2009 Events
Annual Lighting of the Holiday Trees
Saturday, December 5th at 6:00-7:00 pm
Center Green
Smart Growth From Statehouse to Main Street:
Suburban Towns Plan for the Future
A Public Forum in Town Council Chambers, Wed, 11/25, 6:30 p.m.
This event was broadcast and will be repeated on Public Access TV, Channel 16, through end of December. Download Hiram Peck’s PowerPoint presentation.
The tenets of Smart Growth are guiding legislative initiatives in statehouses across the country. How do principles meant to preserve open space, encourage compact, walkable neighborhoods, new transportation choices and mixed-use development translate to Main Street, and what does it all mean for suburban Connecticut towns like Glastonbury, Simsbury and Hamden as they plan for the future?
Over the past year, Hamden and Simsbury have looked to smart growth principles while conducting successful, community-wide planning projects focused on town center development. What are the lessons for Glastonbury as it considers its own downtown planning initiative?
Panel discussion:
- Tom Kehoe, State Rep., Glastonbury; Vice-Chair of Transportation Committee; Environment Committee
- Hiram Peck, Director of Planning, Simsbury
- Brendan Sharkey, State Rep., Hamden; Chair, Planning and Development Committee; Chair, Smart Growth Working Group
- Dan Schnaidt, Glastonbury Town Center Initiative
A Taste of Glastonbury: Under a Strawberry Moon
Saturday, June 20, 6-10:30 pm (postponed due to weather)
New date: Saturday June 27, 6-10:30 pm
Center Green
An outdoor party for adults at the intersection of Main Street and Hebron Avenue. Celebrate Glastonbury’s strawberry harvest with live music, games, dancing, and food prepared by area restaurants. Wine and beer.
Forum on Economic Growth, Parking and Zoning
Date: April 28, 7:00 pm
Location: Town Council Chambers, Town Hall
Robert Orr, AIA, Robert Orr & Associates
Norman Garrick, Director, Center for Transportation and Urban Planning, UConn
Robert Orr and Norman Garrick will focus their remarks on economic growth, parking, and zoning issues as they effect Glastonbury Town Center. They will examine ways in which changes in parking, configuration of roadways, crosswalks, mixture of permitted uses, density and other regulation-controlled issues can effect the economic vitality and growth of a business district.
Given that Glastonbury’s grand list growth last year was less than 1% rather than the 2-3% annual appreciation over the past decade, and that a number of Town Center retailers have recently closed their businesses in this difficult economic climate, Orr and Garrick will help to consider other ways Town government and its regulations can encourage and support future economic growth in the Town Center.
Robert Orr, who has worked with towns across the nation to propose changes that foster positive growth while retaining an area’s character and uniqueness, will also present some of his findings from his work at the TCI charrette last fall, including his conceptual development plan for the Town Center.
Norman Garrick, Director, Center for Transportation and Urban Planning at the University of Connecticut will present his findings regarding the amount and types of parking spaces provided in Town Center. Many towns across the nation have recently redesigned their parking in ways intended to contribute to the viability of businesses while making the most efficient use of valuable space in central business districts. This topic is particularly timely with the addition of Eric Towne Square at 124 Hebron Avenue, as many business owners and patrons have indicated a concern that the parking is simply not working.
The presentation will be broadcast live on channel 16 Public Access. Members of Town boards and commissions and the public are encouraged to attend. No charge. For more information, please call Barbara Wagner at 657-4345.
Art Walk
May 1 – 17
Opening May 1, 5:30 — Great River Framing (next to Whole Foods)
See the Art Walk Exhibitors
TCI and Glastonbury Art Guild are co-producing the first Glastonbury Art Walk. The event, which will bring interest and art-lovers to Town Center, will exhibit Glastonbury artists’ juried artwork at Town Center businesses. A map will lead people to the various Town Center businesses displaying artwork.
2008 Events
Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 6, 2008
6 – 7 pm
Center Green
Glastonbury’s holiday tree brightens spirits and the early darkness as the season turns. Santa makes a magical appearance to hear the wishes of children.
Design Charrette
Friday, November 14, 2008
Participate in a day-long workshop with design and planning professionals, town officials, property owners and community members to envision the future of our Town Center. Listen, learn, draw, and share ideas. Facilitators: Robert Orr, Susan Bridgewater of Robert Orr & Associates, and Russell Preston
Twinklin Pumpkins
October 24, 2008, 6-8 pm Center Green
A fall harvest events for the whole family, featuring decorated pumpkins, face painting, and a costume contest and parade.
A Taste of Glastonbury: Under a Strawberry Moon
Saturday, June 28, 6-10:30 pm
Center Green
An outdoor party for adults at the intersection of Main Street and Hebron Avenue. Celebrate Glastonbury’s strawberry harvest with live music, games, dancing, and food prepared by area restaurants. Wine and beer.
Kidding Around the Center
Tuesday’s in July
07/08, 07/15, 07/22 and 07/29
6-8 pm
Rain date is Thursday of the same week
The fifth annual Kidding Around the Center children’s series returns to the town center green. The event co-sponsored by TCI and Parks and Recreation is an opportunity to enjoy a summer evening of family fun at the fountain green. Kids can enjoy arts and crafts, go “fishing in the fountain”, chalk and balloon artists and will feature Glastonbury youth performing on the stage. Refreshments include hot dogs, snow cones, pop corn and lemonade at the refreshment stand.
2007
Walkable Village: Creating a Lively, Pedestrian Friendly Town Center
Thursday, March 29, 2007 7 pm at Welles-Turner Library
What kind of town center do you think Glastonbury should have? Tom Condon, editor of the Hartford Courant’s Place section and Patrick Pinnell, an architect, educator and one of the state’s foremost experts on urban planning, will discuss planning principles and strategies that might be used to guide the growth of town center. A question and answer period will follow thier remarks in what TCI hopes will be the beginning of a public conversation about the developemnt of town center.
