March meeting: Update on 17 Wells St. residential project

Happy Vernal Equinox, Neighbors.

Over a year ago, the City’s Department of Development Services shared a presentation for a new residential development at 17 Wells Street, facing Pulaski Circle. Since then there have been changes to the scope and size of the project. DDS shared an update with us at our March 19 meeting, which you can view here. In addition, CRDA shared an update on the Bushnell South parking and traffic study that’s currently underway, as well as their work with the MDC on stormwater system upgrades in our neighborhood. You can listen to both presentations on the Zoom recording of the meeting, here.

Check out our March newsletter for other neighborhood and city news.

Thank you for a successful 2025 Progressive Dinner!

On March 8, about 50 neighbors gathered for SoDo’s 10th Downtown Progressive Dinner. Many thanks to Annette Blackwood & Frank Sentner for hosting the wine reception in their beautifully restored 1870s brownstone, to all our attendees -- 60% of whom were first-timers! -- and to our hosts who welcomed Attendees to their respective homes before we all met again at Peppercorns for dessert.

Thank you Dinner Hosts: Heather McLarney, Jane Macy-Painter & Earl Henrichon, Pat Downs & John Chase, Jon Cabral & Leah Reyes, Robert Tollis & Peter Chester, and Robin Zaleski & Bill Morgan. Social Committee: Heather Oakes, Heather McLarney, Jane Macy-Painter, and Robin Zaleski.

February News, CVS Petition

After its four-year hiatus and only ten days of ticket sales, the 10th Downtown Progressive Dinner, Sponsored by the SoDo NRZ, is almost sold out (as of this morning, only six tickets left). If you’d like to attend, get your tickets ASAP at the link below. And if you are considering hosting, we’d love to have you. Sign up at the link below or email sodonrz@gmail.com if you have questions about what hosting entails. (More Hosts = more space for more Attendees!)

In other Downtown news, CVS has indicated they will close their store at 777 Main Street (corner of Pearl). Some concerned SoDo neighbors have drafted a petition asking them to keep that location open, or move to a nearby location to serve downtown residents, office workers, and visitors. Please scroll down and add your name and voice to this appeal.

Our next SoDo meeting is Wednesday, February 19 at 6:00 pm. Due to the anticipated temperatures, this meeting will be Zoom only. Here are links to the Zoom Meeting, Agenda, and Minutes from the January meeting.

2025 Progressive Dinner Tickets ON SALE NOW!

 
Don't miss one of Downtown Hartford's most fun events! The Downtown Progressive Dinner, Sponsored by SoDo brings together a jovial group of Downtown Hartford neighbors for food and drink and to foster active community participation. Hosts and Attendees will meet at a cozy SoDo location for mingling, wine, and appetizers and get their dinner location assignment. After dining at their hosts' neighborhood homes, everyone will regroup at another local spot for dessert and more catching up. At past events, many said they were reluctant to leave their respective dinner parties, as they were having such a good time!

We hope you'll join us Saturday, March 8, 2025, for a wonderful, walkable evening of conversation, food, drink, and community with your fellow Downtown neighbors. Sign up in advance as a Host or Attendee (no tickets will be sold at the door) to attend, or if you have questions, send us an email at sodonrz@gmail.com.

Profits from the Progressive Dinner are used for programs and neighborhood enhancements supported throughout the year by the SoDo NRZ. Click here for more information about the NRZ and its mission.

Monthly Neighborhood Coffee Hour

Join your neighbors every second Sunday of the month for coffee, tea, pastries, and conversation while supporting a local SoDo coffee shop, Cafe Amore. 389 Main Street, at Capitol Avenue. Check them out on Facebook & Instagram.

2025 Progressive Dinner Hosts Wanted!

The Downtown Hartford Progressive Dinner, Sponsored by SoDo: Saturday, March 8, 2025

After a four-year hiatus, one of Downtown Hartford's most fun events has returned! The Downtown Progressive Dinner, Sponsored by SoDo brings together a sociable group of Downtown Hartford neighbors for food and drink and to foster active community participation. Hosts and Attendees will meet at a beautiful Downtown location for mingling, wine, and appetizers and receive their dinner location assignment. After dining at their Hosts' neighborhood homes, everyone will regroup at another local spot for dessert and more catching up. At past events, many said they were reluctant to leave their respective dinner parties, as they were having such a good time!

We hope you'll join us Saturday, March 8, 2025, for a wonderful, walkable evening of conversation, food, drink, and community with your fellow Downtown neighbors. We are currently signing up Hosts, and Attendee tickets will go on sale the first week of February (no tickets will be sold at the door). Have questions? Visit this page. Still have questions? Send us an email at sodonrz@gmail.com. 

A portion of the proceeds from the Progressive Dinner are used for programs and neighborhood enhancements supported throughout the year by the SoDo NRZ. Click here for more information about the NRZ and its mission.

January Neighborhood News and Meeting

 

Happy New Year, Neighbors!

Although we did not meet in December, it was still a festive and neighborly month for SoDo: our Holiday Happy Hour at Sol y Luna was a fun night with drinks, mini-tacos, and Santa (aka SoDo VP Frank Sentner), and just before the holidays, a small team of volunteers managed to hang up some of our lit evergreen garlands at the East end of Capitol Avenue.

In other neighborhood news, the proposed apartment building at 17 Wells Street (currently a parking lot behind 525 Main Street, facing Pulaski Circle) has been in the news as the developers seek $7M in CRDA funding. The original scope of this project was shared at our February 2024 meeting, and you can read the most recent articles here.

Our next SoDo meeting is Wednesday, January 15 at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, 136 Capitol Avenue (enter through the small brick building to the right of the main church.) Or join us via Zoom. Here are links to Join the Meeting, November Minutes, and January Agenda. And be sure to check out this month's newsletter for more neighborhood news, including a list of restaurants/cafes in SoDo, the return of the 311 app, City Snow Parking Ban info, the date of the 2025 Progressive Dinner, and more free stuff for Hartford residents.