Taking A Stroll Downtown

Connecticut Main Street Center highlights Torrington Center

Did you know that Torrington, Connecticut has one of the largest collections of Art Deco buildings in the country? The Connecticut Main Street Center gave a tour of historic Main Street in town to put a “Spotlight on Main Street” in April.

Now nearly thirty years ago, Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) was founded by the Connecticut Light & Power Company, a unique proposition by a privately held company. According to the CMSC website, to this day, CL&P “remains the only private corporation in the country to solely sponsor and administer a statewide Main Street initiative.”

In the intervening three decades, CMSC became a private nonprofit and has worked closely with the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to foster the kind of investment in main streets that you see in Downtown Torrington.

The “Spotlight on Mainstreet” event is aimed at downtown economic development professionals and municipal leaders from across the state to come look at what a thriving, historic, and walkable district looks like.

Starting with a networking event held in the Warner Theater, a great example of the renovated Art Deco buildings, guests proceed to get a walking tour of the area followed by a reception at a downtown restaurant. During the event, the hosting city “shares how they addressed local obstacles and achieved success in their downtown through collaboration, economic, and community development.” Intended to highlight successes in public/private partnerships, businesses, and local officials.

The event is co-sponsored by the Connecticut Economic Development Association (CEDAS) and presented by the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.

Our Main Streets have never been a more important asset. As CMSC argues, Main Streets are vital to a thriving Connecticut, both socially and economically. Continuing, “Not only are they the heartbeat of our communities – providing interesting dynamic spaces for friends, neighbors and colleagues to interact with each other – but they also provide a far greater return on investment than typical big-box development, with studies showing that money spent downtown stays downtown.”

Taking a tour through historic Torrington’s downtown is proof positive of this concept. With it’s theaters and hotels, restaurants and shops, it’s a thriving area that deserves the spotlight.