April News
Let's work together to make our great neighborhood even better!
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Spring Greetings, Neighbors. Cherry blossom season is almost upon us! It is always such a boost to the spirit to see these trees blooming all over our neighborhood and in nearby Bushnell Park. The image in our header was taken at the corner of Capitol Avenue and Whitman Court a couple of years ago.
Speaking of Capitol Avenue, the CRDA is seeking developers for the state parking lots in the center of SoDo. You can read more in the Courant or on Yahoo News.
And while it would be preferable to resume hosting our NRZ meetings in person, with the latest variant spiking in New England (ps: we have free N95 masks), in the interest of public safety we will meet virtually. Gathering in person will be one of the items we discuss at our next meeting, which is Wednesday, April 20, at 6:00 pm. Topics this month include:
- Potential dates for a Neighborhood Walk Around re: neighborhood improvements, with city Blight Director Judith Rothchild Blight and staff from Hartford Land Bank.
- How shall we spend the Community Engagement funds that were allocated to us?
- Our Love Your Block/Neighborhood Beautification Application for planting an urban orchard in Ramon Quiros Park on Hudson Street is due April 25.
Click here to download an Agenda, which includes the Zoom info. If you are not comfortable downloading, RSVP by 4pm the day of the meeting to SoDoNRZ@gmail.com for the link and Agenda. We look forward to catching up on neighborhood news with you!
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Our meetings typically include reports from Hartford NEXT, Community Garden, and the Outreach and Social Committees, reports from HPD and HFD on activity in the neighborhood, and updates from various City offices such as Community Engagement, Planning & Development Services, and Sustainability. We occasionally have special guests who share information relevant to quality of life in the city or the neighborhood.
Our Board Elections are held at our Annual Meeting in June. Any member of the SoDo neighborhood is eligible for nomination to the Board. Want to know more? Email SoDoNRZ@gmail.com with your questions.
Who qualifies as a member of an NRZ? All residents (including tenants), property owners, business owners, and non-profits within an NRZ's neighborhood boundaries are automatically members of the NRZ. Our meetings are public and open to all. If you are not sure if your home, property, business, or organization lies within the SoDo NRZ boundaries, please check out this map. If you think you might qualify for another NRZ, check out this map. If you have questions, email SoDoNRZ@gmail.com.
You can view past meeting minutes and newsletter editions on our website. And don't forget to check out our Facebook and NextDoor pages for neighborhood news and photos.
Please share this email with your neighbors. And wear your mask and support our local restaurants by ordering some takeout directly from them (the delivery services take up to 30% as their fee!). Here are the ones in our neighborhood that are open: Nevin's Pizza, Peppercorns, Republic at The Linden (reopened 10/8!), Rinconcito Peruano.
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Join your neighbors for a community clean-up, hosted by Hartford Chamber of Commerce - CT, Love Hartford, and Red Rock Tavern.
April 9, 10 am - 12 pm, free. Meet at Red Rock.
Click here or the image above for more info and to register
(for headcount only, there is no fee to participate).
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Do you have an idea about making it easier to get around our neighborhood and city? The Greater Hartford Mobility Study would like your input.
The GHMS study team wants to hear the community’s thoughts about transportation alternatives. Your comments and opinions will inform the study, which will ultimately improve transportation in the Greater Hartford region for years to come.
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PS - As a reminder, our meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of the month, please mark your calendars now for the rest of the 2021-22 year:
- April 20
- May 18
- June 15 Annual Meeting & Elections
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The OneHartford weekly email is a great resource for news about upcoming city programs, meetings, activities, and other useful information, including assistance programs for Hartford residents, organizations, and businesses. Included each week are updates on free COVID tests and vaccines, flu shots, job openings, rental assistance, tax info, and food and coat distribution. You can sign up here.
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Your one-stop resource for which restaurants are open, what's happening on the Pratt Street Patio (now closed to traffic!), and local events (both live stream and in-person). Subscribe to the Hartford.com weekly email and never wonder what to do, where to go, or what to eat again. Sign up here, thank us later.
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Header photo of cherry blossoms and Capitol Avenue brownstones by Robin Zaleski.
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