Hartford’s future: 2020 visions of the city in 2025, in 2030

What will Hartford be like in the next five or 10 years?

Who will live here? Will the average age be younger or older than it is today? Will the city skyline look the same? What kind of endeavors will thrive here? Where will people congregate? What about traffic and gridlock?

What industries will disappear, and what might take their place? Will cars all be self-driving, or will we even still drive cars? Will bike lanes grow wider? Will the interstates be underground? Will there be more activity on and along the river? Will there be more pocket parks and fewer parking lots? Will more people head into the city at night than head out at the end of the workday?

Will our climate be drastically different, and how might that affect city life?

Will Hartford become a leading tourist destination for its rich mix of arts and history and festivals and its lively street life? A powerhouse of innovation? A backwater? A decadent place where people only think about going out to eat and drink?

Will it be a dynamic metropolis where residents prosper, or will many people still struggle with poverty and crime? What structural changes are needed if Hartford is to become a city where residents truly prosper?

How many languages will Hartford residents speak? Could there suddenly be a glut of grocery stores and supermarkets in the city? Will the North End develop its own retail destination, a la Blue Back Square or Westfarms?

What will the city’s identity be in five or 10 years? Will Hartford still have “it” in 2025 and 2030? Or will we look back at having lost “it”? Or will we finally really have “it”?

We’d like to know what you imagine the city can be — and will be. What do you boldly envision? What will it take to make it happen? Email your predictions and visions of Hartford’s future to nschoeffler@hartfordmag.com, with “Hartford Visions” in the subject field.

To get the conversation started, we asked a number of people what they envision for Hartford’s future in the next five to 10 years.

Kim Bishop, executive director, HYPE at MetroHartford Alliance: “With the increase in apartments and condos on the market, an active and vibrant arts and cultural scene, restaurants, sporting events and so much more, we’re creating a downtown space that is attractive to young talent and will only continue to flourish. My greater vision is for this trend to continue outside of downtown into Hartford’s neighborhoods, with an increase in homeownership and expansion of business opportunities throughout the city. If the progress we’ve made in the last five years is any indication, we’re well on our way for that to happen!”

Jennifer Cassidy, board member and former chair, Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association; merchant coordinator, Business for Downtown Hartford: “I envision a healthy Hartford where more local, fresh food will be grown and eaten. Residents will grow their own food in community gardens or where they live (after testing the soil for lead). There will be farm stands throughout the city to make it easier for farmers to sell their produce. The Hartford Regional Market will be a thriving place to purchase fresh food year-round. It also will offer cooking demonstrations, healthy recipes, an incubator kitchen and incentives for innovative entrepreneurial opportunities around food. Improved composting will be a useful end to the food cycle, helping to enrich Hartford soil and reduce waste.”

Julio Concepción, executive director, Hartford Chamber of Commerce: “Hartford’s future is bright, and its success is sustainable for generations. Not only do we have a dynamic downtown that is now thriving after 5 p.m., but more importantly we have true organic strength of our diverse neighborhoods. While we should rightfully highlight the increase in residential housing, additional amenities and public space activation in downtown, Hartford’s promising future lies in the development and foundation created by the people in our neighborhoods. Continuing to invest in Parkville (Parkville Market), Blue Hills (Weaver High School), CSS/CON, the Coalition to Strengthen Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (Dillon Stadium) and the Northeast (Swift Factory) neighborhoods, just to name a few, will drive prosperity in Hartford for decades to come.”

Tom Condon, former Hartford Courant columnist and editorial writer, now writes for The Connecticut Mirror: “While I think Hartford will see some improvement — transit east of the river, more development in Parkville and Upper Albany — Hartford cannot make a major leap forward without a major structural change. With so little taxable property in a property tax system, Hartford is programmed to fail. It cannot attract business with the highest commercial tax rate in the state. Without a major change — regional tax sharing, some form of metro government, something — Hartford is stuck. Change must come from the state, and it is perhaps the ultimate leadership challenge.”

Larry Dooley, owner of CG Management Co. and managing partner of Colt Gateway: “In the next five to 10 years, the Coltsville Historic District will be established as a National Historical Park and the Forge and Foundry buildings will be fully restored into visitor centers with educational and exhibition space. The compelling story of Sam and Elizabeth Colt will finally be told in a thoughtful and truthful fashion by the experts at the National Park Service. The intrigue of the Colt story, the blue dome and the exciting adaptive reuse of the historic space under the dome will propel Hartford into its rightful spot as one of the most historically significant cities in the United States.”

Patrick Doyle, executive director, KNOX: “Hartford is coming together and in five years I envision a city where people are more connected to one another and to the natural world. Farmers markets and community gardens are growing so people have access to healthy food that reflects their culture; air quality and wellness are improving thanks to citywide efforts to restore the urban tree canopy, and, as the health of the city improves, more vibrant Hartford residents are able to find meaningful jobs. Based on what I see today, I am optimistic about Hartford’s future and looking forward to seeing how we can grow Hartford together.”

Michael Freimuth, executive director, Capital Region Development Authority: “Hartford will soon enjoy increased access to the riverfront, improved linkage to the suburbs and a greater connection between the downtown and the neighborhoods. The city’s economic base is being re-calibrated with new and smaller industries, and this will drive an expansion of the educational and cultural institutions. There will be pain in the process, and it will not be done by great one-time ‘home runs,’ but rather it will occur over a relatively short interim period with multiple smaller independent efforts. As these internal changes come to Hartford, larger regional evolution will increase the city’s relationship to Boston, Providence and New York.”

John Q. Gale, attorney; Hartford City Council assistant majority leader: “I see all downtown storefronts fully occupied in a center city that now has a food truck district; outdoor dining on State House Square; a floating restaurant at the riverfront with maybe several (Airbnb) houseboats; 1,000 units of new housing mostly congregated around the baseball stadium; a passway through the XL Center, connecting Trumbull and Ann, loaded with kiosks; and bikes, scooters and murals everywhere. And the coup d’état, signifying that Hartford has really turned a corner, will be construction, with private dollars, planned or underway on the two lots at Main and Asylum, and at Asylum, Ford and Pearl!”

Erin Howard, director of economic development, city of Hartford: “The past five years, the city has focused on stabilizing its foundation, which in return has driven an uptick in private investments focused on housing and innovation. In the next five to 10 years I hope to see Hartford having benefited from additional investments and opportunities that have expanded across the city, both downtown and in the neighborhoods. Specifically I look forward to the city becoming a stronger vibrant core that attracts and retains Connecticut’s future younger workforce who call Hartford home. In doing so, Hartford will become an even livelier city that celebrates its diversity and capitalizes on its arts and entertainment as a place to not only work but to live and play.”

Aaron Knight, international business development project manager, state Department of Economic and Community Development; chair-elect of HYPE: “I envision that Hartford will have completed its return towards a vibrant, bustling capital city; that investments made downtown will continue to provide entertainment options to draw visitors to the city; and that our multicultural neighborhoods will be safe and prosperous for Hartford residents.”

James E. LaPosta Jr., FAIA, principal / chief architectural officer, JCJ Architecture: “I believe that in the next five to 10 years Hartford will see a resurgence of human-centered design to support a growing innovation economy. One size no longer fits all, and smaller urban centers are ideally suited to respond to this change. The lines between places for education, work and recreation will become increasingly blurry as building and urban design solutions adapt to a generation that expects to customize their daily experience.”

U.S. Rep. John Larson: “Since the time of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, Hartford has been a hub of manufacturing. With investments from companies like Stanley Black and Decker, and other companies, I know that this will only continue to grow over the next five to 10 years. This is an exciting time in Hartford’s history, and we have an opportunity to capitalize on this positive momentum by addressing the region’s infrastructure head on. It’s long past time to remove the highway barriers that have divided Hartford by tunneling I-84 and I-91. This would allow Hartford to recapture its riverfront, connect Coltsville National Historical Park to the river, repair the levee system, reclaim greenspace, expand multi-modal transportation options, and create new economic and job opportunities for the city and the region.”

Bruce Mandell, chairman and CEO, Hartford Athletic: “I see a vibrant downtown where a day like our first-ever home match at Dillon Stadium is the norm with sold-out events across the city bringing in those from all over the region. Hartford becomes a hub for sports and entertainment, more and more folks choose to live downtown, and a change in the regionalization of property taxes leads to growth in downtown businesses.”

Nyesha McCauley, communications manager, Achieve Hartford: “In the next five to 10 years Hartford will have realigned its priorities to better serve Hartford residents. Leading the way will be how we reimagine education to give our children the future they deserve. We will do this by creating open-walled environments that expand learning experiences in new dynamic ways, developing a learner-centered network of educational opportunities. We will rethink what we do have in the city of Hartford and coordinate our resources to leverage expansive learning opportunities that awaken the dormant potential in our children.”

Bruce Putterman, publisher, The Connecticut Mirror: “As the state budget and pension crisis becomes increasingly challenging, Hartford and its suburbs will increasingly see the value of embracing regional solutions to economic, social, educational and transportation issues. That will strengthen the region, boost economic growth and mitigate (slightly) the state’s budget situation. And that will cause suburban leaders to ask why they didn’t embrace ‘regionalism’ decades ago.”

Bridget Quinn-Carey, CEO, Hartford Public Library: “Hartford will fully emerge as the cultural and educational epicenter of our state and Northeast region. Literature, theater, humanities, history, art, film, dance — the most brilliant and creative minds are here and as more inevitably arrive the rich cultural landscape will only continue to expand. Along with artists and creators, students and learners of every age will continue to clamor for even more stimulating and thought-provoking experiences, of which there will be an abundance.”

Lena Rodriguez, president and CEO, Community Renewal Team: “I’m very excited about the future of Hartford in the next 10 years. I expect to see fantastic development in downtown Hartford, along the lines of the successes we’re already starting to see with Dunkin’ Donuts Park and the Yard Goats. I think the downtown is going to be much more robust, and it will become more of a walking community complete with businesses and services that make it attractive to both residents and visitors alike.”

Jason Rojas, state representative; chief of staff and associate vice president for external affairs, Trinity College: “My vision for Hartford in five to 10 years is that we see ourselves more as a Greater Hartford region and less as independent towns each believing we can be successful alone in the long term. It will be a region that has governing and service delivery systems that are designed at the regional level so we can adequately address public policy challenges that are regional in nature: environmental protection, affordable housing, workforce development and transportation among many others. Perhaps most critical is the need to address existing economic and racial isolation that limits opportunity and economic growth across the region as wealth, capital, development and poverty become even more concentrated.”

Devra Lee Sisitsky, executive director, MakerSpaceCT: “Bustling streets in Hartford filled with energy and vibrancy will fill the downtown area. Rapid growth for startups and early-stage companies will continue as a result of the innovation ecosystem developing in the city. With our universities, accelerators, incubators, makerspaces and boot camps providing access to equipment, technology, resources and support, this ecosystem will become strong and dynamic, allowing for complete prototyping, additive manufacturing and technology development capabilities for Insurtech, Medtech, Fintech, IoT devices, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. Hartford visionaries and makers will continue to drive technological innovation in our culture.”

Glendowlyn Thames, Hartford City Council president; deputy commissioner of business development, COO and chief financial officer, state Department of Economic and Community Development: “In the next five to 10 years, Hartford will experience unprecedented economic growth. Hartford will be a leader for inclusive growth, creating more opportunities for residents while becoming a hub of innovation aligned with the region’s industry strengths.”

Cary Wheaton, founder and executive director, Billings Forge Community Works: “Hartford is a wonderful and diverse city that is home to a wide variety of cultures and communities. A lot of people in our neighborhoods have vision, power, energy, heart and enthusiasm. Their voices are not often heard or translate into influence in our institutions and boardrooms. My prediction is that power will be assumed, taken where need be, by these communities. My wish is that those holding power now become allies in creating a city with equal access to education, employment, housing, health, culture and happiness.”