The Maritime Aquarium is about to unveil its master plan.
The plan, scheduled to be unveiled Oct. 17, includes a three-phase, multiyear, multimillion dollar expansion to the Maritime Aquarium’s building, educational programs and environmental outreach initiatives, particularly the conservation of Long Island Sound.
“This began when Jennifer Herring took over as our president and CEO three years ago,” said Tim Gagne, publicist for the Aquarium. “She started to meet with staff, and we all started talking about how we could build from the future, and the plan really grew from there.”
Gagne was mum about the details of the expansion, saying that the board needed to see the final plan before it was discussed in public but said that it would include growth to the actual structure.
I hope Gagne as no relation to Eric Gagne, but I digress. So they want to do some actual structure growth. I guess they mean build something. Like an addition. But shhhh. It’s secret because the board doesn’t know about it yet. Which is surprising since the board should have been kept in some sort of loop regarding long range plans long before the unveiling of a master plan. Thankfully they have hired thinc design to work on the details. Quality exhibit work will go a long way to increasing gate receipts, but what of the infamous busses?
Before they get too far ahead of themselves with planning the future, an assessment of the current might be in order. More exhibits means more time at the aquarium which means more busses.
Which brings us to the delightful news that the Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs Council Committee, otherwise known as the Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs Council Committee, will hold some public participation meeting to discuss the object of so much recent comments, Vets Park.
“I think it’s about time they take some feedback,” Santella said.
In May, a proposed miniature golf course slated for the area was killed by Mayor Richard A. Moccia following neighborhood opposition to the idea.
In July, residents were angered that an amphitheater was discussed, and a feasibility study conducted, when an updated master plan was not available.
Another issue that recently raised the ire of Seaside Avenue-area residents — the noise emanating from July’s Colombian Independence Day Festival — will not be addressed at Wednesday’s meeting.
Soon after this summer’s festival generated music and traffic complaints, Democratic Councilman Fred Bondi, who represents East Norwalk, called for the festival not to be brought back for another year.
At the time, Mocciae said the festival would likely be reviewed in September after organizers filed an application for a 2008 festival.
An application was not filed in time for discussion on the item to make Wednesday’s agenda, Mocciae said.
It will likely be discussed in October, he said.
Director Michael Mocciae should be commended for raising the awareness of this meeting, and for encouraging the public’s participation.
And in Stamford, the SWRPA panel on transportation centric development yielded:
In order for such developments to succeed, however, she said, they need a good working relationship of public and private partners, including federal and state agencies, developers, municipalities, and chambers of commerce.
Mark Gordon, a former real estate director for New Jersey Transit who has helped establish transit-oriented developments in that state, said the ridership at the train station in South Orange, N.J., more than doubled after mixed-use development was established nearby in the late-1990’s. The South Orange development, which took what once were empty storefronts in the downtown area near the station and created new retail spaces for new tenants, also gave new life to the neglected downtown, he said.“Ten years ago South Orange was considered edgy for Starbucks — now it has a Starbucks, and it’s a symbol of revitalization,” Gordon told the crowd.
Also among the day’s speakers was Ted Ferrarone, vice president of Anteres Investment Partners, which is working to transform 80 acres just south of the Stamford train station into a mixed-use development. Once finished, the development will offer six million square feet of residential space, Ferrarone said, including 4,000 housing units, a number of stores and restaurants and a hotel.
“Our goal is to build a 24-hour live, work and play destination,” he told the conference attendees.
Some of the other transit-oriented developments in the early stages in the state include three in Norwalk — Wall St., West Ave., and the Reed-Putnam project in South Norwalk — and one on the former Gilbert & Bennett wire mill site in Georgetown.
Well, it looks like here in Norwalk the Wall Street, West ave and Reed Putnam areas will all be competing for that edgy Starbucks.
source: The Hour, Maritime Aquarium’s ‘Master Plan’ calls for multimillion expansion, By JILL BODACH, September 19, 2007
source: The Hour, Public to get chance to weigh in on renovations at Veterans Park, By AMANDA PINTO, September 19, 2007
source: The Hour, Agency promotes transit oriented development to planners, officials, September 19, 2007
