A series of entries designed to capture the ongoing adventures of NINA! See how we came to be where we are today, and follow along as we enter the new century of social media!
Page: 71I went out for some official "after" shots today, and I came away with a few extra.
Some scenes for the event, including the food and the judging.
This morning a veritable horde of people descended on Ashley Street to install new front yard gardens as part of the Landscape Design Challenge. A dozen landscape architects came out with their crews, and they were joined by Ashley Street residents and volunteers as everyone pitched in to get the new gardens installed.
Despite the weather, I think everyone’s spirits were high, and I’m pretty sure the plants, now re-located to their new homes on Ashley Street, certainly appreciated the rain!
Jenna Carlesso previewed the Landscape Design Challenge portion of our Vest Pocket Garden program. Her article also highlighted some of the other events that will place around Hartford at the same time as our event.
Shots of the work on the interior, which is largely a "blank white void" at this point, so I shared photos with some perspective in them. Interspersed are some dramatic photos of the space the future porches will occupy.
Today, Liam McGee, the CEO of the Hartford Financial Services Group, announced that The Hartford had pledged $2 million to help the City of Hartford purchase and demolish the Capitol West Building. This building is one of the most prominent blighted buildings in the city, primarily because it presses right up against Interstate 84. It serves as the worst kind of billboard for the city, especially because of the “starter window” some developer installed to showcase what the building would be. That went nowhere, and although I won’t deny I’ve heard people recount good memories of the building, I can’t say I’m sorry to see it go.
Speaking at the event were Bernie Michel, chair of the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association; Pedro Segarra, Mayor, Hartford; and Liam McGee. Following the speeches, McGee and Segarra unveiled a banner showing the cityscape without the Capitol West Building, and a crew began symbolically to demolish the building by removing its name.
Many thanks to The Hartford for its commitment to revitalize Asylum Hill.
Prepped and ready for the restoration of the porches.
A couple of crews and some volunteers were out today, taking advantage of the beautiful day to prepare some of the front yards for the Landscape Design Challenge. Lelaneia Dubay and Mike McGarry were out also, keeping track of things.
Susan Campbell wrote a great piece today about NINA's work in Asylum Hill and about our partnership with ServCorps. The occasion for this was a visit by Ken Johnson to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center as he begins to contemplate the future design for the lot Aetna just gave us at 80 Hawthorn and also the Broadway revue fundraiser ServCorps is sponsoring this Friday, March 9, at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church.
And, best of all, she called us “scrappy”!
