Connecticut Transforms Former Mall into a Green Space

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Malls are often partially blamed for the decay of walkable downtowns and linked with greater vehicle dependence, thus depriving cities of sustainable economic growth and safe places for kids and families to walk. A failed mall in Meriden, Connecticut (28.7% Latino) was transformed into the type of public space that boosts mental, physical, and emotional health, as well as the economy.

A mall was built in a small town between Hartford and New Haven in 1970.

Due to inadequate flood control-underground pipes blocked three brooks-during construction of the mall, flooding was an issue. In 1992 and 1996, flooding caused $26 million in damages to the downtown area.

The City began the Harbor Brook Flood Control project which continues today.

The vacancy rate of retailers the mall dropped in the 1990’s and the mall closed in 2003.

The city of Meriden took possession of the property in 2005 and it was deemed a brownfield site. Brownfield sites are properties which have potential hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants which complicate expansion, redevelopment, or reuse due safety and liability issues associated with clean up.

The city’s Blight and Brownfield Committee aimed to reuse the property for economic development, as well as for dual purposes of providing public green space and flood control.

“In 2007, the City competed for and was awarded $2.9 million in federal and state funds matched by local sources to assess the environmental damage at the site, to demolish the commercial buildings located there, clear the site for reuse, and to work with the community to develop a Site Reuse Plan,” according to the site history.

The Site Reuse Planning Committee considered the Harbor Brook Flood Control and Linear Trail Project as well as the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield high speed rails service to create a vibrant, friendly, safe, public open space for families, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Combining the central green space with the linear trail system and the transit center will improve access to active mobility opportunities and provide a recreation link which is associated with numerous mental and physical health benefits.

Latino children often lack access-both real and perceived-to safe, available places to be physically active, thus their mental, physical, and emotional health suffer. How cities are designed and developed determines if residents can safely and easily walk or bike to school, work, healthy food, parks, shops, historical and cultural sites, and other destinations, thus how cities are designed and developed influence resident’s health.

“The City applied to the state and was awarded $12.9 million in state bond funds matched by over $1 million in local capital improvement bond funds to implement the project,” according to the site history.

The construction team broke ground in November 2013 and the 14-acre “Meriden Green” opened in September 2016, which includes floodwater storage, lighted trails connecting to a larger linear trail network, a colorfully lighted bridge, green space, amphitheater, access to Meriden Station transit stop, and 3 acres set aside for economic development, to include housing-20% of which shall be affordable housing units for residents at or below 80% of the New Haven area median income-and rentable restaurant and retail space.

In order to improve Latino health, cities need to design safe, public spaces for kids and families to walk and bike for transportation, recreation, and health.

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By The Numbers By The Numbers

33

percent

of Latinos live within walking distance (<1 mile) of a park

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