Walkable Streets - now spell checked!
Mark Abraham, coordinator of the New Haven Safe Streets coalition, has a great editorial on HartfordBusiness.com. The piece covers the largely unaddressed traffic related dangers in the state and how pedestrian friendly communities offer a number of social and economic benefits.
This is not just a safety issue. Studies have shown that walkable streets are critical to: 1) Encouraging residents to walk or bicycle more frequently, increasing worker productivity and helping to support neighborhood-based retail; 2) Attracting new businesses and employees; 3) Slightly reducing traffic speeds, which supports retail districts and; 4) Improving overall public health, the environment, and the sense of ownership people feel towards their neighborhoods and public spaces — even the number of friends they report having.
It seems a good number of people in Stamford mistake development as a loss of community in town. Mixed use, high density development can go a long way toward rebuilding communities where decades of suburban sprawl and shopping malls decimated downtowns and reduced your walking in the community to a trek across a paved lot that a shitty parking spot delivered. This type of thinking doesn't need to only relate to downtown. The East Side is experiencing increased mixed use growth, and recently Springdale & Glenbrook moved toward rezoning that would encourage pedestrian redevelopment of their village centers. This type of development, combined with traffic calming measures leads to more vibrant, community oriented neighborhoods. Stamford could benefit from a safe streets coalition to make sure the traffic calming plan is actually put into effect.
4 comments :
I live in Glenbrook and it's a shame that some of the older residents of the neighborhood are opposed to developement--they seem to think that housing over retail will mean we have bunches of teens hanging around on street corners and more illegal immigrants.
They continue to want to widen Hope Street (which studies show does not decrease traffic) and add ever-more parking since "no one walks in Stamford anyway."
Glenbrook has the potential to become a charming little neighborhood with shops and cafes around the train station, but unless people give up their dreams of "no more development after I move in" it will never happen.
If anyone would like to create a coalition in Stamford, we're happy to share our strategy. Contact newhavensafestreets at gmail dot com.
Sounds like a plan to me.Not sure how they would implement it in Glenbrook and Springdale, but there's always hope.
Walking is the best for body and for "community" when your feet aren't swollen beyond recognition, of course.
HereinCT, I think you're right on about Glenbrook's potential.
Steamroll through those old people. They have a right to their opinion, but I'm sure they've had a disproportionate say at the community meeting since they have the time to show up. The internet opens new possibilities though. Organize a neighborhood association online to get others involved.
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