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By Kerri Provost, January 11, 2012 2:55 pm

rendering courtesy of iQuilt

As barrels of trash heaved into the pond in Bushnell Park remain there for nearly a week and as the water feature in the playground nearby continues to be broken for years on end, residents and stakeholders were presented with the iQuilt’s dream plan of bring flowing water through the park.

Using identity strategy and enculturation to rally support, those leading this project dismissed skeptics as lacking vision. As much was said twice yesterday at a mini-presentation during a Rising Star Breakfast and in the evening before the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The presentation included codewords,  as several supporters described selves as “believers” and even went so far as to say that bring flowing water back into the park would be good for our “souls.”

The presentation included visual appeals to nostalgia and romance. The lovely, verdant design renderings seduced the participant into imagining a pristine urban paradise in which those seeking recreation can choose to wade across a 50-100 foot wide brook, meander through pop up studios and greenhouses, or linger on any of the nine bridges that would be added to Bushnell Park.

Urban design presentations, as a whole, dazzle those from whom they want support, but fail to provide real answers that concerned residents have about what is slated to happen in our backyards.

Prior to the presentation, Real Hartford readers submitted questions they had about this project, which are marked in bold and are direct quotes, unless noted otherwise.

Who is doing the planning?

The iQuilt, in the works for several years now, is described as a “culture based urban design plan for Downtown Hartford.”

The iQuilt is a private/public partnership which receives support from various institutions including the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Bushnell Park Foundation, CIGNA, City of Hartford, State of Connecticut, MDC, Riverfront Recapture, Connecticut Light & Power, Northeast Utilities, Travelers, and United Illuminating. Suisman Urban Design has been leading the iQuilt design team. A 501(c)3 was formed recently. Continue reading 'iQuilt: Dotting i’s'»

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By Kerri Provost,

There was a lot of buzz yesterday about the iQuilt project, which many had not heard of despite it being in existence since 2008.

One space this plan focuses on is Bushnell Park.

The photos below were taken on Tuesday, the same day as when Doug Suisman of Suisman Urban Design shared many ambitious ideas about how the iQuilt plan can impact the park. These photos are taken from the perspective of a pedestrian/cyclist commuter, though an effort was made to include some of the park’s attractions. These photographs show the range of conditions and maintenance in Bushnell Park as of January 2012.

Part of the East Coast Greenway runs between the Armory and the Legislative Office Building. This path continues over a highway on-ramp, along the railroad tracks and viaduct, and into Bushnell Park. Sand continuously covers part of this path because of poor maintenance. None of the neighboring entities (Bushnell Park, State of Connecticut, Amtrak, etc.) take consistent responsibility for dealing with the erosion issues.

Continue reading 'Walking Tour of Bushnell Park'»

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By Kerri Provost, November 20, 2011 6:34 pm

The decision to remove a second-generation scion of the Charter Oak was bittersweet for many parishioners at Center Church, but in September, the tree at the corner of Main and Gold was taken down. Now, a milled slab of it is on display at the Connecticut Historical Society as part of the New Life for Connecticut Trees exhibit.

It’s in good company.

Also on display: furniture made from a tree that stood in front of the Ivoryton Playhouse. That former tree’s story? In its shade, Marlon Brando and Katharine Hepburn used to run through their lines. Continue reading 'Upcycling Urban Trees'»

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By Kerri Provost, November 17, 2011 11:39 pm

If the police issue several traffic advisories letting the public know that they will likely be unable to use a street during part of the day, and then they barricade that street so that no vehicular traffic can use it, can activists who — after the road has been made impassable already — are physically blocking an entrance ramp on that block be arrested for impeding traffic?

Yes.

A dozen people, including some with SEIU, CCAG, and the machinists’ union, were peacefully arrested after blocking the Broad Street on-ramp to I-84 East. Peter Goselin, with the National Lawyers Guild, said that the arrests were carried out smoothly.

Continue reading 'Ramping Up Demonstrations'»

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By Kerri Provost, October 31, 2011 11:11 am

Here is your monthly list of hand-picked events. There may be others, but those did not make the cut:

November 1st

Hartford Candidates Forum: Candidates from all parties and running for all offices this year have been invited to participate in a forum hosted by the Greater Hartford NAACP. This will be held in the Northend Senior Center at 80 Coventry Street, from 6 to 9 in the evening. The local NAACP’s president, Muhammad Ansari, says “this forum will provide an opportunity for residents in North Hartford who may not have been able to attend events in other parts of the city.” UPDATE: forum cancelled due to Storm Alfred. It will not be rescheduled.

November 1 (through next year)

New Life for Connecticut Trees: Furniture by City Bench exhibit at the Connecticut Historical Society Museum. Objects made from trees otherwise destined for the landfill.

November 2nd

Get HYPEd at ON20. The casual networking event, open to members and non-members of HYPE, will feature a free raffle. The prize? A tasting dinner for two at ON20. This event runs from 5:30-8:30pm.

November 4th

Women’s Oppression and Liberation Forum: three of the six panelists will include Nellie Bailey, the host of weekly radio program “Inside Housing” on WHCR; Monami Maulik, founder and executive director of Desis Rising Up and Moving; and a representative from Hartford Vecinos Unidos. The event begins at 7:30pm and will be held at La Paloma Sabanera.

November 4th and 5th

Killadelphia is a 75-minute show by Sean Christopher Lewis, presented by HartBeat Ensemble, in the Hollander Building. It presents perspectives on crime in Philly. Click here to get ticket info for this performance. Continue reading 'November Events'»

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By Kerri Provost, October 1, 2011 9:46 pm

art by Kelley Hensing

Steampunk is anachronistic fiction. Fantasy.

Many of the creations and technologies within this culture are inspired by the works of Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells, and Mark Twain.

How appropriate, then, for the 2011 Steampunk Bizarre Exhibit to be housed in at the Mark Twain House & Museum.

This exhibit — which will be open through mid-January 2012 — includes work by 21 artists: Mark Adams, Danny Ashby, Mike Cochran, Brad Harrison, Kelley Hensing, Don Higgins, Brett Kelley, David Lee, Kiara Leistikow, Jessica Lilley, Jeffrey Lilley, Mike Marchand, Tim Marchand, James Muscarello, Katheryn Paterwic, Daniel Proulx, Nick Robatto, Bruce Rosenbaum, Justin Stanley, Thomas Willeford, and Joey Marsocci. Continue reading 'Steampunk Bizarre Exhibit Opens at Mark Twain House & Museum'»

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By Kerri Provost, September 13, 2011 8:33 am

There are two upcoming opportunities to see what the iQuilters think should be changed about Bushnell Park and parts of Downtown, and these events give the public the chance to go on record with our thoughts. Continue reading 'Public Comment on Final iQuilt Designs'»

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By Kerri Provost, August 19, 2011 9:42 am

A sukkah is a temporary, outdoor tent or hut, constructed for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Charter Oak Cultural Center along with Riverfront Recapture will be presenting Sukkah City, as part of the harvest festival. This will be installed at Charter Oak Landing during early October.

To make it happen, they are looking for architects and artists to submit designs. Six will be selected for construction, and winning designers will receive a $100 stipend. Artists of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply; being Jewish is not a requirement. Continue reading 'Sukkah City: Call for Artists'»

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By Kerri Provost, August 17, 2011 9:28 pm

Try ignoring dozens of sunflowers towering over you.

Neither could Mayor Segarra nor Governor Malloy while talking about how arts and cultural institutions have shown themselves as assets to the economy. Segarra said that being at events where there are fresh flowers and vegetables make him a “happy mayor”; Malloy reminisced about the sunflowers that bent under their own weight, which he saw on his last vacation before taking office as governor.

On Wednesday afternoon, they, along with Cary Wheaton (Executive Director of Billings Forge Community Works) and Elizabeth Hucker (Director of Community Investment with the Greater Hartford Arts Council) addressed a small gathering on the green in front of the community garden beds at Billings Forge on Broad Street. A few gardeners tended their plots while all this was happening a few yards away. Continue reading 'Billings Forge Recognized on Governor Malloy’s Jobs Tour'»

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By Kerri Provost, August 15, 2011 4:52 pm

Depending on how you measure it, this may be the oldest church in Connecticut. It’s definitely the oldest church in Hartford.

Center Church was founded in 1632 in Cambridge (née Newtown), Massachusetts. Thomas Hooker was the minister, who, after some kind of dispute with the State of Massachusetts, said “we out” and brought his congregation to Hartford in 1636. Hooker is credited as being the founder of Connecticut; a parade has been named in his honor.

This meeting house piqued my curiosity over the years, mainly because of the historical angle. If facing the church from Main Street, you can see the Ancient Burying Ground to its right, where something like 90% of those buried never received grave markers, and where Hooker is rumored to be buried. It is also rumored that Hooker’s grave is underneath Center Church.

How is that possible? Continue reading 'Hartford Pew Review: Center Church'»