Economic Development Commission - Regular Meeting

Um, thank you all for being here bright and early uh in this beautiful weather. The um first order of business is uh to introduce the new members, but we actually did that last time. So, I think we know who you guys are, but welcome again. Very, very happy to have you here. And I will just remind everybody, we still have two slots available. So, if anybody has any suggestions for someone who has some type of real estate business or retail business or um planning or just interest in in the community, um we'd be very interested in in um having a resume and talking to them. going to call the meeting to order at 8:37 a.m. Um, and before we approve the minutes, and I just want a verification from someone that does know Robert's rules of order, but I thought it was so interesting. It kind of makes sense. I was worried because most of the because we if we are going to use a quorum, two of the quorum members um have were not here for the meetings, but according to Robert's rules of order, as long as you're comfortable that the minutes are correct according to talking to someone, you are able to vote on them. And I never realized that. I always thought you had to abstain if you weren't present. So, I'm just giving I'm telling Vivian and Trish that as we move forward here. Well, I think Bonnie uh since the minutes are distributed for uh additions and corrections, the vote is not as to the accuracy of the minutes. It's for accepting them to be adopted.

Okay. So, it doesn't matter if they were there, but it also makes sense because there's no way to conduct business if you can't have things approved when membership changes. Exactly. Yeah. Okay. So, let's let's try this. And I'm going to do one at a time. I think it's just easier that way. Um I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes for March 25th, 2025. So moved. Second. Second. Thank you, Viv. Any additions, deletions, or corrections? Okay. Hearing none. All those in favor of accepting the minutes signify by saying I. I.

I. Chair votes I that's approved. Second entertain a motion to approve the minutes of April 8th 2020 2025. So moved. Second. Second. Thank you. Second. Uh any additions, deletions, corrections? Okay. Hearing none. All those in favor of approving the minutes of April 8th, 2025, signify by saying yay. Yay. Yay.

And I approve. Mix it up a little bit. Okay. Last one. Uh, and this is actually a current one. Uh, I entertain a motion to approve the minutes of September 9th, 2025. So moved. Somebody second.

Thank you, Viv. Uh, any addition, solutions, comments? I only had one comment and that was um in the Paul Butler presentation where he offered to give us $25,000 for the arts. Do we yet do we not yet have an amendment or a provision of for 1% going to the arts for over a certain dollar amount? And if we don't, I'd like that to go on the agenda for the next meeting. And um if staff could just give us a or Denise a quick recap of how this is with communities in the state. I think it's very important we do it with the size of the developments that are about to come online.

We do not have it adopted. Excuse me. and it is a high priority. Uh we had a meeting of the art commission last week and we want to present it to the town council for formal adoption and get it in front of them. Okay. Do you have something already written?

Uh I have uh a a background piece which has been distributed multiple times but I will distribute that again to our committee and to the uh uh art commission. Uh, and we should uh perhaps Denise can help us uh formulate and John uh uh the proper format for submission to the council. Yeah, EDC should see it, Bob, before you go to council, too, I think. So, we can we can we can give you support. Who should see it? I'm sorry. EDC should see it as well. Yes. Oh, absolutely. Yeah.

Okay. Good. Thank you. All right. With that being said, any other additions, deletions, or comments? Hearing none, entertain a motion to approve. I I did that. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Board votes I. Minutes are approved. So now we are just about up to date. Congratulations everyone. Okay. Um, old business. John, whoever's doing this, or Denise, I don't know. Um, say again, sorry. I'm sorry. We're all half dead here. I know. It's Friday night.

I was My phone was starting to go off and I was grabbing it and putting it on silent. So, um, I want to know this. Is there any old business? Either John or Denise? No, I just think you and I will get to it in uh the Toby Road Graham Beach that we're working on and you know with some of the it it kind of goes over into new business with some of in our report. So, uh Copeko update, John, uh Linda, who would like to handle that?

Uh well, I can um as some of you may or may not know, tobacco sale has gone through. It's been purchased by an organization called the Sterling Organization that is based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Uh they own um about a hundred properties across the country. Uh most of them are um are grocery storebased uh shopping centers. So they have a familiarity with the with Capacco type of development. Um so far um so good I think in terms of our relationship with them. They asked actually asked for a meeting uh with um the town manager and the town staff to sort of present themselves and what their early intentions were and I know also they've had a conversation directly with Bonnie because we felt it was very important for them to get the history of the of the property. they want to recognize that history and and um going forward um and um asked you know what role Capacco has always played in town. Um we tried to explain that to them the significance of of Kapakco to the town and also to the region. Um they um are going to make um operationally they've already started to um to to clean up the site uh and to police the site uh and um to um work with their tenants to to uh clean up um and improve um the tenant locations. They're going to be doing some improved signage. They're going to be doing some improved facade work. um they're of particular importance. They're what they call void vacancies. They're going to try to attract um um businesses that do not exist necessarily in town uh to add to the uh to the

template and variety of businesses uh that are available in town. um they uh I think are going to be fairly stern with um existing tenants and are prepared not to renew tenants that they do not believe are either effective uh or are cooperative and um I think you know so far so good. Um, I think, you know, we'll have a six months check and then a and then a year's check to see um how they're doing. But I think all of us here on on the staff side uh have been impressed with their commitment uh to the develop to the property and their commitment to the town of Bloomfield. And I don't know if Bonnie wants to add anything or

let let everyone talk and then I'll add a little bit afterwards. Joe, I have one do have one quick question. Did they provide you with um uh contacts for uh either on-site or in this area uh management and maintenance, that type of thing? Because I've had a couple of tenants ask me about that. Yes, they do. Who do they talk to? Yes, we have we have direct contacts with the with the with the top managing director of development and construction and we have contacts with the top operational guy. Yeah, I'm looking for the the guys a lot lower down that are hands-on doing. I'm not sure we've got that yet. Okay. When and if you get it, if you could give that to both Denise and myself, I'd appreciate it.

Yeah, I needed to update our lists, too, that um Dave and I put together. So, okay. I'm just going to go around. Um did we ever hear from Sadique, by the way? We didn't hear from him. Yes. Um he was unaware of the meeting of the special meeting um and said he didn't see the email, so he apologizes. He has other commitments today regardless. Um but that he will um review the video uh the recording. Oh, he will. He's very good about that. Yeah. For to familiarize himself what was uh said and um covered and and Yeah. So, thank you. Thank you, Bob. Uh any comments?

Uh yes, I have a a question and uh this is in the in the nature as a lawyer, you're not supposed to read other people's minds. uh how do you feel they would uh uh react to the idea that Aldi wants to move into the same area? We actually may have touched upon it. It doesn't concern them. Yeah, it's um they um

not competition. They know the market and they know what they know the different types of um food services and they know um they do know and they do intend to uh um you know work with capa work with stop and shop to improve the capac and shop because they've they've heard about people's concerned about that store but they're not they're not concerned about Aldi as a competition.

Good. Thank you. John, they do have he told me they do have quite a number of other centers that are um anchored by Stop and Shop. So, they've obviously got a relationship with them already, which is good. Okay, other questions? Uh Trish, any questions, comments? Nope, no comments. Okay, Vivian, no. No comments or questions just yet.

Okay. Um I'll just give you a brief recap. I had a um it was a good conversation with J Jason. It was Hicks, right? Oh. Anyway, I had a good names are bad. I had a good conversation.

Hicks. Yeah. I It's You know, you never know if you're I'm I'm always a little cynical when someone is so excited to talk to me about the background and all that sort of thing. I had a couple of takeaways. I thought interesting that he feels that it's a blue collar uh workingass center. Um I think that's something John you really got to watch because I not exactly sure what that really means and I don't think it's I think and I told him what you put in there is what you draw there and if they're only drawing the the uh lower income it's something they might want to look at. Um, other than that, he told me that the window, he said, "Don't get excited that things are going to happen overnight. Our window is about two years to get to where we want to be." We have Copco in a uh remember it was called, John, it's some something where there's a uh an opportunity uh where it really is a good center, but has is not reaching its potential. And there it's in that portfolio. They figure after two years they'll evaluate it and they tend to hold it five to seven years. I will tell you however ANCAP told me they hold it five to seven years, they held it 20 years. So that will, you know, will be whatever it is. But um I told him I'm available and I'll give him background. The other thing is he was interested in the signage. I put him in touch with artifacts because Lauren Rosen did those signs. And lastly, Bob, he thought that the the wall um facing Cottage Grove Road of Burlington, I guess it's now the gym in Burlington Coat, would be a great place for a mural. So, I thought that was fabulous. I said, "Please talk to us because we're talking about doing murals in Granby Street as well."

They have a great mural list, too. He has a great muralist on staff. Yeah. Oh, that's wonderful. So, I think that's that to me is the kind of thing we're looking for. Bob, you're muted if you want to talk. No, I think he froze. Nope, he didn't. Okay, now he's there. He's just I I was reading something and not paying attention. Ask me again. Oh, I don't remember what I asked you, Josh. I have I I also have a couple of updates on Graanby if if you know when we get a chance. Yeah, we're gonna we're gonna go through a whole and then I was gonna Yeah, well, that's that's the development authorities. That's another Yeah, we're we're down to that later.

Okay. So, I think it's a very positive development. Um, they paid a decent amount of money. I was figuring in in 2025 terms, I don't think the place appreciated a lot. However, it, you know, it's 20 years older. So, and they were not happy with Lowe's. They want those trucks out of there. They don't like the truck parking. They didn't like some of the other things they did. So, I thought that was interesting because I felt Lowe's was a a decent tenant. But anyway, be that as it may. Um, commission member updates. Does anyone have an update? No, nothing. Bob, you're muted.

Uh, just a very quick oneliner. We did have a meeting of the uh art commission uh just last week. We are uh uh entering contract to have the bearer carved uh and are doing all the steps necessary to get that done. He has to be insured to uh work on town property. We've got the architects for the library uh helping us decide the site for it and we will have a um both a pad put under the uh bear because it's still going to weigh about three tons a and uh talk about lighting. So that's moving right ahead and we're in a conversation and the 1% for the arts is a wonderful uh uh connection with that uh conversation moving forward what the art commission really should be about. We have produced for uh events or works of art ourselves but that was not the original intention of the art commission. it was to supervise, to advise, be more like the EDC to be honest, uh which does not build buildings but advises on uh projects. And so we're uh starting that discussion and and uh uh would appreciate any input. We'll send around information as we go, but uh 1% for the arts actually did come up as one of our uh our missions. So, uh, that's that's our latest and I'll keep you updated.

Thank you, Bob. Any questions for Bob? Okay. Uh, what if I lost track of I was going to I'm a little tired, so you have to excuse me. I've had a tough couple weeks here. Uh, let's see. There was something else I wanted an update on. It'll come to me. Okay. Um, go to New York. Has have folks had a chance to read the report? And are there any questions or comments for any? Boy, Denise, you got up easy today, huh? I know. Thank you, Dave. We're gonna be talking a little bit more. I know. Dave, go ahead. Something about the Toby Grampies, so I'll wait. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, we're almost there.

I have you on my list for that. Yeah, that's going to be the big conversation today. Um Okay. Oh, speaking of reports, do we I think EDC is supposed to present a report once a year to council. Is that correct? And if so, can we look into when that's due and let's actually start doing it? Yeah. And actually um John and Linda have a format that they use um for a PowerPoint that John, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the town manager likes it in that type format. Okay. We have we have a format for the council and we have a format for the for the town manager. Okay. Slightly different. Okay.

Okay. I'm sorry, Bonnie. Go ahead. Now, was that anything that we have done in the past? I don't remember ever doing report unless staff was doing it and we weren't aware of it. I can't answer the question, Bonnie. I mean, we uh my very quick question. Uh would you please forward a copy of those forms uh both town manager and council to me as well because we've discussed that the art commission which is now four years old has yet to report to town council and we think we should as well. We can do that Bob. Thank you.

Okay. The uh plan of conservation and development either Linda or John. We uh um I think we told you the the public hearing was held. The commission got all the comments. The comments were all very significant. Uh it was determined that the plan as as as revised once was insufficient and needed some significant revisions. Um we have uh the town has retained uh Gman of New York to assist us to do that and we have a November 25 deadline and uh basically Justin and I are are doing a significant rewrite uh um of the uh draft plan of conservation and development to uh to incorporate um some very um good comments that were received u during the public review process. And and John, again, at some point, will EDC receive at least an executive summary of what's in there so that we can comment as well?

Yes. Okay. Before November 25th or after November. Well, you you you should have received it some time ago when when public We may have, but you know, get up on the radar. I guess we can send you. I mean, basically at this point, we're we're going off the comments we have. I'm not sure that, you know, we're ready to take any add, you know, maybe some additional comments, but we can, you know, we'll certainly there'll be a distribution of the final draft. Um, that's prepared, but I don't think we'll be sending anything out between now and the 20 25th. Bonnie,

you know, we were we were kind of more bund for a while. So, that may be when it happened. I'm not sure, but okay. Whatever you can do just to give us the information, even if we can't comment. um town development update.

Um you know, there's a fair amount out there. Um Arbella is still um still being processed uh on its t requested tax assessment agreement. Um hopefully there may be a resolution of it at the council meeting of next week. Um other than that um we have um a number of um proposed developments that um that um are coming in to talk to us. Um the majority of them housing developments. Um we've got Mr. Butler's uh fourth phase. Uh we've got the uh First Cathedral's um affordable housing development on Blue Hills Avenue. We've got a potential development at 270 uh Woodland Avenue for about 130 units.

Where's that, John? H Where is that on Woodland? Um just past the condominium on the east side. Okay. Um we have a potential development uh at 800 Cottage Grove Road. We have we have a um potential warehouse development at Woodland and Makco. Um and of course we um you know we're hoping to get a fair amount of interest in the town center.

Uh the um the persona that was going to go on the old Culbr property off of Blue Host Avenue. Is that is that dead or is that still percolating somewhere? We have not had any uh further contact by the proposed data center people since they made their informal presentation to the planning commission. Okay? Because if again, if anyone's on social media, that thing blew up rather quickly and uh yeah, with good reason. There's there's concerns there. Okay. Uh any questions for John on the on the uh town development update? Town center. John,

town center. Um this unfortunately the town was not selected in the latest round for the u uh the round seven of the CIF funding uh round uh for the submitted grant for 23 million. Um we had been encouraged late on. They were asking a lot of questions but we did not make the cut. Uh they only authorized about $63 million. So I can understand why they might not want to do a $23 million. We've got some preliminary feedback. We're waiting to get their summary report. They've encouraged us to um to look at that and um and then have a one-on-one with them later in the month. Uh looking to resubmit uh the application for round eight in early December.

And what does that actually mean for the the timing or the possibility of of uh something happening in the town center? Well, obviously if you don't have the funds, it's going to delay things. Um, you know, I don't think, you know, if it couple three months is not that significant. If we not successful in the next round, then I think, you know, there, you know, then it starts to have a significant impact in terms of timing. And are there ongoing conversations with the owner or are we doing nothing until we see if we go forward with? We're in litigation with the owner, so there are not ongoing conversations. Okay. And the litigation is based on

litigation is based on the owner um litigating the town um for um for discussing supposedly eminent domain which has had therefore had an a negative impact on the owner's ability to lease uh new lees and retain existing lees. Okie dokie. Are they a do they have any building violations? We have had ongoing um series of um a variety of violations that are that are addressed on an ongoing basis. So they every time you have a violation, they actually take care of what they need to not be in violation. Correct.

Um I can't answer for the building department. On the zoning side, they do. Okay. because that seems to be the problem with trying to enforce a lot of this and I understand it. You know, it's just the way the system works. Any um questions or comments for John about the town center? I do uh two sets of questions. Uh John, uh who is representing us in the condemnation case and who is representing the owner? I don't remember the owner's attorney. We're being represented by the town's attorney. I see. Does he have expertise in condemnation?

He h he either he has directly or he has retained uh that assistance. Okay. We're not but we're not in condemnation right now. That's not

understood. But you have to have uh someone who understands it uh to prepare going down the road obviously. My other question is uh on the uh submission for state funding. Uh, is it possible that we could break our uh request into pieces over a series of funding rounds uh so that uh if they're only handing out 60 million or so at a time and we're asking for a third of that uh it's it's a big deal and we may get knocked out again. Can we break that into uh pieces or do we need the whole thing in in pocket before we uh get it started?

Um it's interesting you asked that question because they've actually asked us to consider staging it. Yeah. Basing it. The the only risk on staging it is if you get the first stage, you know, what is the guarantee you're going to get further stages?

And at this point, there only are a few more rounds left in funded CIF funding. they haven't made the determination yet that they will extend the funding beyond that initial um time period. So um we are going to look at different phasing and in phasing they may may just mean that we can go back for the same amount but we have to detail the phases by monetary amount and go into a little bit more detail.

So but until we can have our our one-on-one with them and they don't open up those opportunities for oneon-ons with DEC until October 20th. um then we'll be able to book our appointment with them and you only get a half an hour to to talk with them and you only get one during the session. So, okay. And and Denise to John, do you think that the only reason that we did not this is speculation uh that we didn't get the funding because I thought we were very had very positive indications. Is it because of the financial issues uh in the state or is it something to do with us in particular?

I don't think it has any you know issues with us or with funding. I think they this one when I looked at the entire list they focused a lot on their planning grants in this round which are the quarter of a million dollar you know planning grants. Um there were a couple and I want to say larger projects you know 8 million or whatever. Um so I think we just have to go back talk to them and then we'll decide how we refine it. Um the town manager the mayor are very active as you know John and Linda are with this. So we're going to go back and attack it.

I think the other thing is also they may look we've already received three grants right? I know, you know, we received Rockwell, we received the planning grant, and we received the library grant. Um, so they may have, you know, they may have looked at that and said, "Okay, you know, Bloomfield, yeah, you've not this round, but maybe next round." Yeah, that's kind of my donation. Although, you know, I will say to that, um, I was looking New London has gotten a couple of grants. Um, one was a larger one to fund their community centered. So, they've gotten some goodsiz grants. some of the communities. Um, so it's not out of the realm if we can refine it and maybe look for some other funding also opportunities. So

any other questions? And and John, I remembered what I wanted to ask you. Do you have any idea why the or John Linda or anybody why the library still is not open? They're still working through their punch list and um I mean basically it they're going to be opening momentarily. I mean, they're close and Elizabeth is pushing hard. Um, you know, it's it's basically getting the the um getting the contractor on site to finish up um what needs to be finished up.

Right. Thank you. Any other questions before we go on to the development agency piece of meeting? Okay. Continue discussion on the Graanby Toby TIFF district. Um Denise and Justin, someone's who's going to take

Actually, I'm I'm going to take it. Bonnie, I'm going to um actually go through and discuss um basically Bonnie and I did a tour of it. spent a couple hours there. Um, Linda and I have been in contact with um, you know, a couple of the people there. But, um, I think what we wanted to do, we wanted to go into Toby Graanby area and look at it with an open set of eyes. Look at it property by property. Look at what are the deficiencies, what are the opportunities in the area. So, we all know that, you know, it's not the shining star that as you enter um either from, you know, Cottage Grove or as you enter from Hartford. So, I think, you know, we looked at things, not only the properties, but we looked at the signage that's currently there, the gateways in there from both sides. Um, we looked at the roadways, we looked at sidewalks or lack of sidewalks and what can be done, you know. Um, we experienced the raceway at times that is, you know, Graanby Street. Um, looking opportunities for that. For the most part, I think we can say that there are a number of opportunities, but there are also some great properties that are in that area. And there are some, you know, um, and I I know that Steve and Andrew are on and I'm going to call out their building. Look at the what they've done to that building over the last few years to upgrade that and to upgrade some of the tenants there. Um, so, you know, um, Bob, even looking at it from an arts perspective, we looked at where are there opportunities to put up murals or to make those signs look more like art. and a welcoming gateway in that respect.

You know, um, Gro and Wiggle has been a business there for years. They've got a great side of that building as you drive down from Cottage Grove that could be a great mural that tells the history of Gro and Wiggle. So, things like that that we can um, look at. You know, there's opportunities and Dave, I'm going to call on you for this one, Mr. driver because there's opportunities for expansion and I want him to tell you about one that they are that both him, John and Linda have been working on. So Dave, I'm going to let you drop in right there. Sure. Um, Pierce Bartram, which is towards the end of Toby Road, has been one of the um, uh, companies that along with Kurt Cameron uh, and real estate guys like Mark Duclo have been complaining about the area uh, being uh, you know, in disrepair, etc. And um so it's always been a little worry about what their uh intentions are are going to be. And uh recently we learned that they wanted to expand their facility. Uh they have about 50 workers and they want to add um another 15. So that's a significant expansion uh for outdoor parking as well as their facility. Um, and they're currently looking into the enterprise zone program for possible tax incentives. Uh, maybe even uh approach the town for its own incentives, but I think it's probably more a enterprise zone activity. Um, so it's been refreshing to see that they want to stay around and grow there.

Any comments or questions? We are staff is working directly with them on those plans and um you know making sure that um they can get inside a tight zoning envelope and uh accomplish um what they want to do and and be have sufficient fire access. But from what we see in preliminary um uh it looks like they can they can get what they need to get um without um significant zoning or or fire access issues.

Yeah. And um there are some other areas there um at the end of Toby Road where the G facility is there is land that and also I believe next to the Kaplan's building um that U-Hart owns and UHart has talked about opening up or whatever that access or whatever. Uh the mayor had mentioned it to me yesterday that he was you know having discussions and what are the opportunities down there. So, and then there is that large parcel of land that and Bonnie that your family owns that is a great development opportunity down the end there. And Bonnie, I forget how many acres that is.

Uh we had sold off a little bit to the cannabis facility. I think it was 33 or 34 acres. Rob, there are significant wetlands, but they're sort of localized.

Yeah. And um one other um property that we looked at at the end of Toby Graanby, that intersection right there is 96 Graanby. And Linda has been working with the owner of that. It's two sisters that bought that building. Um they have cleaned up that facility significantly. They have done roof repairs. They have done um fire suppression systems in it that were never working for the last probably 10 years, Linda or so. Um cleaned up a lot of the debris that was around it. Not only landscaping degree debris, but also debris out back. Um and now she's kicking in on the inside. And she's had some inquiries because I had someone call me and ask about it and turned them over to her broker. She has hired a commercial broker to broker.

Is this Carmen's property we're talking? Yes. Yeah, she's she she is very impressive. I will tell you. Yeah,

Bonnie got a chance to tour that also. There is one other property that has potential on it is the former Mercury dry cleaners um site. We did have someone that was looking at that also. Um, so there is there's opportunity there and I think there are priorities I think that we have to set and I think the priorities being number one is that we need to do something with the signage and gateway signage because if you do drive in from the Hartford side um there's a dilapidated falling down sign that's there that has some of the business on it that needs to be to go away and be be replaced. The Home Depot sign on the corner and the Toby Road Graanby um signage um really needs to be refreshed. It's faded. It doesn't look good. It's not welcoming. And then I like I said, we need to maybe talk with public works or whatever um as they put together their budget for some of the streetscaping and rein resurfacing of roadways in that area, you know. Um because in some sections you have a little piece of sidewalk, other side, other areas you don't have any at all. And for the most part, I will say people have been keeping up their landscaping a lot better and cleaning up. I think once you see somebody do it next to you, they start doing it. And if they all used, you know, the funeral home as a

Yeah. as a you know, this is what it can look like here, that's nice. And sometimes, I mean, what we looked at, sometimes it's just a matter of they need to trim up the bushes, you know, cut them down from the overgrowth or around their signage so people can see the businesses that are there. So, I think there's some some short-term things that can be done to make the area look better that will entice others. Okay. So, um I Bonnie, I think what we have to recommend, um on behalf of the EDC is that maybe into the budget goes some money for signage

at the very least. Yeah. I was going to say, is it called the broken window syndrome with with residential? It's something along that line that if you have broken windows in a neighborhood, then people don't give up their property. Once something like that is it, it really does have an effect. If your neighbor property looks like then you say what yeah what do I need to do and then when they start

fixing it up a little bit I think people have to have a little bit more pride. I also want to comment I was so impressed with the quality of a number of the tenants that we have especially on Toby and Mosy. I I was I had no idea high techch uh scientific um the fellows down at the end that used to be GE that it's I still don't entirely understand what they do but it has to do with some kind of power source and that's a huge huge facility. So, so we should stop, I think, feeling as negative as we do about the area, right?

I think we have to support the people that are doing something. I think also, Denise, murals, if we can talk to the guys at at Copo and see if they're interested, if we can do a buy with them, maybe I think that's something. And then the other thing that I would really, really, really encourage, we need to find a spot somewhere. and maybe it's Carmen's, maybe it's it's Bob and Andrew's a spot to do some type of an artist collective. The only way that it's ever going to begin is with that and that's going to take some funding because they're going to need some support to get started at least to get the a space built up. But I'm still very very encouraged. I

Yeah. So if if we are going to ask for any type of funding or whatever, I know you have a very limited budget for EDCDA and if you want to increase it at all. I think next steps is we have to know how much signage and stuff is going to cost. Um you know, things like that. Um, but knowing that and knowing that there are businesses that are on the sign that have contributed before to that upkeep, and it's no different in any type of business. If you want your name on a sign, you pay a certain percentage for that. Um, and I think they would welcome it to, you know, um, promote their businesses further to people that are entering that area, especially that gateway signage that's on the corner on town land. um for the Home Depot and you know I know you Bonnie you tried talking to someone I believe or or Linda correct me if I'm wrong about Home Depot who owns it who's done it the signage before it's very easy

well I talked to Artifacts um yeah and he was pretty sure that Home Depot at least paid for part of it yeah I'm sure and he Lauren has not done the latest work on either of these although I'm sure he'd be interested doing it. Yes. But they are very faded, very tired. Oh, yeah. Looking, you know,

Bonnie and and Denise, uh, if I if I may uh throw in a request and a suggestion, uh, the Arc Commission of course has no approval authority uh, officially in town, much like the EDC. Uh, but we are, uh, a a group of, uh, I believe seven now. uh all of whom have uh serious art uh backgrounds not only as practitioners but uh and I'll call out Vivian as an example uh helping run arts organizations. Uh we stand ready and would welcome uh any uh presentation or submission for our input on both signage and murals

rather than someone take off on their own. uh we'd like to uh uh uh make our staff and and uh members available uh for input and suggestions. Uh and uh I would just add that uh before the art commission was actually formed uh one of our uh projects uh we had a long list was to improve the signage at the entry uh at every entry into the town of Bloomfield from adjoining towns and I believe there's something like six or eight of those. The signs are all old, tired and frankly not very appealing. So, we would love to uh be involved in um helping uh with that planning and uh input on uh upgrading the signage.

Yeah, there are some great programs um that have been done in various communities with murals on buildings. Um and we may want to take the avenue that they have taken where they go after corporate sponsorships from the large businesses in town to support the funding of those murals as they get done. Obviously, Copakco might be able to support theirs, but you know, speaking of other sides of buildings that we want done or or different, maybe it's a piece of artwork that's up there and it's supported and they are recognized for that. There is, and I believe you actually helped us find it, an organization uh statewide that exclusively promotes uh murals in towns and has had some phenomenal uh success with uh promoting towns through the use of murals. So, we will

we'll dust that off uh when the time is ready to u start talking about actual projects. Yeah, the state arts commission or tourism may have some grant dollars. We'd have to look into that. I know Massachusetts has programs like that where it's funded through um a statewide arts commission to the seed money to do it. So, okay. I have a question about the two properties as you go into Toby Road. um any any movement on either of them? Uh either being cleaned up, brush being cut down. Uh

well, I just wanted to add um on now that we're on that subject. Um there are just a few inquiries that we've had um on other properties, but I'll get to that one, Bonnie. Um 95 Graanby Street, which was the furniture retail facility with some sort of storage of vehicles in the back. Um, at one point that was approved. We were approached um for another slaughter house at 95 Graanby Street. I'm not sure how um 52 or 50 Graanby Street, the Saba House. I know they've been there for um quite some time how that was approved, but it doesn't appear that that type of use um is permitted in the district.

It might have been grandfathered because of what Copo did. That's okay. Okay. Well, we were Yeah. Yeah. As long as I can remember or slaughter house there. Yeah. Um so so we've, you know, informed the uh individual who was interested that it's that it wasn't permitted. Keep on calling it a slaughter house. That'll help a lot. You call it a meat packing plant, it doesn't sound the same, you know.

Well, right. Okay. There you go. Um and then uh 92 Graanby um that is uh they have it's a gas well they they had gotten a variance to allow for um gas uh or the sale of their propane fuel and an additional two pumps of gas station at 92 Graanby Street. I want to say about a year and a half ago. So, they're moving forward with showing us some plans for a smallcale gas station at that location. Um, they have some challenges, but um, you know, we we haven't seen a revised plan yet. Um, that will be again two pumps of gas uh, gas uh, pumps with, um, a small convenience store. Um, they're going to be converted.

Is that the one with the crater as you come into? Oh, yeah. Okay. We watched we watched a truck try to maneuver and we did. Um, as you enter that driveway, there's a very very significant pothole. I want to say it's at least 10 by 10 for a pothole that as you go into the entrance there. So, but that if they're going to do upgrades to the property would have to they'd have to fix that obviously. you know, it's not something they could they're they're actually looking for another curb cut. Again, this is all preliminary. Uh it'll have to be approved through a site plan uh through the commission. So,

um but but that is a plan there. So, it will, you know, be improved. Um we will be asking for those things.

Yeah. Um then 96 um Graanby which is Carmen's um that new facility or the improved um I know she was talking about signage and stuff and maybe it would be a good idea to come before EDC and do a presentation or have her talk to you know the commission on on her ideas there and get some feedback. Um you know I think it would be helpful to her. I know she wants to name uh her building the district. Um, and I'm not sure how if, let's say, uh, I know we're looking at signage, uh, from Cottage Grove going into Graanby. Um, the big signage on the corner that's shared with Home Depot says industrial park, which kind of, you know, if we're looking at uh, having that as an entertainment business or retail, I think renaming that, and we talked about it before, would be a really good opportunity um, to do that. um as as you know we think about the signage again. Um let's see here the are now regarding the challenging properties. Um it's really challenging right on the corner. Uh seven seven graby 68 and 10 Toby. Um I believe those are the buildings that um Bonnie you're you're talking about. The one in the corner of Toby and Graanby. Um they've been just a challenge on developing that property. They do have an expired site plan. Um I I we'll have to revisit that. I know that we were hoping to kind of see what agreement the town had with the corner property of buying it back, but that ship sailed. I guess it was some um you know the way that the agreement was written, it wouldn't allow us for for the town to take back the

property. Linda, I think there's interest by by other um neighbors in buying the property also. So, I'm wonder maybe that's some some way we can help them out, expedite it. I can reach out. I'm I'm going to see if we I'll reach out to the property owner um and and and have them give us an update and um kind of strat strategize, you know, again, our approach on this property. Um we kind of, you know, were active for a little bit. Um he did come back with some preliminary plans again. um but never really never came back. Um so we'll definitely

How about the old Monsanto property? Any chance of that being cleared at least? So it looks better. Uh which one is that one? The one on the opposite corner. Yeah. The one that Kurt owns.

The one that Kurt Cameron owns. Um that property I believe we were approached for a subdivision on that one. I guess the the applicant that went at the warehouse for the cannabis facility I guess withdrew um that's no longer in the plans and um Kurt Cameron was having quite some challenges having someone fill um you know that same use part of the problem. I need really is there any way is that something that he can be forced to do or at least encouraged to do if he cleaned it up? At least you could see what the property look like and plus

Sure thing. They should at least keep the first 25 ft from the road cleared um which is part of the ordinance. So on a vacant property so we'll definitely visit that area. I'll have our enforcement officer go by. Okay. Thank you very much. Yeah. And there is a fence around it, I believe. Yeah, there is. There's a there's a Yeah. But the outside of the fence should at least be kept clean up. Yes. Yeah.

Um, any other comments, Denise, Dave, Justin? Anybody? Any comments from EDC? Do you like the direction? Are you interested? Uh, you want to go take another drive before the snows come up? I don't know, Bonnie. It's been 85 degrees. I don't know when the snows are gone. It won't be for long, though, Justin. Trust me, nothing lasts forever, right? Probably means like crazy, you know.

Okay. Well, I mean, I'm still I don't know if anybody helps this. I'm still really encouraged. I think Bob, you feel the same way. And I think Denise, you may share it. I it's it's you can see you can see and feel the potential and the ability if you really want to change the feel about the east end of town this will do it and it'll be very visible and it just needs a little bit of money just and I I think and I I don't say this jokingly um but when you drive down Graanby Street and you enter into Hartford the improvements that have been down there in Hartford are very welcoming, very clean.

Turn around and drive back into Bloomfield and you get a totally different sense and it's not a good sense. So I think I think we need to turn that around for that area

and we should reward the people that have stuck stuck it out and have actually invested in their property, invested in their businesses. If we're going to say that we're pro business, this is one way of proving that we're pro business. and and Bonnie, uh I I would add my two cents. Yes, I think there's a huge amount of potential there. And not only that, but just fundamental uh town and city planning if we get activity going there. It will draw people, as you said, to that entire end of town to the other businesses, to restaurants, to businesses, to hey, I'm in the area. I'll stop in at this real estate office or insurance office or whatever it may be. So, uh if we activate it and I would add by the way that I did take that drive uh more than once to explore the um access from the University of Hartford. If we start making that area more interesting and inviting, we could have the University of Hartford open their road, which would give access to that entire campus. Um I I timed it. The drive from their road to um where we're talking about in Graanby Street is one and a half minutes.

Uh and people could even walk it in decent weather. So you've got the the rail trail that's proposed for part along the rail there, you know. So that I think is great opportunity for that area. And you know, one thing I really want to say is you have a lot of people working in that area. There is a a huge job base there for people both from Bloomfield and around Bloomfield that are coming in that area to work. It should be inviting for them, too. It should be a place where during their lunch hour they can go out and take a walk. So

And Andrew Kaplan um made a comment. I'm going to I'm not quite sure how I answer it live. I'm going to read it. It says, "Has the commissioner town considered engaging a branding consultancy for Toby Graanby? It could enable a cohesive guide for signage murals and shape the businesses that are looking to start in the area." And then he gave a suggestion and I can send that along if you'd like. It's a elm elm oarts.com and they oh they r austin.com and and lives in Austin, Texas. So he he knows of what he speaks because

Yeah. And I I can tell you that um for a number of communities in Massachusetts um I drew up um programs for them for branding and marketing that we can resurrect some of those and utilize those if we need to. Yeah. I mean I'm I'm honestly and I'm saying this to the town. If the town really wants to do something for the east end of town and it still is an east west divide. Okay. if they want to do something to that end of town. Copac's a good start. You've got somebody to buy that who's going to upgrade things. It's time to take care of this area and and make it look like the rest of the community. Yeah.

Um any other comments? Any other questions? Okay. Hearing none, we are back to our normal schedule of the second Tuesday of the month. I apologize for the confusion, but I was not going to be around next week and I appreciate everybody being flexible enough that would have the meeting. So, our next meeting is this says Tuesday, November 18th. Um, I think it's the second Tuesday of the month, isn't it? Which would be the 11th. The 11th is a holiday. Oh, is that why? The 11th is Veterans Day. Oh, Veterans Day Tuesday. Okay. So that's why it's the 18th, which then then the following week is Thanksgiving. So, oh my god. So, um,

I guess it won't be the normal schedule. So, let's just make sure in advance that we tell everybody and then we remind them and make sure they respond because if we don't respond, they haven't really it hasn't hit their radar. Okay. All right. Anything else from anybody before I adjourn the meeting? Open up for public comment. did. Yeah. Anyone out there want to say anything? Raise your hand if you do. There is one. Andrew had his hand raised. Yeah. Okay. Can you take care of it? I can't do that. Yeah. I just did. He's Yeah. Andrew.

No, he's muted. Yeah, you're muted now, Andrew. Uh I think there he is.

I just wanted just to uh just expand on on my question. I guess uh just to suggest that like across obviously I live in Austin across the the city they've done a really good job of branding different neighborhoods. Um, and it really creates a destination when you can say, I'm going to like this this particular one that I sent a link for is called the yard. Um, it's part of the St. Elmo Arts District. And so, I think if you look in the in the links that I sent, I don't know if you have them, but uh, in that question, you can see they've done huge murals. They've kind of created destinations for food for um there's pickle ball and uh they have beach volleyball which maybe is not going to work so well in Connecticut but um you know it's created this destination where it started out small breweries and distilleries and yoga studios and stuff and now Tesla's there. It sort of attracted bigger um things as it's gone along over so many years, but it the the branding I think is important because it it was like an old rail yard, right? And they renamed it the yard and they renamed it the arts district and so now it attracts artists. it attracts uh you know they've done huge beautiful murals that are bright you know brightly colored and so when you get there it feels like you've arrived somewhere as opposed to like a mix of businesses um and so when you're talking about these different signage uh signages um and you know one person wanting to call their building the district which I think is cool but If if the whole thing is like cohesive, if the whole thing is the district, right? Then it says then, oh, you guys

want to go out tonight? We're going to the district, right? It's like we're going to this area and we're going to park and we're going to walk around, right? It's not like, oh, the district's there and this other thing is here and it's not connected. Um, so I would say, you know, I just wanted to bring that up as you're talking about improvements. I think branding and you're talking about like the broken windows thing that you know if things look nice, people take better care of them.

Uh branding can go a long way. You can do a lot with, you know, just paint and signs that creates a certain atmosphere um that will bring those things that you all are talking about, you know, each each month um to this place kind of I I don't know, not more easily, but you know, it'll facilitate that. I think it's a really strong uh thing that, you know, should be considered. Um, you know, can do that better than us. No, I'm up on it. And that actually I'm up on their website right now. Is a very very cool reuse of of building.

Maybe you can share those, Janice, with the EDC so we can see them as well. Um, can I share my screen? No, I mean, no, no, not now. I mean, just send have someone send them or have Linda send them. I sent the link already. Thank you. Oh, great. Okay.

Yeah. And this is just one neighborhood in Austin, you know. There's like there's they're all over the city, right? They do a really good job about that in in Austin because it's kind of worked like there's an area in the north called the domain, right? And domain's got all this stuff. And um I used to work for the company that kind of was the architect for the domain. And we would get approached all the time, oh, we want to make a domain in the east side, we want to make a domain in the west side, you know, and they all have different names, but then it's just easy shortorthhand to say we're going to this neighborhood and it's got, you know, a personality to it. So anyway, just a something to think about.

We're on the same page with you and um you're the demographic very much so that we're looking at. So, we appreciate the the the comment and please stay involved and come come back. Come back home. Come back home. Yeah, I'll be up soon. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Okay. Thank you all very much and I will see you in November. Be well. Thank you. I have a motion. Oh, motion to adjurnn. I always forget. Motion to adjourn. A motion to adjurnn. So moved. Yeah. All right. All those in favor? I I see you in November.

See you next month. Safe trip, Bonnie. Thank you very much.