"Fort Trumbull Vision" Presented To City Council

The director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop presented key components of a , saying future work at the peninsula will have to evolve with changing circumstances.

The Yale Urban Design Workshop, a project of the Yale School of Architecture that provides urban design assistance in the region, recently completed a proposal for development at Fort Trumbull. The process included the work of a steering committee, two public forums, and one and a half years of discussion.

“It’s been a long road but the product is, in my opinion, worth the wait,” said Councilor Adam Sprecace, who has worked closely with the group.

The plan incorporates a River Bank Construction proposal to , and suggests that the peninsula can become a destination point complementary to downtown New London through the addition of “anchor” development. These new sites could include a resort hotel, cultural center such as a museum, bandshell, and second train station.

Alan Plattus, director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop, gave a presentation on the plan. Plattus said existing developments at the site, such as , a wastewater treatment plant, and the nearby facility, were things that had to be taken into consideration in putting together the plan.

“I can tell you as a planner and designer, if anyone thinks it’s a totally blank site they should look again,” said Plattus.

The development is expected to take place over several years and supplement the existing Municipal Development Plan, prepared in January of 2000 by the . Plattus said the new vision aims to create a more interconnected site than one with parcels developed individually, which he said would make Fort Trumbull a “sum of its parts.”

Though Plattus said the proposal is meant to be a working document that can adapt to needs and changes that arise in the future, he outlined several aspects that he felt were important to revitalizing the peninsula. He said increased pedestrian access, including a proposed connecting bridge to , will bring more visitors to Fort Trumbull. He said the layout should also reinstate a street grid which will avoid dead ends and large parking lots, and that waterfront views and access should be preserved.

“You need to market the hell out of this…You’re marketing the concept, and vision, for Fort Trumbull. You’re marketing New London,” he said.

The City Council voted unanimously to send the “Fort Trumbull Vision” to the Economic Development Committee for further discussion.

“I think this is really hitting the refresh button,” said Councilor Rob Pero. “I think it’s putting more options on the table for all the partners.”

Councilor Michael Buscetto III said he wanted to keep the line of communication with the Yale Urban Design Workshop open, and said he looked forward to talk of financing the proposals.

The proposals also met with approval by speakers during the public comment section of the meeting. Michael Joplin, president of the New London Development Corporation, said the board agreed to recommend acceptance of the final report. Resident David Hayes said the presentation was “absolutely marvelous.”

“I intend to be around when the project is completed, and that will make me 100 years old,” he said.

The council’s unanimous decision to continued to draw criticism from residents, however. Larry Hample said as a result of the abatements, he will pay more for the same municipal services than the residents of the townhouses. Evelyn Louziotis said a would continue despite law director Thomas Londregan’s opinion that it could not be changed.

“There are too many rentals in New London,” said Louziotis. “We can’t fill them up. I don’t know how loud I have to say this.”

Sprecace said he personally felt the firm would have walked away from the project if the abatement was not granted. He said the parcels have not been generating tax revenue, and that they would continue to be unproductive if River Bank abandoned the project.

“By having abatements, we are deferring the amount of taxes that will be paid out on that property and investing in New London,” he said.

Councilor Michael Passero said he felt the abatements and townhouse construction will help to spur other development in Fort Trumbull.

“We’re all looking for the same goal. We just see it a different way,” he said.