Yesterday I witnessed a truly fine block party for the residents of Marshall Street.  Sponsored  by a number of Asylum Hill organizations this party was a total success.  Many people gathered to delight in hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, soda and cotton candy.  Yet food was not the only attraction because there were games, trampolines, face-painting and free books.  As a resident of Asylum Hill I was in wonder of the many countries represented by the people who now call Hartford home.

It took great restraint for me not to cut in line for the cotton candy.  It always speaks summer to me and clearly it brought smiles to all who ate it! 

2 Park Terrace – the dreaded fence

When first we talked about this property we had been contacted by the owner, Jeff Ball, who wanted to do the right thing by his home in Frog Hollow.  HPA offered to work with Jeff on technical assistance matters to include the repair and renovation to his front porch, the elimination of one pretty terrible fence, a painting scheme and gutters.  Happily we have engaged the services of Valerio Giadone, architect, who is working with HPA clients to make suggested renovations.  You can view several sketches of the porch repairs which will be utilized as Jeff talks with his porch contractor.

l to r: Phil Barlow, Jeff Ball, Valerio Giadone

The owner has come to recognize that the fence enclosing his property is pretty much an eyesore.  He inquired whether the boundary might not be defined through a landscape plan rather than install a new fence. 

We reached out to Phil Barlow, TO Design, LLC  and asked if he might offer guidance to Jeff.  We held a powwow at the property and hope to have a simple design shortly which the owner can plant and maintain.  We are to understand that friends will gather to bid a not-so-fond farewell to the fence, apparently beer and a cookout might be in order.

Please keep checking back for additions to this urban project.  If you have color suggestions we all would love to hear from you!!!!!!!

Valerio Giadone’s design

In recent posts I have written about our new strategic plan.  It envisions how our organization will grow and make a difference in the development of Hartford.  As we see it, what becomes new is built on our amazing history. We have a rich historic fabric of Technicolor neighborhoods and communities.  Hartford is a diverse city and it is that diversity that represents how the city was built and how it will continue to grow.

HPA, as other non-profits, relies on a governing body which can guide, advise and lead as we carry out our mission – to Connect, Revitalize and Collaborate.  Our board needs to be as diverse as the city in which we work by adequately representing those who live here.  Modern historic preservation is growing as a dynamic field with a role to play in urban planning and helping to create sustainable communities.  Our strategic plan challenges us to put energy and talent into making a better, more creative city as we collaborate in building the future Hartford. We at HPA choose to be a community partner and we need help to carry the message that historic preservation matters here.

We have vacancies on our board of directors and want to reach out to those of you who wish to live, work and play here.  We want our board to be as diverse as the citizens of the city who built Hartford.  If you are a believer and want to share some of your time and talent, we would truly like to welcome your help.  For more information contact Frank Hagaman 860.920.2410 or frank@hartfordpreservation.org.

May is Historic Preservation Month nationally.  For us at HPA the timing could not be better to launch a robust discussion what preservation is to mean in Hartford.  Recently we affirmed the our new strategic plan  which will see the organization evolve into a partner dedicated to community economic development.  Our planning began with asking questions of people who care about Hartford.  Who are we, what do we do and more to the point what can we do?  Those responses have been the foundation of business plan which hopes to be relevant as the City moves forward in an exciting era growth. Our mission is simple: “Revitalize, Connect, Collaborate”. Our values: “Community Building, Sense of Place, Economic Development”.

We have asked several key people who are committed and engaged in the future of Hartford to accept an invitation to be guest bloggers for HPA.  We have challenged these leaders to expand on assigned topics taken from the blog articles Six Practical Reasons to Save Old Buildings and What’s “Historic” – And Who Says?  During this month we will post their thoughts. 

We at HPA are eager to have this opportunity to launch a part of our campaign to engage the Hartford community in a conversation of “Why Does Historic Preservation Matter”.  But we want to challenge you, our reading audience to contribute your own thoughts about historic preservation and what it can and should mean for Hartford’s future. Add your comments below and/or comment and share our Facebook posts.

Stay tuned…………………………