Five years after the city bought the former Trudon & Platt Trucking property on Downs Street, officials may be ready to decide its fate.
“The time has come to make a decision” about what to do with the decrepit former trucking terminal near the eastern end of Memorial Boulevard, said Mayor Art Ward.
Ward said the site, which borders the Pequabuck River, has “a lot of potential.”
When the city bought the former blight target in 2003, officials had no solid plan for the site. They talked, though, about the possibility of handing it over to the park department and creating a fishing area for handicapped people on the property. A farmer’s market might also find a home on the site, they said at the time.
But since then, the city has done little with the site. It’s long-term project list includes nothing for the future there, either.
Park Director Ed Swicklas said recently that it will probably remain as it is for the time being.
Ward said, though, that it’s a visible and interesting piece of property that shouldn’t just languish.
He said it needs to be cleaned up completely in order to make it look enticing. Returning it to its natural state is a likely option.
Ward said that he is anxious to hear ideas and suggestions from the public about how best to utilize the property.
“It might require a public-private partnership,” the mayor said, to get the massive concrete trucking platforms demolished.
Last year’s Pequabuck River Watershed Management Plan said the city could create a trout park near Downs Street and make a handicapped fishing area from the former trucking company site.
The Trudon & Platt Trucking firm operated on the site from the 1920s until a Teamsters strike put the independent trucking company out of business in the mid-1970s.
The trucking property was the soon-to-be-defunct Blight Committee’s top target a decade ago.
It forced the owner to clean up rusting trailers, graffiti-covered walls and much more, after socking him with more than $6,000 worth of fines that were ultimately waived.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
26 comments:
How about the old Hostess building that the City owns that has been empty for 4 years???
Real nice for the "Gateway to Downtown"
another project....let's finish what we have in progress
....No problem throwing it out there on the table though. Maybe mentioning the fact that it's available will stir up some outside interest....
Where is Jonathan when we need him?
I like the idea of returning the area to a natural state. While they're at it, how about removing the Downs Street bridge over the river to open the area up, simplify the intersection, and allow more room extend Memorial Blvd to Rt. 229? Very few cars travel over the bridge anyway and it's a future maintenance cost to the town.
handicapped fishing area=another place for veterans to drink
Maybe we could fit another ball field or memorial. Move the cemetery; take the homes by eminent domain. Think of the possibilities
....1:11 and 1:52, I have a great idea....how about a new mental health facility where your chronic negativity and ceaseless whining could be treated??? I don't think they have a cure yet for sheer nastiness, but you could be the guinea pig for new research in that field!!!
For five years the city has owned a blighted property and failed to correct it ??
I guess the blight nazi's must just go after taxpayers and leave those that waste the taxpayers money alone .
Yup .... Bristol has a lot to be proud of ........ NOT !!!!!!!!!!
Give those blight nazis a chance 2:54. When they're done doing their job, Bristol will indeed have a lot to be proud of....GO NAZIS!!!!!!
2:54 Do us all a favor and leave THEN !!!
When there done they will be able to retire with all the overtime . Just more union bull.
There go the unhappy Union haters and "Naysayers" Again. Get a life will ya ? We don't want to hear your crying any more.
....8:23 (a.k.a. union hater guy),
I hope you're correct and the union guys are working 24/7 to clean up the blight. They'll deserve every penny they get!
Anonymous said...
Give those blight nazis a chance 2:54. When they're done doing their job, Bristol will indeed have a lot to be proud of....GO NAZIS!!!!!!
April 15, 2008 5:20 PM
They are getting their chance ...
They are arranging to have someone on stand-by to go in on a moments notice and tear down any private residence or business they choose .
They are also making arrangements to insure their ability to enter *ALL* buildings in Bristol to determine if they fit *their* particular taste . If not ..... fines and/or removal will occur w/o public comment or court order .
WELCOME to 30's EUROPE .. ( a.k.a. bristol )
btw .... the police chief has publically stated that use of similar laws helps to catch criminals , so you better keep your noses clean .
And what are YOU doing about it Mr. Ward???
Efforts to get rid of blight will result in a better Bristol -- period.
As a city we are at a cross-roads and blight is a big issue tied to our future.
As for the comparison to Nazi Germany? Please take your meds you haven't a clue.
April 16, 2008 12:41 PM
^^^^^^^^^
Either refuses to accept facts ....
or ......
working public relations for the blight nazi's
Hmmmm, let's see...We have people who take pride in their property and their neighborhood, invest and maintain it.... VERSUS .... people who own property, couldn't care less about their neighborhood, take no responsibility for care or maintenance ....
Who do you think should have laws protecting them??? It's a no brainer.
April 16, 2008 12:41 PM Poster,
The fact is that Bristol is tired of blight and moving to do something about it.
You call it being a blight nazi and I call it being anti-slum lord.
Your free ride days are coming to an end. Enjoy the last days of the ride while it lasts.
Blight is not good for Bristol and any effort to clean up blight is an effort well spent.
April 16, 2:46
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Either refuses to accept facts....
or....
is a raging paranoid schizophrenic!!!
Public relations aren't necessary because --- THERE ARE NO BLIGHT NAZIS!!!! But you'd better be vewy, vewy cawful mr. swumword....because there are MENTAL HEALTH NAZIS!!!! WUN!!!!
Artie, so why not make the decision?
As for the comparison to Nazi Germany? Please take your meds you haven't a clue.
April 16, 2008 12:41 PM
```````````````
In 1960 a book was released entitled " The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich "
If you go to the library , take a copy out , take it home , and read it , you will clearly understand the danger facing Bristols' citizens today .
Or you can just keep your mind closed and ignore what is happening to freedom in Bristol .
Do you really believe it when after the end of WWII the citizens in Europe claimed *NOT* to know what had been happening ??
Well pal .... you can *NOT* claim that you had no idea , because , I have told you in as plain a language as possible .
Bristol *IS* on the path of Nazi Germany in the 30's .
*YOU* just happen to have succumbed to the nazi party philosophy .
Who do you think should have laws protecting them??? It's a no brainer.
April 16, 2008 3:22 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The laws should protect the rights of ALL the citizens .
This is AMERICA after all .
Let me see if I understand your position .
Let criminal ( illegal ) aliens stay free from deportation and turn hard working taxpayers into criminals and tear down their homes .
What a great city Bristol is becoming .
moving back-WARD
April 18, 2008 2:27 PM
Now I know you are off your meds.
We are talking about blight here.
You are one paranoid individual!
You have no idea about what Nazi Germany was like. Unfortunately, I am reminded of the memories of it every day and the effect that it had on me and my entire family.
So please stop with your childish drama. Seek help!
Nazi Germany? Please! You dishonor so many with your comparison.
Due bist eine kleine hund.
2:27 The only threat or dangers facing Bristol today are faceless gynics like you !
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