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Milford Speaks: Voices for a Downtown Vision

Milford residents speak passionately about their city and its needs.

The suggested a bandshell. Another person wondered if the was considering automated parking.

Milford residents spoke passionately about their city and its needs at a last week that was moderated by Alan Plattus, who heads the Yale Urban Design Workshop that is reviewing downtown opportunities. 

The comments kept coming throughout the evening, even after an employee from the , where the workshop was held, had begun to fold up the library chairs.   

Mark Lofthouse March 9, 2012 at 01:49 pm
This is the same conversation we had during the last Plan of Conservation & Development. Yet here we are paying the same people to tell us the same things, with the same people asking the same questions or giving the same suggestions as the last time. It's like paying to see Part 2 of a movie and all they showed was the exact same movie as the last time.
I agree with much of what everyone is saying, but we have to actually ACT on what we plan for, rather then place plans on a shelf and in 10 years pay someone to read from the same plan at big bucks to the city. Wasted money and time. Let's just actually DO something rather than talk about it.
arkay March 9, 2012 at 08:32 pm
The town shouldn't be afraid to tear down a few buildings and repurpose space. I think the best example is the totally underutilized space south of the train tracks. So many parking lots, banks and other blah development. Could be redone with parking garages and vibrant mixed use development. Look at Blue Back Square in West Hartford for inspiration.
arkay March 10, 2012 at 06:00 pm
Had a thought this morning.
Talking about a small/medium grocery store. The perfect candidate: Fairway. Highly popular grocery store with lots of urban and small footprint experience. The new one in Stamford is making a killing and they're looking to expand further into CT.
Michael Brown March 11, 2012 at 01:13 pm
I would like to point out that there is no shortage of ideas on what should be done with Harrison's, or what should be done in downtown Milford for that matter. What is needed is investors. Who's willing to put up the money? The city may consider guaranteeing a loan or may solicit State or Federal funding. I'm pretty sure there is no stomach for an out-and-out taxpayer backed investment in downtown.
I looked at the crowd at the Plattus presentation and I afraid there were no developers.
JE March 11, 2012 at 06:15 pm
Michael Brown is correct. People can talk all they want about what they think should be done downtown, what they think should go here or there. Getting the backing, or getting a business to open up shop is an entirely different matter. Fairway may be the perfect candidate, but what does Fairway think about that? The city isn't going to open a Fairway.
arkay March 12, 2012 at 05:29 am
The EDC can certainly open up talks with a company like Fairway.
But first the owner of the building wants an unrealistic price. Not sure anyone is going to take a million+construction gamble on anything right now.
Michael Brown March 12, 2012 at 10:45 pm
do you have a contact at Fairway. Can you make the introductions.
arkay March 13, 2012 at 05:15 pm
It's not hard.
http://www.fairwaymarket.com/contact-us/ They're pretty responsive.
Michael Brown March 13, 2012 at 08:25 pm
Sorry. I don't need another project. Can you follow through with this. It IS your idea.
arkay March 14, 2012 at 01:42 am
I sent a followup to the contact I had been emailing with earlier this year.
arkay March 14, 2012 at 01:43 am
But an actual representative of the town and not just a resident will certainly gain more ground with talks with any company.
Michael Brown March 14, 2012 at 04:53 am
I don't know who you think i am but I do not represent city of Milford. i am a businessman. I own a building on Broad Street which I renovated and rented to a number of tenants, one of which is liquid lunch.
My bet is that the EDC will listen to you long before they will listen to me.
arkay March 15, 2012 at 01:56 am
I do not think you represent the city. Just making a general comment/observation.
I love Liquid Lunch!

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