Parts of downtown Hartford are very attractive, but other areas suffer from serious structural problems. Much of downtown feels disconnected because of large gaps in the streetscape, usually for surface parking. Many streets are unfriendly to walkers and bicyclists.

These long-standing problems hold the city back, detract from its quality of life and impede the development of more housing and commerce. If Hartford is going anywhere, it must have a really dynamic downtown.

Three planning efforts are underway that could make major long-term improvements.

via Visions For A Lively City — Courant.com.