2008 Woodie Awards
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Storrs Center: Putting The Town Back In 'College Town'
Kala Kachmar
Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: News
The University of Connecticut is known for preserving its rural, agricultural roots. The town of Mansfield is known for preserving its history and culture. But the together, the two lack something that many feel is needed in a college environment - a college town.
In 2001, UConn and the town of Mansfield came together to form the Mansfield Downtown Partnership - a collaboration that would plan for the construction of a town center to benefit the UConn community, the local community and university visitors.
The project, which officials estimate will be complete in 2014, will transform Route 195 near UConn's Fine Arts building and the Mansfield Community Center into vibrant, pedestrian-oriented college town that will include small neighborhoods, a town square and shopping areas that will foster a center of civic activity for the community. Locally owned retail operations, restaurants and other businesses will provide activities for locals and visitors. Traffic will be slowed, trees will be planted, sidewalks will be built and parking will be available both on the streets and in a new garage that will be erected, said Cynthia van Zelm, executive director of the Downtown Partnership. Mansfield downtown also includes plans for the transformation of King Hill Road and the four corners, where Routes 195 and 44 meet.
Part of the purpose of Mansfield Downtown is to bring economic growth to the area and provide a large tax base for the town, said Mansfield Mayor Elizabeth Paterson, who's been deeply involved since the start of the project and sits on several Downtown Partnership committees, including the board of directors. The plan is to bring a variety of non-corporate retail shops and restaurants to the center, in an effort to provide a destination for outsiders and a "place to go" for locals, whether they want to run errands, mail something at the post office or simply walk their dog, she said.
Local businesses will benefit from the growth of the area, said Tom Callahan, UConn associate vice president for administration and operation, Downtown Mansfield Partnership member of the board of directors and chair of the finance and administration committee. In the past, the summer has been a difficult time for businesses to survive, said John Ferreri, former owner of Storrs Drug on Storrs Road.
In 2001, UConn and the town of Mansfield came together to form the Mansfield Downtown Partnership - a collaboration that would plan for the construction of a town center to benefit the UConn community, the local community and university visitors.
The project, which officials estimate will be complete in 2014, will transform Route 195 near UConn's Fine Arts building and the Mansfield Community Center into vibrant, pedestrian-oriented college town that will include small neighborhoods, a town square and shopping areas that will foster a center of civic activity for the community. Locally owned retail operations, restaurants and other businesses will provide activities for locals and visitors. Traffic will be slowed, trees will be planted, sidewalks will be built and parking will be available both on the streets and in a new garage that will be erected, said Cynthia van Zelm, executive director of the Downtown Partnership. Mansfield downtown also includes plans for the transformation of King Hill Road and the four corners, where Routes 195 and 44 meet.
Part of the purpose of Mansfield Downtown is to bring economic growth to the area and provide a large tax base for the town, said Mansfield Mayor Elizabeth Paterson, who's been deeply involved since the start of the project and sits on several Downtown Partnership committees, including the board of directors. The plan is to bring a variety of non-corporate retail shops and restaurants to the center, in an effort to provide a destination for outsiders and a "place to go" for locals, whether they want to run errands, mail something at the post office or simply walk their dog, she said.
Local businesses will benefit from the growth of the area, said Tom Callahan, UConn associate vice president for administration and operation, Downtown Mansfield Partnership member of the board of directors and chair of the finance and administration committee. In the past, the summer has been a difficult time for businesses to survive, said John Ferreri, former owner of Storrs Drug on Storrs Road.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Lee Cole-Chu
posted 1/25/08 @ 6:16 PM EST
My compliments on this article about a most extraordinary community effort. I look forward to many dinners in the new Storrs Center.
There is a typo regarding the Pfizer project. (Continued…)
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