New Haven Independent: Call Petula Clark

Call Petula Clark

by Paul Bass | September 9, 2008 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Westville has its own “downtown” — and, as of Tuesday, an official “Main Street” title.

The official designation came at a ceremony inside Whalley Avenue’s Kehler Liddel gallery, one of the hubs of the neighborhood’s — or “village“‘s — revived commercial core. John Simone (at left in photo), president of an outfit called the Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC), declared Westville a “Connecticut Main Street Community.”

That doesn’t mean Whalley Avenue will be renamed “Main Street.”

It means a team of national experts will come to town to study the commercial district and help neighbors plan its future growth; hire the right full-time executive director for the Westville Renaissance Alliance (WVRA); and link the group with more expertise and investment. CMSC offers all that when it designates a commercial downtown a “Main Street.” The not-for-profit group is dedicated to “bringing Connecticut’s downtown commercial districts back to life.”

The designation was a tribute in part to the boundless energy a growing core of volunteers, like store owner and WVRA President Gabriel DaSilva (at center in photo), have poured into the neighborhood the past few years. “Renaissance” isn’t marketing-speak; it describes a true flowering of volunteerism and cultural vitality. “Downtown” Westville has exploded with ArtWalks, Edgewood Park clean-ups, gallery openings and musical events, Sunday farmers markets, flower-planting, distinctive new businesses, an artists housing complex, not to mention informal organizing brunches at coffee shops and organizing against threats to quality of life.

Tuesday’s designation was also a tribute to Westville politicians who fought for government support for the district’s growth, chief among them State Rep. Pat Dillon (at right in photo) and State Sen. Toni Harp. Dillon championed Westville neighbors’ push for $80,000 in state money for a paid WVRA executive director, part of a $120,000 annual budget the group had to raise to qualify as a “Main Street Community.”

“This gives us a chance to move beyond the volunteer model and be more sophisticated” in developing the commercial district, Dillon said.

Toni Harp (at right in photo) spoke of how Dillon was relentless at the Capitol in making sure that she and other leaders didn’t let Westville’s money drop out of the budget at the last minute, the way other projects often die disheartening deaths.

“Every five minutes during the budget process she would say, ‘Is it in? Is it in?’ She never took it for granted,” Harp said.

A prime mover behind the Westville “downtown” renaissance has been Thea Buxbaum, currently WVRA’s interime director. She and her husband, the sculptor Gar Waterman, converted an old factory building on West Rock Avenue into a living space and studio. More studies followed on their block; then a riverfront walkway behind their block; then West Rock Avenue’s ArLoW studios, apartments and storefronts on the other side of Whalley; with a whole lot of neighborhood organizing in between.

“We’re not homogenized,” Buxbaum said of the neighborhood, during Tuesday’s mid-day event. “We’re retailers who know each other. We’re property owners who reinvest.”

Buxbaum and other speakers made their comments beside two “lost rabbits” painted by Laurie Grace. Grace’s work is part of a three-artist critter-themed show at Kehler-Liddel. Her work shares the walls with the photos of Gale Zucker and paintings of Julie Frankel — the latest contribution to the Westville “downtown” scene.

Share this story: digg / newsvine / facebook

Comments

Posted by: -fairhavener- | September 9, 2008 10:32 PM

Good news for Westville!!!

I wish something like this could happen in Fair Haven. If only local politicians would stop focusing on interests of their own, downtown, and elsewhere (rather than on efforts here in Fair Haven) maybe we could see the same thing happen here.

I think Thea Buxbaum has put in a great effort. It's too bad she was done a great disservice... on the ArLoW project. It is WAY off schedule and looks very cheap looking. It is unfortunate that the architects created such a monstrosity at a vital corner of an up and coming area of town. But, keep up the good work Thea, you will get even better with experience ... I hope to see you here for many years (we just bought a house here)!!!

Posted by: strangerthanfiction | September 9, 2008 10:44 PM

Hats off to State Rep. Pat Dillon and neighborhood enthusiasts like Gabriel DaSilva. There's a great new energy in downtown Westville which promises to continue to grow into a thriving hub for the west side of New Haven. There's tremendous potential in this area.

Posted by: Beansie's Mom | September 10, 2008 8:38 PM

Funny thing is there are already two Main Streets in New Haven City Limits. One in in the Annex. Who knows were the other Main is?

Posted by: -fairhavener- | September 10, 2008 10:27 PM

I see my previous comment was unfairly edited. It is public record that the architect of record that did Thea Buxbaum a great disservice was... Oh, look it up yourself, or call the building department.

Posted by: jade | September 11, 2008 12:54 AM

fairhavener...this is at least the 2nd time you've commented on how much you dislike the esthetic of ArLoW. to each his/her own...plenty of us in the neighborhood think they are quite attractive...and besides...have you been inside? simply beautiful!

Posted by: Rep. Pat Dillon | September 11, 2008 1:27 PM

As in other endeavors, getting support for the Main Street Initiative took a team. The chairs of Commerce, Sen. LeBeau and Rep. Berger, were impressed by the turnout at the public hearing for our bill, and also by the enhtusiastic testimony. Their committee supported the bill. Sen. Duff and Rep Backer, who chair that Appropriations subcommittee, met with the group, were also impressed and included the funding in their report to the Appropriations chairs.
Sen. Harp was our goalie and fought for Westville Main Street at a higher level in budget talks.
The community did the initiative, the research, the testifying at the capitol, and following up with all of us.
But the legislators from other towns who helped us when we needed it deserve a big thank you as well.
This was a great event. It's impressive that the local team pulled this together and turned it around so quickly.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | September 12, 2008 5:21 PM

"fairhavener...this is at least the 2nd time you've commented on how much you dislike the esthetic of ArLoW. to each his/her own..."

Yeah, except we ALL have to look at it and it's not just about aesthetics. I think what Thea is doing all around Westville is great, I just think she is getting ripped off or greatly misguided by her architect. Thea if you need services again, have the guys at NHI contact me and I will put you in touch with people who will do much better for you - you deserve it.

New Haven Independent

Call Petula Clark

Comments

Post a comment

Preview:

Sections

Neighborhood News

Special Sections

Legal Notices

Some Favorite Sites

Government/ Community Links

Legal Notices

Flyerboard

Sponsors

N.H.I. Site Design & Development

NHI Store

News Feed