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"THE CITY OF HARTFORD CAN NOT CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS LIKE THIS- THE NEXT CHAPTER"

9 Comments -

1 – 9 of 9
Blogger concerned hartford citizen said...

Thanks for all your research Kevin - Keep shining the light !- What is the common denominator here? Who in Development Services is signing off on these properties and proposing them to the Council as a great idea? First this = then 175 Tower - how many are there? Great = a blighted property that gets sold to a developer and stays blighted - shameful . How many properties have been on the blighted list forever ? I know there is one on the corner of Wethersfield Ave and Shultus that has been really bad for years - why is this? This hurts neighborhoods and is unacceptable . I know the Mayor hired new people for Development Services - what is their experience? I pray they know what they are doing.

May 23, 2016 at 2:39 PM

Anonymous Anne said...

This Broad Street property came before city council twice, and then went to P&Z. These NY scammers boasted of their big "revitalization", "rehab", and "restoration" plans: Beautiful,all new, top-of-the-line apartments on the upper floors, and their high-end cabinet and countertop business downstairs. They wanted the property declared "blighted" so they could buy it for $1, which they got. Their developers' license had been revoked in Suffolk County, NY and they were on the "Wall of Shame" there. They had no business cards on any of their visits to Hartford! And they had more pie-in-the-sky plans to buy the flatiron building at Main & High Streets, with more fabulous apartments upstairs and a "high-end diner...like nothing you've ever seen before!" at street level. And in the year they've owned it, they've never paid any of their property taxes. I'm sure they haven't even been back in the state since the sale went through.

So who in Development Services set up this deal for them? We all know they're just waiting to flip it, a la SAMA and 95 Park Street!

May 23, 2016 at 4:41 PM

Blogger Bill Katz said...

I have made inquiries to buy and rehab with my own money yet I have been unable to receive any encouragement and cooperation from the city. Recently, I approach d Glen Gethers and his response was, "not now." And I live here. I have been trying to motivate a former neighbor who moved out of her house almost 18 years ago to sell. I have begged her to sell it to me or anyone. Just sell it so the house can be rehabbed. I have no problem with flippers. As long as they (we) restore the house. That is the reward for making a house like new again through hard work.

My neighbor lives in a nice house on Ridge Road in Wethersfield. And I have begged her to allow my neighborhood to stop continued blight conditions. Age can do a number on you and one is the inability to make a decision.

May 23, 2016 at 9:29 PM

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kevin, John Bazzano seems to go unscathed after decades of serving along side some of the most incompetent ,corrupt and destructive politicians in Hartford. Is he that honorable and honest? And if so,WHY ISNT HE THE MAYOR???????

May 23, 2016 at 10:20 PM

Anonymous Anonymous said...

And Zaaco's local business "agent" was Tomas Nenortas

May 23, 2016 at 10:30 PM

Blogger KEVIN BROOKMAN said...

10:20PM

If you knew John and the operation he runs, I think you would be able to answer your own question. John had huge shoes to fill after he took over after the sudden death of Dan Carey, and he has done an admirable job in managing the Clerk's Office. I hear a lot about City Hall, but I have never heard John's name mentioned in a negative light. I honestly think he enjoys where he is at and doesn't have any aspirations for higher office.

May 23, 2016 at 11:02 PM

Blogger KEVIN BROOKMAN said...

9:29pm

If you would like, you can contact me privately with details and I can see what I can find out. "Not Now" is not an acceptable answer from a City employee

May 23, 2016 at 11:07 PM

Blogger Bill Katz said...

Kevin, a Mia Culpa to you and to Glen. In my haste, I misquoted Glen Gethers. He did not say "not now." He did say that activities had been placed on hold for re-evaluation and this is not a quote but very close to his response. He responded in this manner after the controversy over the Tower Ave property came to light on this blog. So I want to be very clear that he did not rebuff me personally. But I have been frustrated in a general way, when I tried, and maybe not tried hard enough, to seek distressed properties in Hartford. Frankly, I am less sanguine about buying in Hartford realizing the many more issues with Hartford-based investments. I should have my head examined. But I will participate in all things in Hartford including fighting the good fight over small and large issues to help stabilize a fundamentally unstable community, while I live here.

May 24, 2016 at 8:26 AM

Anonymous Anonymous said...

@Bill Katz: Did Glenn Geathers also tell you that he had been reprimanded, and then disciplined (which was noted in his personnel file), for the role he has played in moving along unvetted applications from spurious "developers" who want to buy city properties? Did he mention the lies he put forth at a public hearing and an NRZ meeting in order to assist one of those so-called developers? I don't know about any other Development Services activities that have been put on hold, but I'm quite sure Mr. Geathers' "activities" have been.

May 24, 2016 at 11:14 AM

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