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"IS CAPEWELL HOPELESS ?"

7 Comments -

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kevin,

Have a little bit of patience with Front Street. The new theater is moving forward. They are designing the space as we speak and will start construction very soon. Another announcement may come shortly. There is a new leasing team in place also.

Just because this has been talked about for 6 years, does not mean there has been a built product to sell to tenants. The name was thrown around well before the existing developer had control. This type of project has to be in place to get anybody to look at it.

There are so many misconceptions and naysayers. Did you read Dan Haar yesterday? This is not an apparel or hard goods retail project. It's a destination entertainment, nightlife and restaurant project that can also serve the daytime CBD population.

You can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. Let's turn people's attitudes about this around and get some support.

April 1, 2011 at 8:44 AM

Blogger KEVIN BROOKMAN said...

Your points are more of the excuses we keep hearing all the time. I'll believe a movie theater is coming when the first ticket is sold.

You most likely come from the "city side" of this project and are used to making sure the spin machine is tuned up. Let me ask you if you are familiar with a little project called Blue Back Square.

A project that went from concept to reality and tenants moving in in probably less than 24 months, so to hear that it has "been talked about for 6 years" shows Hartford's problems. We as a city are all talk and no action.

And just as a sidenote, our former leader, Mayor Eddie A. Perez had stated publicly that Blue Back Square would be a failure. That is all we need to know about Hartford's vision. I wish we had a few failures like Blue Back underway in our city.

How are those hi-rise luxury condos at the old YMCA site coming along. Northland isn't even keeping up with the taxes there. How is the "green building" we saw hyped so much for the old WFSB site coming. I hear it is dead, and now we have another vacant lot to welcome people entering the City from the highway.

April 1, 2011 at 9:02 AM

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wrong about the city side. Just an eternal optimist. You and others have every right to be skeptical until the first ticket is sold, however there is a difference between the ignorant naysayers(not pointing at you on this) and people that are informed who don't see results. Too many people are hoping for failure at Front Street and other city projects and those people are impediments to success.

Front Street has little to do with the city, other than the fact that it is in the city. The state controls the land and has guided the process. They are to blame for the reason this has taken so long. They let the first developer drag their feet for way too long, before pulling the plug and getting it in the hands of someone that could execute. Until Segarra, the City did not talk about it, as they were bitter about being shut out of the process and not getting tax revenue.



Blue Back did not go from concept to reality in 24 months. Many many years of planning by the town and developers went in to acquiring land and reshaping an area of the downtown that ultimately took 2 years to approve and construct from the time plans were on paper.

Time will ultimately tell the tale, but I think if enough like minded people with positive energy get behind something, it will work.

April 1, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Anonymous Mr King said...

We need to work with the Indians to put a casino on Front street. Nothing else will bring people to Hartford. Nobody will come downtown to go to the movies. Suburban theaters have been closing. A casino would bring in restaurants, bars, etc and this would bring in people.

April 1, 2011 at 1:42 PM

Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I wish we had a few failures like Blue Back underway in our city."
---------------------------------
[in today's Courant]

The National Jean Company store in West Hartford's Blue Back Square has closed due to declining sales, the owner of the store said.

The 4,100 square foot store, located at 73 Isham Road, offered women's apparel, accessories, gifts and children's clothing.

In an email, the store's owner, Steve Simon said that he has decided to expand the two National Jean Co. stores he operates in Massachusetts, including one in Newton. "People in [West Hartford], they really don't like to shop. We've had quite a few people from [there] shop in our stores in Massachusetts."

"Our stores are doing great in my Massachusetts locations," Simon added.

April 1, 2011 at 1:58 PM

Anonymous Ernie said...

Congratulations to Panagore and his cracker jack team of employees!!!

April 1, 2011 at 2:05 PM

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, come on -- one store closes and you are acting like Blue Back is a failure? Blue Back is doing very well, thank you.

April 2, 2011 at 8:17 PM

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