Letters to the editor - March 8 2013

Let’s try development from the inside out

The Smart Growth workshop of Feb. 20 and 21 drew a small group of local people, five the first night, eight on day two. Why so few? Community Lawyer Charlene LaVoie suggested, “plan fatigue” — we’ve been hearing this kind of thing for 20 years. 

She’s right. The central idea that Winsted ought to make itself a “destination,” not just a place that people pass through on the way to somewhere else, was a major conclusion of the Charrette process of 1993. Smart Growth ideas for modifying traffic patterns and creating interest on the river side of Main Street were also in the Charrette report. 

Some improvements to Main Street were made. A walking path along the river was partially implemented but not maintained, for lack of funds and perhaps lack of interest. Winsted residents have been confronted with a more urgent problem over the last few years, scrambling to secure a livelihood. 

The United States is in economic recession — some say depression. In these circumstances people are challenged just to hold onto housing and core services. Many of us have had to swallow our pride and take advantage of public assistance in one form or another. The better off among us try to shore up their gains from easier times in order to maintain some vestige of the standard of living they worked for. 

What was “smart” in easier times may not be now. The Smart Growth workshop proposed turning a part of Main Street into a special district for intensive urban development, with professional management that could market it to developers. Property owners, the Smart Growth representative suggested from personal experience, are more likely to support such a plan than merchants. The plan could be funded by them, with a small levy per square foot, as has been done in other cities. 

Why would property owners support this plan? For the same reason that merchants might not — what this plan is designed to do, and has done in other cities, is to raise rents on downtown properties. With higher downtown rents, the Smart Growth representative said, we may lose some “marginal” businesses but we’ll be better off without them. 

He meant that town revenues would be better off. “Upscale” businesses pay more in local taxes. Some of us have heard this before too. It was the big promise of so-called “urban renewal” — which has left empty shells in the place of countless once-thriving downtowns. 

This plan seems heartless. Aren’t those “marginal” business-owners our neighbors? At a time like this, are we going to threaten the livelihoods of community members in the (possibly vain) hope of glamorizing Main Street? 

Why mess with successful small businesses, part of whose success is the relatively low rent they pay for a great downtown location? A lot of residents appreciate their community as it is, and they should. 

All things considered, this is a thriving community. Even the Smart Growth presenters had to concede that Main Street is a successful business venue, with few vacant units — not many small towns can say that. When they suggested that we should organize events at the park, a chorus of Winstedites chimed in: oh, we have all kinds of parades and festivals when the weather is nice! And we have the Farmers Market — just starting its third year and already a success. And the Friends of Main Street put on a weekly music series. 

It also came out that local businesses and the Northwest Community Bank support our first-rate library. And the whole town is run by volunteers, the head of the Winchester Economic Development Commission mentioned — “take away the volunteers and nothing would be left.” That’s a lot of community spirit, and it goes right down to the bedrock — even in hard times, townspeople have been paying their local taxes at an unusually high rate, 97.5 percent, the town’s interim finance director recently reported. 

And there’s a low crime rate. And we still have a post office! 

There’s room for outside developers, as long as they treat the community with respect. But instead of just developing from the outside in, couldn’t we also grow from the inside out? 

Don’t we have under-employed people with a lot of skills and willingness to work? Aren’t there abundant natural resources, verdant hills, wetlands, waterways? That’s potential pasture, herbs and mushrooms, reeds and clays, and, with the new micro-hydro technology, even power — from the same source that powered the manufacturing that built this town in the first place — and who knows what else. 

Would it take outside capital to do better with what we have? If we were really “smart,” couldn’t we find ways to put skills and resources together on our own, and build a modest prosperity from the ground up? 

Dimitra “Dee” Doukas

Winsted

The writer is an anthropologist working for the Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest.

Food For Your Neighbors program is under way in Northwest Corner

There’s still time for you to contribute to the success of this year’s United Way of Northwest Connecticut Food For Your Neighbors program!

Donations made in the Winsted area will be designated to the local Salvation Army. All food banks have seen a 25 to 30 percent increase in demand over last year. 

Since the program’s inception in 2004, Food For Your Neighbors has collected over 196,000 items to benefit local participating food pantries. The United Way of Northwest Connecticut food drive is the only major food drive in Northwest Connecticut conducted after the winter holiday, and plays a significant role in replenishing local food banks until the United States Postal Service drive in May. 

Donations made before March 14 in the Winsted area can be delivered to National Iron Bank, Northwest Community Bank, the YMCA, or directly to the Salvation Army Monday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

New Hartford residents can also take donations to the Hands of Grace food pantry located at 433 Main St., which is accepting donations Monday through Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Winsted residents may also bring donations to the Open Door Soup Kitchen located at St. James Place. Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekly. 

On behalf of the entire United Way family, thank you again for your generosity!

Stephanie R. Barksdale

Executive Director

United Way of Northwest Connecticut

Torrington