property owned by the state was not visited, but taken into consideration for suggested programming. At the site, groups of 10 were lead by a group leader who walked the participants though an exercise called the "Place Game" - in which they recorded the sights, sounds, and thoughts about the current conditions of the site via a questionnaire. This was then to be collected by Project for Public Spaces to make their final report.

After, groups moved back to City hall, and at round tables discussed suggested things that could be added to enhance the specific location. In PPS powerpoint they shared case studies of France & London, Laguna Beach California, and Buffalo New York as examples with revitalized water fronts. Laguna Beach boasts a elevated board walk and meandering trail system along the shore. Buffalo New York took at advantage of the "Lighter Faster Cheaper" technique and added a temporary event where the municipality placed brightly colored Adirondack chairs along in the park along the Hudson to attach activity. The case study of the Thames River in London showed a giant rubber duck that was temporarily placed in the river as a tourist attraction; this duck has been transported all over the world. PPS also showed images of near by Providence RI which has Waterfire as a  regularly occurring event on its riverfront. Other ideas presented by Project for Public Spaces in their powerpoint of case studies and then echoed by Middletown citizens as things they would like copied for their riverfront  were giant chess sets, beach chairs, winter festivals, "splash" fountains & water slides for children and sand brought in for temporary beaches. A few citizens also mentioned an ice skating rink with hot chocolate stand. PPS stressed whimsy as a way of attracting people to a waterfront.

During the group session, each group that represented a specific site gave a list of ideas that they would like to see on their site with feasibility not to be considered as an inhibition. Board of Education member Ed McKeon spoke for his group suggesting a temporary a beer garden at Harbor Park on behalf of his group. Council candidate and former mayor Seb Giuliano suggested a small scale band shell like the one at West Point to be placed by the furthest most point of Harbor Park. Riverfront Task Force Committee chair Councilman Gerald Daly echoed the desire for a trolley using the current Worchester Providence owned tracks that run parallel to the highway and DeKoven Drive for a scenic tourist excursion. City Energy Consultant John Hall expressed his desire for the river to be a spot where non profits could take children to learn. 

Councilman and Riverfront Task force member Joe Bibisi suggested a desire on behalf of citizens for a public boat launch where 10 to 20 ft boats could be launched via boat trailer. He reminded the group of the large turning and parking area needed for such a launch and asked that it be included in plans. Citizen Kevin Kelly, a retired Connecticut Valley Hospital  employee brought to light the challenges of placing pedestrian and tourist activities so close to the Rushford Treatment Center and CVH grounds as a potential conflict of uses regarding for example patient privacy and tourist marketability. Kelly implored  the group to take those facilities into consideration. Kelly used Brown Stone Exploration Park in Portland CT as a near by example of the reuse of a site with water as it's feature, PPS took note of this and said they would consider a visit Brownstone. Citizen William Wilson suggested more seating and of different varieties be looked at as an addition to Harbor Park.

. Mayor Dan Drew spoke of  his desire to light the Arrigoni Bridge with LED lights, according to him, a potential cost of at minimum $750,000 as a tourist attraction and revenue generator.

Click to enlarge the map of the 7 sites explored at the workshop

Another common sentiment among the speakers were the desire for yoga, art, and food trucks. Laney Banks, Riverfront Committee member and group leader, said "I want the riverfront to be the poster child for ecological learning for the state."  This group session allowed for a free flow of thoughts and non judgmental thinking to be expressed as far as types of activities citizens in attendance wanted to see.

Ed Dypa, citizen and local senior citizen advocate (member of the Senior Center Building Committee) expressed his concern that the parking was not being considered by the planners or groups. Dypa stated that " It is nice to get people to the river, but once there where do they park? There is limited parking already. For those with ambulatory issues such as some seniors, parking at Melilli Plaza and walking thru the tunnel is not a realistic solution."

A representative from PPS stated that there would not be parking at the riverfront, that that was reserved for activities and culture, however, other locations would be considered as a possibility. Off the table were ideas of demolishing or relocating Wesleyan's boat house,or relocation of Route 9. The DOT does plan to do a study about lengthening or altering the Route 17 on ramp. . Middletown holds the record for most deadliest stretch of road at the Route 17 on ramp to Route 9. The traffic lights on Route 9 north bound, originally advocated for by local Main Street business owners as a way to get people to shop on Main Street, are also named to the state's most dangerous stretches of roadway. 

Via  Kurumi's website : "I've lived with what the highway projects did to downtown New Britain. If you took out the traffic lights and put up Jersey barriers across the exits, you'd solve the Route 9 problem - and you could say goodbye to Middletown."

Vincent Amato, long-time business owner and civic leader in Middletown, about the need to maintain access to businesses during the upgrade to Route 9

The DOT has no plans to alter these lights. Read about the history of Route 9 in Middletown here.http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/ct9.html.   Tragically,   another life was taken  yesterday at Exit 16 where there are stop lights on Route 9. The media is reporting a motorcyclist collided with a vehicle stopped in traffic.

Feasibility of changes to the highway configuration, engineering, hydrology in response to the river tides, a possible pedestrian over bridge to the riverfront, and funding sources of any future projects where not discussed at the workshop. 

No time frame was put in place for suggested projects, however, PPS stated a festival could be planned for as early as this spring with a willing local sponsor based on their experience with other riverfront's planning committees.

The  City Planning Department video taped both workshops and will be creating a public access / youtube video so those that could not attend can see the PPS comments and each groups presentations.
The facebook page for Riverfront Middletown: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverfront-Middletown-Connecticut/456448574448563

Tell us what you think of the presentation & plans for the riverfront in the comments below!

Planning & Zoning Dept. Asks Public to attend Riverfront Workshops

Press Release: SAVE THE DATES

Middletown Riverfront Planning Workshops

Internationally recognized planning and design firm, Projects for Public Spaces, has been working with the City’s Riverfront Development Task Force to develop a Vision and Concept Plan for the area.

 

Public input is critical to the success of the project.

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to share your ideas and help us build a vision for the Riverfront. We respect your time and promise a fast-paced, dynamic, participatory workshop. Bring your ideas and your walking shoes.

Refreshments will be provided.

 

Evening Workshop

Date     :        Thursday, September 26^th, 2013

Time     :        6 PM to 9 PM

Location :       Common Council Chamber

and / or

 

Morning Workshop

Date     :        Saturday, September 28^th, 2013

Time     :        9 AM to 12 NOON

Location :       Common Council Chamber

 

To help us prepare better to accommodate you, please RSVP with the date of the workshop you plan to attend at 860-638-4840 or riverfront@middeltownct.gov.

Find us on FACEBOOK at Riverfront Middletown Connecticut- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverfront-Middletown-Connecticut/456448574448563

 

 

PDF Version- http://www.middletownplanning.com/documents/SavetheDate.pdf

 

 

Sincerely,

Michiel Wackers, AICP
Deputy Director of Planning, Conservation and Development
City of Middletown

tel. 860-638-4840
fax. 860-638-1940

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=461833

www.middletownplanning.com

 

Updates on Riverfront Development Commission, RDC To Hold Public Kick off Meeting

The Riverfront Redevelopment Commission seek public input on Tuesday during a meeting at City Hall at 7pm.

City Planning and Zoning Department Director William Warner gave the Planning and Zoning Commission an update on the riverfront committee’s progress at the zoning board’s  regular meeting Wednesday . The City hired Projects for Public Spaces a New York-based,nonprofit to consult on the redevelopment. The Office of Planning, Conservation and Development has made a  Facebook page seeking comments from the public. Because not all citizens have facebook, Warner stated he set up a web page, linked to the planning department’s main website, with updates on the Riverfront Redevelopment Commission. Commissioner Molly Salafia (R) asked if a strategic plan with a timeline will be done by the consulting firm, rather than just conceptual philosophy and precedent case studies, and Warner stated that yes the firm will make specific plans that pertain and can be used by the City as a launch point. He stressed that ultimately, the Planning and Zoning Commission has final say of what new zoning is adopted. Warner said he would like to see the existing rail line used as a tourist trolley. Commissioner Beth Emery (D) asked if bike paths would be apart of the plan of development. Warner stated that he still has the notes from thirteen years ago from the public sessions held then by the then riverfront development consultants and that those previous concepts developed in committee had not been forgotten. Warner stated to his knowledge, the South Cove area would need to be dredged for a public boat launch, but that a public park area was going to the be vital point in driving development. Warner elaborated that the City needed to provide, plan for, and implement an overhaul of infrastructure to attract private development, and that this infrastructure was the critical first step.

The development of the riverfront - with land both owned by the City, State, and private entities in play depends on the decommission of the current sewage plan on River Road and Middletown joining  Mattabassett District—the acceptance is still pending in Cromwell, Berlin and New Britain to allow Middletown in. Middletown is scheduled to pay $13 million to the surrounding towns to join the district.

Highway Routes 17 and 9. are a disaster, ranking number 1 as the most dangerous highways in the state. Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting at Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce’s Central Business Bureau Committee on Wednesday at 8 a.m. at the Chamber’s headquarters, 393 Main St. Rep. Joseph Serra, a 25 year veteran legislator who represents Middletown, is the chair of the Highways committee. Warner stated at the PZ meeting ,when asked by Commissioner Nick Fazzino (R) if the DOT had any plans to deal with the traffic lights on this stretch of highway, that the state has only mentioned it will discuss the RT 17 and RT 9 on ramp.

City Planners Ask for Public Input on Riverfront via Facebook

Press Release:

Please join us on Facebook!

The City of Middletown has created a facebook page to help share, get ideas and input from the community as we study the future potential for Middletown’s Riverfront.

 

Your participation is important in creating a community vision.

 

Please do your part.

Visit the Middletown Riverfront facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverfront-Middletown-Connecticut/456448574448563

 

Hit the “Like” button to ensure that you get important updates and learn about the Riverfront (past, present and future).

 

Thanks,

Michiel Wackers, AICP
Deputy Director of Planning, Conservation and Development
City of Middletown

tel. 860-638-4840
fax. 860-638-1940

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=461833

www.middletownplanning.comPress

Guest Blog: "His Town"

“And Justice For All” is a newsletter involving my opinions, views, and commentary as a life long Middletownresident. In my capacity as a former employee of Middletown (retired) for over 41 years, I have a differentperspective regarding how and why public figures do what they do.

Citizen John Milardo

  Read in its original format here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1DgV8eQYn9YmRysNKwgt6kIHIoKBhMrK2dGH8WjCUtojxOdFNWfUMLj1Ve5Pg/edit

Republished by the Insider with permission from the Author, all opinions expressed are the sole responsiblity of the author and not necessarily those of the staff of the Insider.

     A “Letter to the Editor” in the “Middletown-CT Patch” on-line newsletter (http://middletown-ct.patch.com/articles/salafia-letter) by Middletown Planning, Zoning & Conservation
member Molly Salafia, struck a note with me. The jest of it is about transparency in government and doing what is right for the citizenry of our town; and not just for a political Party and their cronies. I totally agree with Ms. Salafia, but the reality is totally the opposite here in Middletown. It may be the same in some other communities – but I live and work in
Middletown, so that is what I’ll speak to.
     Over the past few years, Middletown’s Democratic Party and elected officials have become far
more than political. They have become an organization which has only one “voice”. That“voice” goes after anyone who may have a different opinion than him/her. For story purpose, the masculine his will be used from now on. The “voice” will have you thrown off his Party’s Town Committee because you dare have your own view, see a wrong and want to correct it, or stick up for yourself . The “voice” is all knowing and will go outside the realm of politics to personally attack you and your family to extract his vendetta on you for attacking his Party, or one of his loyal subjects or ladies in waiting. Middletown’s Democratic Party is a closed secretive organization, with absolutely no room for anyone but those who are hand selected by the almighty, all knowing, all vindictive, his Majesty of Middletown. Least I forget to say, the community has been led to believe the “voice” is an honorable and caring person.
     So Molly, you may ask why do I think this way? It is because I have seen it happen to others as
well as a member of my own family! All of Middletown has seen it happen! City voters either think nothing of it, or have been fooled by their own elected officials into thinking what they do is truly in their best interest. Or, they have been brainwashed over the years to follow their local Party which may no longer stand for what it did once.
     We have all seen the Democratic Council go against every issue the past Republican Mayor
recommended the City fight due to improprieties. Nothing was done by the Democrats over the six (6) years Mayor Guiliano was in office. Yet, now that we have a Democratic Mayor in office, every single one of those issues has or is being settled, and justifies what the Republican Mayor was doing. How is the Democratic Councilmember’s refusal to perform their sworn duty for the people good government?
     The Government Operations and Efficiency Task Force (aka Blue Ribbon Panel) was put together for the sole purpose of tricking the public into believing their government is doing things on the up and up. The panel was hand selected by Mayor Dan Drew and contained many friends and contributors of Governor Malloy, whom the Mayor worships. The Task Forces recommendations are a lot of hooey! All of us on the inside already knew what the findings were going be. It was all political, nothing to do with good government or streamlining. It has to do with complete and total control of operations by politicians.
     Molly, you may ask why would politicians need to control City departments? It is a simple
rule of politics: If they can take care of complaints by the voters quickly, it makes them look good and keeps their voting constituency happy. A happy voter will most likely vote for their
re-election. Our elected political leaders can do “favors” more readily if their people are in charge of City departments. They can tell these new Directors what type of work should be done in the City and point the department in a specific direction. Special interest groups, engineering firms, contractors and companies, who contribute to political campaigns are taken care of in this manner.
     The Blue Ribbon panel has recommended three (3) Super Departments. One (1) of these departments will take over existing personnel who perform different types of maintenance for all City properties and buildings. The departments to be consumed have nothing in common with each other, but they will be placed together anyway.
One (1) of the people who will head a Super Department is not qualified to run the division he now gets paid to lead. It is amazing how far butt kissing will get you – a quality politician’s love. A move isn’t made without the approval from his political board of director(s) which meet at bars and local eateries. No real business is conducted in the office. Even departmental promotions are determined in saloons.
     Another of the Super Departments will be headed by a Director who will control all the money
for the City. There is talk that this Director may also take over the finances for the Water &
Sewer department. This sounds like it would make sense to combine all finances under one roof. If the Director and the individuals he oversees don’t fudge numbers for political reasons, it may work.
     The last Super Department will include all matters to do with planning, zoning, tourism and
conservation. It could work if everyone knows which way the City is heading and not only department commissions or the political world. All those living in Middletown have the right to
know, recommend, and respond to the direction their City is headed.
One of the main reasons the Mayor is for the reorganization of departments is so there are less Directors which answer to him and he has meet with. That’s all well and good if the three (3)
Directors have all the answers regarding the operation of their respective Super Departments.
     I have personally been involved at meetings where one of these proposed “Super Directors” cannot answer questions about the department he is currently in charge of, and has to literally run out of the room to get a subordinate to come to the meeting and give the answers. If that is going to be the same case after the consolidation, you gained nothing! All you will do is get subordinate managers angry why they have to do the job for their highly paid Director. And make no mistake about it – the new Super Directors and some of the other political employee cronies will receive substantial wage increases to head these new departments. To ensure the consolidation looks successful, watch how much additional taxpayer money the Common
Council throws at these departments so they and the Mayor don’t get egg on their faces.
No matter what deficiencies there may and will be with the consolidation of departments, it will
go through. The Mayor would not have offered the Retirement Incentive to Teamsters Directors and Managers, and the non-bargaining Directors and employees if he didn’t already know the eight (8) Democratic Councilmember’s are going to vote for the reorganization, and at least one (1) Republican Councilmember, for a super majority vote. The only way the consolidation of departments will fail is if there is a large turnout of Middletown residents speaking against it during the two (2) Common Council meetings which will happen in the near future. Mayor Drew wants to fast track this so he can hang his hat on something he’s done during his tenure as Mayor.
     Ms. Salafia, I know I’ve gotten off the beaten track a bit, but look at other issues which have
occurred over the past year, some of them unnoticed. This is our local government form of open
and honest government.
• The Water & Sewer Department investigation for the Common Council by Professor Douglas Rae, which went nowhere for a $10,000 plus cost to the taxpayers of Middletown. It was approved by the Common Council and quietly and quickly placed on a shelf. Why wasn’t anything done? All you have to do is connect the political and bloodline dots to figure it out. An alleged speeding ticket given by Connecticut State Police while in a City vehicle was recently squashed for this Director. How many times does the billing cycle for the Water & Sewer Department get to go out to the citizens and contain wrong information before something is done about it? Isn’t four (4) years in a row enough?
• How many people know that the Personnel Director (my wife) had to hire a private Attorney to represent her against Mayor Drew because he was attempting to terminate her with frivolous allegations and without just cause? She told me he would try to do this if he was elected Mayor, and he did – on her first day of work under him and throughout his first year in office.
• Two (2) other employees have hired private Attorneys due to this Mayor’s refusal to recognize and adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• The Mayor’s strong arm tactics with certain Directors telling them they must support his proposed budgets – no matter how bad they cut the department, and must support his proposed Super Departments consolidation; or he will consider them insubordinate and discipline them. This is open and honest government?
• Does anyone know that Teamsters Local 671, which represents unionized City Directors and
Managers, is currently in binding arbitration over contract negotiations? Mayor Drew talked
a good game about how he is a “Union Man” when he was a Mayoral candidate. I see what
a good Union Man he really is? Why does the Mayor give non-union Directors and personnel a better wage and retirement incentive than he did with unionized employees? Aren’t we all doing the same job and working for the same employer and goals as managers?
My opinion is the Mayor is seeking to create dissension amongst the unionized Directors and Managers to bust the Teamsters.
So Molly, it is a shame what Mayor Drew is doing to the P&Z Commission, but that’s how he does business – load up the panel or commission with members who will do what he wants them do. That is how honest and transparent government works in Middletown under Mayor Drew and the Democratic Party’s regime.
     Stay strong. Stay involved. Stay together. Seek the truth.
Yours in Solidarity.
John Milardo

Letter to the Editor: Question PZ Representation

All letters to the Editors are published as a courtesy and do no necessarily reflect the opinions of Middletown Insider Staff. Last week Salafia sent a letter regarding her concerns with those chosen by the Mayor for a new riverfront planning task force.

http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/01/letter-to-editor-mayor-dont-play.html

At the last P&Z meeting, we were informed that the Midlstate RegionalPlanning Committee which is comprised of various towns was being dissolved and transformed into the Lower Connecticut River Valley

Council of Governments. Middletown needs to send a representative from the commission and an alternate. Commissioner Michael Johnson (D) has been the representative for the past four years. Yet, attendance to P&Z meetings is rare  because of his job as a lobbyist in Hartford. Commissioner Fazzino nominated me to be the

new Middletown representative to replace Johnson.He felt my professional background in architecture and planning wouldserve Middletown well.
Again, at the meeting Johnson was not present. The vote was taken, and
the Democrats voted along party lines to keep Johnson as the representative, and offered me to be alternate. Johnson has never in my history on P&Z or before my time provided the Commission with any reports about what
goes on at these monthly meetings, or comment on his ability to attend. Citizens concerned with Middletown being adequately represented at this important board should direct questions to Johnson.

Molly Salafia
Assoc. AIA, LEED GA
Planning and Zoning Commissioner