Revitalizing Connecticut Cities

Tom Condon, Hartford Courant editorial page editor, and Bruce Becker of Becker & Becker, one of the most influential developers in urban revitalization, discussed the revitalization of Connecticut cities during last Friday’s Common Hour. Professor Abigail Van Slyck from the Art History and Architectural Studies departments moderated the discussion.

Condon started the Common Hour with a brief history of urbanization and social dynamics in the Northeast United States and its evolution since 1840. Between 1840-1920, manufacturing cities in the Northeast increased. During this time, the rich and poor lived together in the same cities and attended the same churches and fraternal organizations.

In 1920 cities begin to decline with the rise of cheap cars, cheap gas and the emergence of highway systems throughout the United States. Until 1970, “Urban Renewal” projects were initiated, which actually created a schism between the socioeconomic classes. Condon calls this schism a “disastrous separation,” because the rich moved into the suburbs while the poor were pushed into public housing projects and disenfranchised, “isolated in the inner city.”

Condon noted that, about 10-15 years ago, developers recognized the shortcoming of urban revitalization and that “this had all started at a point in history when gas was really cheap which led to dependence on foreign oil, pollution water sources and asthmatic problems for those living in cities.”

Public policy has responded to the realization that past urban projects have been detrimental to the environment; policy is starting to look to “repopulating cities by using transits instead of cars.”
Similarly, Becker’s projects reflect this commitment to creating healthier, more sustainable cities, stating that it is “all about creating sustainable places . . . by restoring buildings and places, which involves design, planning, public policy, advocacy and tax policy.”

One of Becker’s projects, the Morgan Hotel in Norwich, Conn, is a sustainable building with shops and 70 units of affordable housing.

In New Haven, Becker worked to develop the former Shartenberg Department Store in the heart of the city. This building, located near Shoreline East and Yale University, is 32 stories with 50 of the 500 apartments designed for lower-income families. The New Haven project is a LEED-Platinum project, the highest standard of sustainability according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Becker attributes his success as a developer and green architect to his liberal arts degree: “Maybe it’s my idealism that makes it so that I make things happen,” and gave a piece of advice to the students: “Refuse to let yourself be boxed in professionally.”

Audience members brought the conversation back to the city of New London. What can be done right here for the revitalization movement?

Becker cites that the challenge is getting capital to come into the city. However, through sound public policy and a private market where people see they can get a return, New London could improve. Condon encouraged the students to get involved and advocate against the state property tax system, which he describes as “upside down,” and believes that New London should utilize its natural resources – like the harbor – to help revitalization efforts.