Downtown Public Forum May 25, 2016
Welcome!
Goals of MOTM • Improve neighborhood health • Improve environmental health • Increase opportunities to be active • Link open space and recreation spaces safely
Environmental & Occupational Health Assessment Program (EOHA) CT Department of Public Health (CT DPH) http://www.ct.gov/dph
What is a Brownfield?
“Abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial properties where reuse or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived contamination.�
What do Brownfields look like?
591 Main St, Middletown
Contamination May Be Obvious‌
Or More Subtle
Contamination May Be Outside, In Soil Or Groundwater‌
Or Inside Buildings That Could Be Reused
Common Brownfields Contaminants Lead
Solvents
Arsenic
Asbestos
Chromium
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
Cadmium
PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
Brownfield Program Outcomes and Benefits • Reduces blight and revitalizes urban areas • Removes stigma • Restores pride in community • Creates tax revenue • Creates jobs
• • • • •
Revitalizes neighborhoods Reduces health risks Protects/creates greenspace Reduces sprawl Promotes sustainability
Brownfields & Public Health • Hazardous Sites Cleaned Up • Redevelopment >Jobs> Health Care Access, Etc. • Community “Mental Health” Improved • Educate communities about related health issues
Public Health Involvement • Evaluate Current, Future Health Risks • Answer Health Concerns Up-Front • Assure that Clean-up Remedy Protects Community, Workers • Encourage Community Involvement • Most Sites - Little, No Public Health Involvement • Our Intent: Not Slow the Process!
Where Public Health Involvement More Likely Possible Site Future Uses – Daycares – Residential – Schools – Office Use
Site Location – Is It Near . . . –Residences –Parks –Schools –Daycares
Get Involved!
Residents May Know the History of a Site Is the Plan Good for the Neighborhood? Is the New Place Going to be Safe?
Potential Brownfields in Downtown Middletown We started with lots of possibilities for brownfields appropriate for recreation, and ended up with . . .
Sites of Interest in Downtown
What we’ve heard so far… Bus Tour
What we’ve heard so far… Stakeholders & On Line Survey Middletown Disability Committee
Opportunity Knocks
Parent Training Leadership Council
Mayor’s Youth Cabinet
What we’ve heard so far… On Line Survey What do downtown residents like best? • Good walkability, good sidewalks • Convenient location of YMCA • Convenient to trails and places to run
What do they consider to be the greatest obstacles?
What do they consider to be the best options for improvement?
• Lack of playgrounds/
• More
safe places for young children to play • Lack of trails/Lack of maps to find existing trails • People drive too fast
parks/playgrounds • Better access to and condition of trails • Consistent response times on crosswalks • Police presence, on foot • Extended Harbor Park
What we’ve heard so far… Today’s open house
This is what your neighbors have said, but what do YOU think?
Public Spaces (Monuments)
Economic Spaces (Streets & Squares)
The True City
Leon Krier, Architecture of Community
Organizational Principles: Temporary – Permanent Large – Small Active – Passive Urban – Natural
Tonight’s Objective • To better understand open space and recreational needs of the neighborhood • To better understand if these sites could meet those needs, how and why (or why not)
Ground Rules • Respect different opinions. • Stay on-topic – land the plane… • Give everyone a chance to talk. • Silence cell phones or take conversations outside. • Allow the facilitator to move to the next discussion point.
Group Exercise • Identify the needs of the neighborhood. – Ask someone to record needs.
• Identify which needs can be met at the site. – Use pre-made stickers (or design your own!). – List the pros and cons of the site to meet need(s).
• Identify any priorities. – Consider who benefits, existing resources, etc.
Group Exercise, Cont. • Switch! – Try to move to a table with new faces.
• Review the list of needs. – Anything missing?
• Review the map. – Is there anything you would add, change?
• Review priorities. – Do you agree? Is there something that should move to the top?
Report Out • What are the agreed upon needs? • Which site(s) met these needs? • What are the pros and cons of a site? • What are the priorities?