Economic Development Commission - Regular Meeting

Quorum. Morning, John. Morning. Has everyone had a chance to take a look at the minutes? And if so, I'd like to entertain a motion to approve. So move. Second. Bob has to speak up. Bob has to Yeah, I was just unmuting. A second. Okay. All those in favor? I opposed. Okay, minutes pass. That's good. Old business. Is that Linda? Is that you or John? And is that anything? I I have nothing for old business. Okay.

Likewise, nothing for old business. So there's no updates to anything that's we've been talking about then. Correct. Um not with this commission. other efforts with, you know, where we can I I'm not sure if you want to talk about just the brochure um or anything else, but I thought that would probably be separate from this. Yeah, because I want to actually have a meeting with you and go over it. I I just a comment. I I still think um it's not simple. I I

I don't know if anyone else I find the town website very difficult to handle and I'm usually pretty good at this but there's just so much detail in there sometimes. So we'll talk about it. I don't know how I was going to give you a little rest but Linda for you and John to sort of recuperate. Is is this week have time? Is next next week better? Next week next week's better. We got a lot of stuff we got to get ready for the TPZ. Okay, Linda, I'll reach out to you privately afterwards and we'll see if I can come in. Just I need like a half an hour just to go over it with you. Yeah. Yeah, that would be great. What we're talking about, why don't you tell Linda what you and I are are talking about now so people know.

Oh, sure. Um, so we've developed a um a brochure uh for the public. Um it's called um zoning and land use permitting guide uh for uh opening a business. Um it's supposed to just um be a very simple guide to uh guide the public on getting zoning approvals or land use approvals. Um that could be somewhat complex. So, it's kind of hard to put so much information, a whole book in one brochure.

Um, but we we're trying to develop just a very simple uh few-step guide on on on how to do that. So, that's where we are and um we've completed one, but it still needs some work. And this is in addition to Denise, the the work that that GMA and New York has done. yours is almost at 30,000 ft and this is really down at the at the beginners's level and um yeah it it is it's an interesting trip. Uh

well I think I think that the brochure that Gman York has is resources for businesses on business planning right you know this uh is more a permitting guide. So as as many of you are aware permitting can be very complex um you know depending on the zone depending on the type of business. There are so many parts to um you know uh kind of doing an analysis on a business on what category they fall under and then based on that whether it's retail, restaurant uh many you know depending on that then um you know you look at the zoning district that it's permitted under um and then the process for that specific business type in addition to the space um whether the space meets those criterias from permitting or not. Um, you know, uh, setbacks, parking, um, there are other requirements that goes along with uses. Um, and so it it, you know, when you look at a site, you have to make sure that that site meets all those criterias. So, you know, putting everything in in one, you know, just, you know, trifold can sometimes be challenging. Um but we're I I think you know um you know just one determining the zoning district or the type of business you fall under determining the zoning district. Um you know determining whether or not it requires further permitting. Um if it was an existing business or very similar determined to be similar then you don't need it. Um but if it's not similar then you would need a special permit depending on the district. So you know it just be it it's it's not as simple

right as um opening you know giving someone um hey this is how you open a business um you know you go here you have a business plan along with the business plan you know there are so many other parts to it um so I you know it it's one of those um we're working on it I think it's a good start Linda and it's just what what you and I are trying to do I think is kind of do an intervention before somebody gets in so deep and they've committed committed money and they've committed time and they've committed resources. So like I said we'll we'll do this offline but it's um I'm I'm very happy that that you're working on it uh for me with me Sadique.

Yeah, first of all I must congratulate both of you for you know taking this initiative. This is very good plan. This is exactly what the development commission should be about progressing developing helping the new businesses and attract them. My quick question would be how are you going to make it available to the public? Would it be on website? Uh I I would prefer that so that people can access it easily as easily as possible.

Yeah, it'll be it'll be online but it'll also be physically in the office. And then the other piece of this which I'll talk to you about at some other time or maybe later here if we have time um is uh an expediter. this is what I've offered to do with the um with the land use and building commission and I'm not an expert obviously but I have some some background in this so that when I go in I'm almost going to be a translator because what I find the hardest thing anywhere when you go into an area where you don't whether it's finances, real estate, medical, the lingo is very specific to that that that um expertise and most people don't speak it. And I had an experience, Linda. I was at the counter with a fellow that was asking about expanding his driveway. And I I forget the name of the the woman. It's the the senior woman there. Anyway, she's talking to me. It was great. She's explaining everything to him. And when she walked away, I said, "So, did you understand?" He said, "No, not a word."

And that because you don't want to look like you're stupid either. You know, you think it's got to be easy. How hard could it be? Yeah. So that's I think one of the bigger initial challenges is just to figure out how to explain simple language that is not specific to zoning. But again, any other question? Great idea.

Thank you. Thank you. Um okay, new business. Now, this is something Bob, I'm sorry I didn't contact you in advance about it, but I thought since we didn't have a big agenda, it's something we might want to talk about. Um, we've discussed, you've discussed, and and our commission has discussed, uh, some kind of a, and I guess it's a text amendment. This is part of my question. Um, for a 1% contribution to public arts for any any um, application over a certain dollar amount. And Bob, if you want to talk about it a little bit, I'd be happy to have have you take over, or I can just tell you what I've been thinking about. Well, I'd like to hear what you what you're thinking and everyone on the commission. Uh, basically, uh, very shorthand is this is a concept that has been adopted nationwide. Um, excuse me, for decades. Uh, a lot of, uh, downtown Houston, uh, has art that was put in its place by developers of, uh, gigantic buildings like the Shell headquarters. Uh, but, uh, bringing it to Connecticut, uh, last I checked, there were, um, over 20, maybe now over 30 communities that have some version of this. uh and uh we'd have to define it for ourselves. And by ourselves, I mean obviously it has to go through uh uh zoning and those boards, but as well the the town council because it would have to become a um a part of part of our um uh rules and regulations at least. uh uh and what we're uh suggesting is that it be um a

certain dollar amount and certain type. So although it seems outrageous, we would say exempt someone who is uh building a $2 million home.

Yeah. single family home in in a town would not necessarily have to uh do that. But uh $2 million toward a a commercial property or or uh an apartment uh uh addition or complex uh would trigger that. And what we are envisioning is that those funds not go directly back to the town as such but be put in a special fund to be administered and supervised by the town but administered by the art commission. Mhm.

So, uh, for instance, and I will give you an update in a few minutes, what the commission has accomplished now on that famous bear sculpture, but um, uh, if we had those funds available now, we could pay for the bear sculpture out of that, for instance. Uh, so, uh, it's a it's a concept that will require um, uh, presentation to the town council. uh we would run it through uh your departments uh John and and Linda first to have your uh your thoughts and suggestions uh and so we are uh trying to uh pull things together over over a period of time. Obviously the council has been um busy and engaged with other things.

Yeah.

So we haven't asked for an audience yet on that. uh and uh uh we would uh uh probably run it by Al as well who has expressed an interest in in supporting the arts in town. So So that's the quick quick summary of it. Uh it's wellestablished across uh Connecticut and the country uh and uh successfully supports a lot of uh a lot of art uh installations. Uh I don't believe that West Hartford has this yet, but they have done something similar, which is uh they've solicited contributions to public art. And as we all know, there are a number of sculptures and other art projects around uh their town uh which have been um supported by business contributions.

Thank you. Any questions or comments? Any thoughts? Is this something that the commission is interested in undertaking? I don't think it's going to take a tremendous amount of time, but I do think it's going to take our support of this and perhaps are taking the lead on this, taking it to TPZ to start the discussion. Yes. Uh we would certainly appreciate that when we're ready to do that. Yes. You said you had some thoughts, Bonnie. You were there something else? Well, I I'm just curious, Trish or Sadi, any comments at the moment or you want to wait and hear more? I I think it's a good idea, but I'm still, you know, waiting to hear more.

Okay. Um, the reason, Bob, that I I mean, I've talked you and I have talked about this in the past, but the reason that I think this is a time to do something with it is because of the the the number of comments we got about the bear and we don't need a bear and we don't I it's not going this will not come out of taxpayer money. This will come out of developer money. And I think that's going to be a much easier cell. I think it's I firmly believe that's the way it should be done. And I think that it's I I understand how how some people feel that they feel that we're, you know, we're so strapped for cash, every dime should be spent on something that directly benefits the community. This will indirectly benefit the community. I'm absolutely convinced of it. Just the same way I feel about what I think can eventually happen with the Graanby Street area. It's going to take time. It's going to be a process. But we very much need to hear people say, "I'm happy to be in Bloomfield. I'm proud to be in Bloomfield. It we're we're we're doing things. We're we're committing to to things." And I just and maybe it'll be a way of coming together a little bit. Who knows? I mean, I'm very I'm always the optimist almost. Um that's all I have to say. Uh Viv, do you have any comments? Did

Um No, not at this time. Unfortunately, I was running a couple minutes late. Oh, I'm sorry. We're talking about the 1% for for public art. Ah, okay. Yeah. Well, I'm certainly um you know my background, so I'm always I do. That's why of art and public art and making art more accessible. So, I'm already gonna put a a plus for me on that one. Good. Okay. Thank you, Sadi. Did you have any comments?

Well, yeah. I mean, you know, Bob has been working on it for quite a few years. I think at least as much such as know four five years. So he has accomplished this much. Um I'm sure there would be some kind of committee or commission that would prioritize the use of the funds where and how they will be used. So that will be probably a later you know question when things are in place money is coming in. Right now we are just talking an abstract I guess right but I but I do do people agree that this is an initiative that belongs to EDCDA that we should be the ones that try to bring it forward.

Okay because that's that's what I'm looking for. That's how I feel. I think we're a somewhat objective hopefully seen as somewhat objective in the community and not politically. couple of couple of uh response comments, Bonnie and everyone. Uh what uh drives this and it needs to be uh made the case that arts of this sort um drive economic development, right?

Uh people are interested in coming to the town. uh people who go through the town on their way somewhere else, like commuting to Granby uh will see public art and say, "Oh, well, you know, uh maybe this is a a good town to stop and and buy something along the way." Which of course goes with the center project. uh historically and I'll be very brief about this uh some of you I'm not sure all of you were at the meeting uh one of my very first on the EDC where uh Sigma was getting their uh their support for their renovations and we asked them would they make a contribution to the arts and they went back to their home office and claimed that uh no they could not and would not And we know that's a lie because uh there are states in which uh Sigma operates where they must contribute to the arts by law. So that triggered I'm curious, Bondi, you said you've heard comments around town who needs a bear. We have not heard that. There were two comments made at two different um public hearings of the town council when they were talking about the budget and as they were cutting everything including our $200 money for our commission which we got back. Um there were two residents who and I understand why they say you know what do we need a bear for? Who's why should we spend money on that? We need to spend money on this and that and that and that's how these discussions always go. But that started me thinking that maybe this is the right time for for this commission, not the arts commission, to take the initiative and package it as an economic multiplier, not as a an artsy fartsy, you know, little extra that we want to throw in because we want to see a piece of art.

Yeah. Okay. Uh well, that's all I have. Uh tell you want me to give an update on what the art commission is doing? Uh sure. You might as well. We're That's the next thing. Commission member updates. It's all yours. Since we're talking about it anyway. Uh

uh I do have a positive progress report on that. Uh two things actually. Uh one is that as far as the bear is concerned, we have just recently within the last two weeks uh progressed with the artist. We have a a proposed uh uh design for the bayer. I won't share the first design uh with all of you, but I will next month uh with the revisions because we had uh a meeting of the art commission last week and and there were some very productive uh suggestions made about uh changing the design. Uh but we're ready to go. but for the uh timing on payments. Uh and uh you know me, I've always been very open and and direct about criticizing uh the procedures in town. Uh we actually have an a large percent of our unexpended budget for this fiscal year that is 26 which has not been spent. And we have an allocation we're waiting to hear for next year. And we're told that the project cannot be split for payments into two years. It has to all be done in one year.

And neither our uh uh proposed uh uh budget for next year nor our budget for this year is sufficient to pay for the whole thing in one year. which is of course in an in in the interest of looking like an efficient bureaucracy. I think the town sometimes uh puts layers on things that make uh at least for the arts uh very difficult to accomplish. Um so we're working our way through that. uh and almost certainly we will be uh doing the final execution of the bayer uh and paying for it in next fiscal year. Okay.

So that's the update on that. The second though while we're waiting is uh one of our commissioners came up with a a project and uh we're working with Elizabeth Lane in coordination with the library. Uh we're going to uh put together uh packages or kits for the youth in town of art materials which we will distribute to them uh for the summer. Uh and we're working under a very tight time deadline because uh uh Elizabeth has an event happening at the library June 4th I believe at which we may try to distribute these. But we'll put together little uh kits of uh of art supplies uh at least in two or three age groups, you know, uh kindergarten to grade three, etc., etc. Uh and we're distributing those uh at the expense of the um of the art commission. uh and I will go on record to say the uh funds that are given to the art commission that are allocated in the budget are being spent by the art commission for the benefit of the town that we're not you know uh going to art basil you know on the town's money and and partying we're creating projects

are to benefit the entire town so that's my that's a great project very very encouraging congratulations Do you and Elizabeth? Any questions for Bob or comments? I do. Yeah. Sorry about that. Hold on. Let me just save this. Okay. All right. Um any other

Yes. I have I do just have a comment um you know on the percent for or the arts. Um the Hartford Foundation do receive um very small grants from from local uh entities. One of them being one from Bloomfield, which is the West Indian um I believe I'm looking it up because I remember reading something about it. The West Indian Foundation, Inc. which donated about $15,000 last year to um the Hartford Foundation uh for P for arts. Um, and so I guess my question is just um a little connection piece and maybe you're already, you know, connecting with um, you know, local entities like this to to see if they're interested in maybe providing some sort of donation um, for for uh, those type of efforts. Um, another one is um, the Hartford Proud Drill Drum One also donated about $10,000 to this entity. So I guess my question is um just you know maybe reaching out to these entities to see if they're interested in providing something that's one within their you know uh own town and um something more in the area. That's all. Thank you. Well, great. Linda, I I will be in touch with you to get the names of some of these uh because uh as you know, it's sometimes difficult to to make those connections not knowing they they exist. Uh and I will uh sing a a tune again on the same subject uh which is uh the art commission applied for a state grant no strings attached and the bureaucratic uh quadmary to run that through the town uh killed the grant. uh we missed the deadline for it because uh we couldn't supply to the

town uh evidence that they would have no obligations. Uh and it was the state art commission uh and uh um uh Denise rather uh um had steered us to that and we couldn't get the grant. So we're going to try to apply again uh this next year but uh it's only done once a year. So yes, I would be happy to get the uh information on these groups and and we're trying to put together things that will interest uh all the different uh interest groups and entities around town. Thank you. Thank you, Bob. Any other questions or comments? I just had one.

Yeah. Yeah. Bob, um I'm going to suggest and I don't know if I have before, but you did mention Sigma um not donating and stuff, but Sigma, um Campbell, and I know Command all have corporate giving programs that are done through their foundations. and I would suggest you find out how to apply for u a grant through them or just a specific ask to them to support the arts programs. So great Denise, if you'd be good enough to send me any information, uh I'll get back in touch with

you and see how we approach them. Yeah. Also, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, when I worked with a nonprofit in in Bloomfield years ago, all of those entities um donated to the nonprofit to support and we we build playgrounds. So, the Hartford Foundation, as you know, ch changed their name and focus gives we work with them.

Yeah. and they're focusing almost exclusively now on the city of Hartford and uh uh minority support uh things of that sort. So we'll get in touch with them again, but they seem to have pulled in their their uh horns a little bit on uh supporting other communities. Well, I will um suggest that when you write your ask, Bloomfield is the most diverse town in Connecticut. Okay? It even beats out East Hartford.

Um, use that in your pitch because it is also a fringe community to Hartford. So, it's how you formulate your ask for it. um with all of these and when you focus on the diversity of the community and supporting the arts for the diversity of the community, I think you'll get a little bit further.

Well, thank you. As just to wrap this up, we have a lot more to do. Uh uh we actually did get a grant from the Hartford Foundation uh through their Bloomfield uh fund uh last year, which we put toward our drum festival. So, uh, we have had success with them. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Any other commissioner updates?

All right. Um, Gman in New York, did anyone have any questions for Denise or Dave regarding their report? And thank you for that report being made every month. We really appreciate it. It's a just gives it a a good idea of what you guys have been up to basically besides seeing us. I try to keep it short and sweet so you don't have to. And I appreciate that even more, Denise. Yeah, I do. And you'll notice there are sometimes I c we cannot name names when we're we're in negotiations with people for town, you know, when Dave and I are talking with people or Mike. Um, so we try to give you like a hint of what we're working on. So it's good. It's like Jeopardy, you know. Yeah. Yeah.

Any questions or comments for either Dave or Denise? Again, we appreciate the support. Thank you guys very much. Yeah, I will give you one update because um we were going for uh congressional funding ask um for through Senator Blumenthals and Senator Murphy's offices. We did not get that one for the town center. Um however, we have been shortlisted for the one through Senator Larson's office. So, and that is for how much, Denise? Um, we did we asked for four million which is their max. And is does that still doesn't get us totally there, does it? Or

Oh, no, no, no, no, no there. No. Going back for the CIF. Um, we're we're going to be working on that. So, what are we talking about as far as a window for something to actually look like it's happening there? We talking about two years, three years? Um, yeah, probably two years. Okay. So, okay. I mean, I think part of the issue we have in town is just sort of lowering expectations for everybody so they understand. It isn't like we aren't doing anything. It's just these things take time. Yes, they do. And they take money that we don't have that we have to get from somebody else. So, it's it's frustrating, but at least it's still moving forward. Yeah. Thank you. Any other Dave? Any comments on your part? No.

Okay. Uh town planner the PC update. Um I understand that is a little behind again. Is that going to happen in June? I

think it'll be acted on. We're at um on the 21st, we're going to be presenting um final versions of the chapters and the proposed land use map. Um if they um the commission is comfortable with that, um we will then probably schedule a public hearing for the June meeting and that uh because there's been significant changes. Um and then they would adopt it on that and move it on to the uh the last step that have to happen is a um there's a mandated 30-day review period for the town council. They do not have to comment. Um their their comments um are are purely comments. Uh the approval process rests solely with the T with the TPZ. Um,

so that um it's moving a little slower than we had hoped, but um I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel finally. It's been a long

And John, what actual difference will it make once we have this in place? How will it affect economic development and and projects moving forward? Well, it basically this, you know, in terms of um formal requirements for state for some of the state grants, uh they want an updated POCD and we're many years behind. So that's we have to ask for a waiver every time we submit like a CIF grant application. Uh so far it has not um inhibited uh us from applying or had an impact on on it. But uh what it will do is basically give um you know updated um guidance uh to the commission and to the community as to uh the future development of the community and and in what locations what type of development wants to happen.

And once this is in place, are we going to put a tiff commission in place to start working at the other two zones? Well, they're not really related. Um no. Okay. Oh, these are recommendations. That's right. Just these are just these are guidance regulations. Yeah. And the tiff committees are um a totally separate entity. Okay. Related to the PC ought to be, you know, probably should have been created some time ago. Is that on the agenda to be created? Do you don't know yet? Um have not had any recent conversations but will be. Okay.

Okay. And segueing into that, how about the town development? town development. Um

um we the first cathedral is starting their process. Um Gman and York have completed um an economic analysis of the proposed development for 800 Cottage Grove Road. Um uh we continue to get inquiries about uh the Grove quote unquote which is the uh proposed retail development on Cottage Grove Road and um that has not been formally submitted to the commission. Um and um there is renewed activity at uh at uh the chicken place. Uh, and hopefully I have been uh

calling them to try and get it get them to finish it up and they keep telling me they're going to. So, we'll see whether that happens. You know, they still have a pad site for rent sign up. I think they have a padite to rent. They haven't, you know, they have a lot of site work to do. Yeah, I

they're apparently having um they've had which I guess apparently is not um un um happens frequently is that they are in a um lengthy conversation with Eversource who is trying to impose upon them a significant update in the electric electrical service to the entire mall there at a at a fairly significant expense. fence and apparently Eversource has does this in other other locations and it's probably something we ought to look at but um that has been one of the major um inhibiting factors in terms of um Popeye's sorting that out with Eversource.

So they're not Eversource is is telling the Popeye's site that they're responsible for upgrading the entire plaza's source uh re Yeah. Yeah. Oh, okay. That's what Popeye's is telling me. Okay, that's interesting. Uh, if you have any updates on that, I'm sure the commission would like to hear about it. Yep. Does anyone have any questions for John about Oh, is I'm sorry, John. Any other um No, I think Denise has updated you on the, you know, on the town center. Yeah. Um,

you know, we were informed late yesterday evening that, uh, the Senate side of the federal grants, we did not make the cut. Um, we're still waiting on the on the Congressman Larson's side. Um, and we will be submitting a new CIF. We only received one formal um response to the RFP for developer interest and so we will be both reviewing that and deciding what what we want to do going forward in that regard. John, is that someone local? Can you tell us that? You want I don't need a name. No, it has to stay confidential until it's reviewed. Okay. Can't tell you anything.

Okay, fair enough. That's about it. Sadique. Yeah. Well, one quick question just not to forget. What about Wintonbury? Any news on that? That's what he's talking about is the town center. Sadik. Oh, town center is Yeah, we still don't have we still don't have the funding and we have only one uh response to the RFP for development. Oh, which is a little I I didn't know the town center town center is a bigger thing than Yeah. Well, it can't just be one. It's got to be the host center if you're going to redo something.

And the other um I can tell you that um the four million set aside by the town council remains. It was not um was not touched during the budget process, although there was obviously a fair amount of conversation about it. Uh but it um four million remains intact uh as a set aside fund for economic development in the town center. And explain again to us if you would why that's important.

Well, it's important because that shows that the town has skin in the game, which is critical in applying for both state and federal grants. Uh that we can demonstrate that the town is willing to put up a fair amount of money on its own. Yeah. uh to um to coordinate with federal and state grants. Okay. Thank you. Any comments? Sadique, your hands.

Just just to clear my confusion, is is there a specific definition of town center? What areas are covered like Bintonbury and the other plaza like Saras and maybe Trish is outside that or Trish is also included in town center? Town center as we define it goes from the railroad tracks uh to um the shopping center on the west side beyond um Ocean State Job Lots Ocean State Job Lots and from Gab Road and Bloomfield Avenue north to Gistler's Plaza. Yeah. All right. So TJ TJ Buritos is in Yes, she is. Chris is part of it.

Okay. And um the town center development that we're talking about that we went out to the RFQ RFP about is strictly for six parcels with the town green that area right around the town center. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you for letting me know. Yeah, it's as defined if you've taken a look at the master plan that was done that's up online. Um that'll show you some of the areas and things like that.

Thanks a lot. Any other questions? Okay, that takes care of the EDC. Now we're on to the DA, the development authority. Um, who would like to talk about the Graanby Street Toby Road TIFF district besides me? You're up, Bonnie.

I'm up. Okay. So, one reason that I've been so um I've been pushing very hard to get some help for the small business, I call them the micro um uh the micro tenants, people that are are just starting out in business are very critical to the Graanby Street area to specifically 31 Toby Road, which is still the focal point of hopefully the beginning of the of the regeneration and the re and the re um rebranding of that area. Um I think where are you Linda? I think Linda that um is Linda here?

Yes, she is. Oh yeah, there you are. Sorry. I think Linda that um you agree with me that we are making progress with the owners of 31 Toby. we seem to have a a a better working relationship and hopefully moving forward we'll be able to ease the the change that we're looking for from the current uses to more of an entertainment zone.

Uh what that's what we're hoping for. We've um have standing meetings with the property owner of of 31 Toby Road. Um they've brought some ideas on um kind of using a a certain area of their parcel that is you know underutilized um to um you know create more of a what would draw people here um just as I guess the start of the change. Um one of the ideas was a food truck park. Um, I think the location is ideal. Um, so we're just kind of, uh, you know, working with them to see, uh, you know, their thoughts on it, their plan. So, um,

and Linda, there is no food, there are no regulations or zoning regulations at the at the current time. Now,

West Harford has a gastro park, food truck park type of similar um um you know, regulations that they implemented a few years ago. Um I don't know, you know, I haven't actually been there. I don't know how successful it's been. Um I know Hartford has an ordinance just allowing food trucks in certain areas to be parked. They It's almost like they rent a space in town. Um but the the the the city has just specific areas where uh they would allow um food trucks. Um and it's you know it's through basically a yearly permitting um on these spaces. Um but you know I I think the idea or or the thought is is great. So, we're trying to now um see how we can establish similar regulations that would allow for such use um you know and to designate that area as that. I know West Harford has it as a designation um and it's worked for them. Um I think similarly that's what you know we'd like to have in this area. I think it'll draw people there. Um Bonnie I that was the idea. Um, right.

And um, and so we're we're just trying to work with the property owner um, on those specifics and see what, you know, the plan is. Yeah. And and again, we need to be patient. This is something that I I know that as every entrepreneur and business owner is, I they'd like to do it tomorrow. I think we're talking about a year from now. Sorry about that. Yeah. And I've been to Gastro Park in West Hartford a few times. Um, and it they seem to be doing very well. I mean, they hustle obviously to get business, but um, you know, they're also dog friendly, which helps, and familyfriendly.

Yeah, this is a lot of what we're talking about is what what you need besides the food trucks. Do you actually need to have an event? And probably to kick it off, we need some type of an event. And maybe it's going to be, you know, the the the branding, the rebranding, and that's and the naming, and that's how you bring people there because there'll be some interest. I think it's all tied together. And I think it's exciting, Linda. It just again, we I know it's going to be a process and that's difficult sometimes. Honey, I think we can also report that we had a fairly positive meeting yesterday with the owner of 6810 Toby Road in terms of cleaning that property up and moving it forward. Wow.

I think we um we we mapped out a road forward which at the meeting um he agreed to. We'll see if it happens. um first got to work through um uh the demolition and cleaning up the property with the building side uh and then move forward with his land use permitting. Um right now he basically wants to do a a restaurant and a banquet hall uh and and um that would be it. Not a not a nightclub

at this point, just a a restaurant and a banquet. But um we seem to be um there seems to be light at the end of that tunnel as well in terms of moving forward. I you know we'll see you know seem to be a fairly positive meeting. Linda may have her own take on it. Uh but you know he met with us and with the building official so we may get that corner cleaned up.

That that would be that would be a blessing at the very least to have that. it would um and as as John mentioned uh these are efforts um you know we've been I you know working trying to work with that property owner as well for the last couple of years um but he seems uh this time to uh I I my it was very it was a very positive meeting and I believe that he does have intentions to clean it up and will start to make those efforts um very soon. Did he initiate the meeting?

Uh, we staff initiated the meeting. We we reached out. I had his contact information. I hadn't heard from him. Um, I think he visited the the town a couple of months ago because he was going to court um regarding his, you know, some other situation he was encountering. And I think he said that's being finalized now, so he's able to move forward um fairly soon. Well, that's fabulous. as we get the signage done too that that whole corner is going to look very different uh in the near future.

Yeah, we we did um you know uh inform him that uh this area has been um the subject of you know revitalization and redevelopment um and that his efforts would definitely not only be greatly appreciated but also uh we believe that you know with his efforts um we're able to move forward with with this. That's fabulous news. Yeah, thank you. Thank you both very much. Thank you for the effort being made there, too.

I don't know if anyone's familiar with with the corner we're talking about. But if you haven't been down Graanby Street to Toby Road, take a look and you'll see what anybody who wants to develop their sees first. They see a derelict building with graffiti. It it's it's been terrible. But um that's wonderful news. Very very encouraging. Thank you. Um, any other questions about uh the area? You know, we're we're this is an area that I'm working very hard on that Linda and is is helping with tremendously with the um the tenant there. And um you know, if you go if you drive down there, other than the beginning of that road, it actually looks good. I mean, the building you you have investment going on. You have some very high-tech businesses there, which I don't think people realize exist. Um, and we still have the connections to the University of Hartford, which at some point I think we should pursue. There's a a walkway at the very end of Toby Road. And I believe that there Bob, there's a road right um uh off of um Graanby Street just over the Hartford line. Am I correct?

That is correct. They they actually uh the University of Hartford stadium uh is uh I believe the last uh structure there, but they have a road which is fully established. It just is not open or maintained which uh empties right into Toby Road. Yeah, that's okay. And Linda, I know that you have you have some suggestions about working with is it the um the architecture department there to perhaps work with this. So this may be another way of kind of connecting everything together and getting some interest there. So maybe over the summer that's something else that you and I can talk about.

Sure. Hopefully for next semester they'll be reaching out again. Right. Yeah. Okay. Well, that's very encouraging. Um any other are there any public is there is there anyone here from the public? And if so, any comments? You have zero. Zero. Okay. Well, all righty. If there are no updates, then I will call for adjournment and remind everybody that the next meeting is Tuesday, June 9th at 8:30 and it will be Zoom. Thank you everyone. Thanks Trish. Okay. Call forjourn. Motion to adjurnn. I move uh that we adjourn today's meeting. and Viv second. Second. Okay.

Thank you all very much. Have a happy, safe Memorial Day and I will see you in June. Off the door. Bye everyone. Thank you. Take care. Bye.