In keeping with the idea of a rejuvenation of landscape and culture I am interested in using Hartford as a site for my thesis project because it needs identity. As one of the older cities in the country many significant events have occurred here making it a pretty happening place in its hey day. Today it is known for the insurance companies, but even those have begun to migrate to the suburbs, shrinking the city core.
The footprint of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is overlaid onto the blocks I am interested using in Hartford, Connecticut to give a sense of scale.
This shows the rift in the urban fabric Interstate 84 created. A historic image of the city can be seen below depicting density of buildings.
This map shows the landmarks in Hartford, both historic and urban renewal programs. The State Capitol overlooks Bushnell Park, the oldest public park in America. The Wadsworth Atheneum is America's oldest Art Museum. The Phoenix Building was built in the modernist era and is the world's first two sided building. Union Station was built in 1889, and was rebuilt after a fire in 1914. Today it is Hartford's transportation hub for trains and buses. The XL Center is a convention center. Riverfront Recapture is an urban renewal project along the Connecticut River. It is a series of bike paths an green spaces. It includes a dock for river cruises and a pavilion for concerts in the summertime. Cesar Pelli's Science Center, finished in 2009 is one of Hartford's newest attractions.
This is a small piece of a bird's eye view of Hartford looking at the city from the Connecticut River drawn by O. H. Bailey & Co. in 1877. I've highlighted the blocks that are now barren and of interest to me. The image above also shows the river that used to flow alongside Bushnell Park. The image below gives more detail about the demolished buildings.
A link to a Hartford Courant article about the demolition of a building on Main St. on one of the blocks I am interested in can be found here:
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