So many places in Hartford are in stasis while the State decides what to do with I-84, but Hawthorn Street is evolving. Two new town homes are being constructed on the end by Forest Street. The restored home at the corner of Imlay and Hawthorn Streets was a previous NINA project. What do these have in common besides NINA? They all function as transit-oriented development, being a very short walk from the Sigourney Street CTfastrak station — which actually has direct access to Hawthorn, rather than Sigourney.

Now, if Hartford wants to really step up its game, it’ll convert the surface parking lot sprawl on Hawthorn into more housing. This area is walking distance to several major employers, not to mention Hartford Public High School, and the Twain and Stowe properties. Two farmers’ markets — on Laurel Street and Farmington Avenue — are not more than a five-minute walk from the bus station.