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.

Holiday Happy Hour

 

The Board of the SoDo NRZ invites our residential and business neighbors to join us in celebrating the season!

Wednesday, December 18
5:00 - 7:00 pm

Sol y Luna*
10 Capitol Avenue

Cash Bar

For those who are driving: on-street parking (free after 6 pm) and a paid lot on Linden behind the Central Baptist Church.

Please note, this event is in lieu of our December meeting. Our regularly scheduled monthly meetings resume January 15, 2025.

*formerly known as Social Republic and Republic at The Linden

November Neighborhood Meeting

 


And just like that, it’s November and Thanksgiving are on our doorstep… which also means Winterfest Hartford is also on our doorstep (literally and figuratively). The SoDo NRZ proudly supported them during their Sustainable CT matching fund drive. Winterfest costs upwards of $300k for five weeks of FREE skating, skate rentals, and lessons. Please consider donating so that more Hartford children (and adults) can enjoy skating in our beautiful Bushnell Park. Any donation amount is welcome. Looking for something to do that is less outdoorsy? Visit the “Things To Do” page of our website, or the Hartford.com website.

Our next SoDo meeting is Wednesday, November 20 at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, 136 Capitol Avenue (enter through the small white building to the right of the main church.) Or join us via Zoom. Here are the Meeting link and Agenda.

Your NRZ has two big projects in the works right now:

1) In conjunction with updating our NRZ Strategic Plan, we are also developing a ten-year Neighborhood Plan, with help from the City of Hartford Planning Division and FHI Studios. All neighbors are welcome to their upcoming meetings and workshops. The next one is Monday, November 25 at 5:30 pm and includes a Mini Tour of the 55 Elm Annex. If you are interested in participating, please contact Leah Beckett for more info and to register to attend.

2) Our newly formed Community Outreach Working Group is hard at work planning a campaign to engage more of our neighbors. If you own a business or run an organization in SoDo, please take this two-minute survey. Your input will be very helpful as the committee develops a welcome/info kit, marketing materials, door-knocking, and social activities for this campaign. If you are interested in volunteering for any of the above, send an email to sodonrz@gmail.com. All are welcome!

October Neighborhood Meeting

northern lights over the top of a building
October 10 Aurora Borealis over Hudson Street

So far this month we have been treated to cool autumn temperatures, the leaves changing colors, and northern lights over Hartford (see photo above, taken in SoDo October 10). Pumpkin spice/spooky season is a great time to visit some of Hartford’s oldest residents with tours of the Ancient Burying Grounds or Cedar Hill Cemetery, or to view the foliage of Bushnell Park from atop the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch. Looking for something less outdoorsy? Visit the “Things To Do” page of our website, or the Hartford.com website.

Our next SoDo meeting is Wednesday, October 16 at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, 136 Capitol Avenue (enter through the small white building to the right of the main church.) Or join us via Zoom. Here are the Meeting link and Agenda, which includes an update from Spinnaker Real Estate on their Capitol Avenue redevelopment.

Are you interested in taking a more active role in our neighborhood? We have openings on our Board as well as our Social, Community Outreach, and Neighborhood Planning Committees. Please consider joining your neighbors in improving our community. For more information, send an email to sodonrz@gmail.com.

Our first meeting of the 2024-25 year

Autumn officially arrives this week and Hartford is still hopping with outdoor events! Farmers markets, yoga in the parks, puppy hours and street salsa on Pratt, historic tours of the Arch in Bushnell Park and the Ancient Burying Ground on Gold - there is still tons to do before the leaves start turning. Not sure what is happening when? Visit the “Things To Do” page of our website, or the Hartford.com website.

Your NRZ has two big projects in the works right now:

  1. Our newly formed Community Outreach Working Group is hard at work planning a campaign to engage more of our neighbors. If you own a business or run an organization in SoDo, please take this two-minute survey. Your input will be very helpful as the committee develops a welcome/info kit, marketing materials, door-knocking, and social activities for this campaign. If you are interested in volunteering for any of the above, send an email to sodonrz@gmail.com. All are welcome.

  2. In conjunction with updating our NRZ Strategic Plan, we are also developing a ten-year Neighborhood Plan, with help from the City of Hartford Planning Division and FHI Studios. All neighbors are welcome to their upcoming meetings and workshop; scroll down for dates and locations. This team is also surveying how you live, work, and play in the neighborhood: how often you visit any of the local businesses or spend time with your neighbors, what other businesses you wish we had in SoDo, and what would make our neighborhood better. Your feedback is important! The survey takes only five minutes; if you wish, you can remain anonymous. The survey closes September 30.

Our next SoDo meeting is Wednesday, September 18 at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, 136 Capitol Avenue (enter through the small white building to the right of the main church.) Or join us via Zoom. Here are the Meeting link and Agenda.

Are you interested in taking a more active role in our neighborhood? We have openings on our Board as well as our Social, Community Outreach, and Neighborhood Planning Committees. Please consider joining your neighbors in improving our community. For more information, send an email to sodonrz@gmail.com.

Neighborhood Planning Committee meetings:

  • Public Workshop to develop the South Downtown Neighborhood Plan: Tuesday, October 1, at 6 PM at Rinconcito Peruano, corner of Main and Capitol. 
  • Committee Meeting: Tuesday, October 15, at 6 PM, at the Dollard Pavilion, located at the Bushnell Park Carousel.
  • Committee Meeting: Tuesday, November 12, at 6 PM, at the Dollard Pavilion, located at the Bushnell Park Carousel. All are welcome!

Neighborhood Plan Survey

In conjunction with updating our NRZ Strategic Plan, we are also developing a ten-year Neighborhood Plan, with help from the City of Hartford Planning Division. 

In this survey you can share how you “live” in the neighborhood: how often you visit any of the local businesses or spend time with your neighbors, what other businesses you wish we had in SoDo, and what would make our neighborhood better. Your feedback is important! 

The survey takes only five minutes; if you wish, you can remain anonymous. The survey closes September 30.

Mayor Arulampalam to speak at June 26 Annual Meeting & Elections

Click here to read this month's newsletter.

The Summer Solstice this week kicks off the most wonderful time of the year: live music and free yoga in our parks, festivals, street fairs, athletic events… Hartford is hopping! Not sure what is happening when? Visit the “Things To Do” page of our website, or the Hartford.com website.

Our newly formed Community Outreach Working Group is hard at work planning a campaign to engage more of our neighbors. If you own a business or run an organization in SoDo, please take this two-minute survey. Your input will be very helpful as the committee develops a welcome/info kit, marketing materials, door-knocking, and social activities for this campaign. If you are interested in volunteering for any of the above, send an email to sodonrz@gmail.com. All are welcome!

Our next meeting is Wednesday, June 26 at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, 136 Capitol Avenue (enter through the small white building to the right of the main church.) Or join us via Zoom. Our guest speaker will be The Honorable Arunan Arulampalam, Mayor of the City of Hartford. Click here for the Agenda.

UPDATE: A recording of the meeting is available on our Google Drive.

Are you interested in taking a more active role in our neighborhood? We have openings on our Board as well as our Social, Community Outreach, and Neighborhood Planning Committees. Please consider joining your neighbors in improving our community. For more information, send an email to sodonrz@gmail.com.