Letter of the week, 1/20/09: Meriden's blunders

[David]

Meriden blunders
Editor:

Let an abandoned landmark building degenerate into disrepair, demolish it, and replace it with a parking lot. Sound familiar? It should, it’s classic Meriden. The latest study in stupidity concerns the Art Deco Ezzo building. What has destroying culture done throughout the years but help make our cities destinations to avoid?

As I’ve written in pervious opinion letters, where is our Historical Society? Nary-a-peep has been heard from them in this instance, nor will a peep be heard. It is “business as usual.” A parking lot? But am I on crack, or is that a parking garage where the Capitol Theatre once stood? (Another blunder, and a rarely-full parking area, at that.)

I am not convinced a parking lot is aesthetically pleasing compared to a building that’s worth restoring for the community’s benefit. I advise anyone reading this letter to call a politician on the carpet the next time they “yada-yada” about their “accomplishments” in our city. Challenge them to walk the walk by observing old photos of a once-vibrant, bustling Meriden displayed in the Centennial Ave. donuts store. Compare these nostalgic pictures with the wasteland presently existing in the same areas.

Predictably, they’ll spout some inane excuses in an attempt to justify corruption and short-sightedness. In layman’s terms, it’s called lying — something public officials’ careers are built upon.
TOM AHEARN, MERIDEN

[alwaysright]

the city fathers have been lax in downtown for decades. They allowed a half rate crew-kalmanowitz, Kammerbeek and D'Amico- run the last revitalization. a joke.
they let Legere run his buildings into the ground while owing half a million in taxes.
The building next to the flag painting is in serious code violation. Check that fire escape!!! look at the sprinkler system... oh wait -is none.

city planning is a hollow title in this town.

how about the buildings they pretty much gave away to the New haven guy. Not any progress in months and he keeps it in violation of the agreement.

How many artists rented apartments on main st???

paint some flags, it will all be OK

[Meridenborn]

the city fathers have been lax in downtown for decades. They allowed a half rate crew-kalmanowitz, Kammerbeek and D'Amico- run the last revitalization. a joke.
they let Legere run his buildings into the ground while owing half a million in taxes.
The building next to the flag painting is in serious code violation. Check that fire escape!!! look at the sprinkler system... oh wait -is none.

city planning is a hollow title in this town.

how about the buildings they pretty much gave away to the New haven guy. Not any progress in months and he keeps it in violation of the agreement.

How many artists rented apartments on main st???

paint some flags, it will all be OK

Yeah, paint a big white surrender flag on one of billboards, or on the power plant indicating that Meriden has capitulated to developers and their entrenched political cronies on the land-use boards and commissions.
No vision. Poor planning. The ol' boy network thrives here.

[Snakebite]

The downtown owners are questionable. Shwecky, Matorelli, Guilino.
Talk cronie, look at the city board and commission list. Guilino is on
something called Building Code Appeals and something else.

Then he's listed as a local Democrat appointed sheriff along with Salafia and Garlock, They own Pieson together.

Guess he wants to serve his own evictions.

[Meridenborn]

The downtown owners are questionable. Shwecky, Matorelli, Guilino.
Talk cronie, look at the city board and commission list. Guilino is on
something called Building Code Appeals and something else.

Then he's listed as a local Democrat appointed sheriff along with Salafia and Garlock, They own Pieson together.

Guess he wants to serve his own evictions.

Did you notice that Gulino is a new forum member?

[Jakie19]

Yeah, the RJ must have missed stuffing the comics in his newspaper and he needed some laughs!

[alwaysright]

what name is Gulino's post?

[Meridenborn]

what name is Gulino's post?

I don't know. I saw a "welcome to new forum member" and it stated his name.

[Modica]

Meriden, like most of the other cities in Connecticut, is lacking what a city is supposed to be. Nothing to do, no excitement, and incredible blight that has left a black smudge on the city. Cities are now a mixture of ruin and strips of chain stores and fast food joints which creates an incompatible environment that obstructs a cities growth. A cities growth depends on being able to differentiate itself from the others. New Haven works because it brings people in from the suburbs because it offers something that no other city in Connecticut does. Wonderful restaurants, alternative night clubs, exciting theater, and an incredible amount of cultural happenings throughout the year. Meriden is a depressing place to be. I know many of you live in Meriden, but I doubt if any of you can convince me to come into Meriden on a weekly basis.

[RC12L4]

Meriden, like most of the other cities in Connecticut, is lacking what a city is supposed to be. Nothing to do, no excitement, and incredible blight that has left a black smudge on the city. Cities are now a mixture of ruin and strips of chain stores and fast food joints which creates an incompatible environment that obstructs a cities growth. A cities growth depends on being able to differentiate itself from the others. New Haven works because it brings people in from the suburbs because it offers something that no other city in Connecticut does. Wonderful restaurants, alternative night clubs, exciting theater, and an incredible amount of cultural happenings throughout the year. Meriden is a depressing place to be. I know many of you live in Meriden, but I doubt if any of you can convince me to come into Meriden on a weekly basis.

The entire surrounding downtown area should be leveled and rebuilt from the ground up.

[Modica]

The entire surrounding downtown area should be leveled and rebuilt from the ground up.
Agreed. Once that is done, what is put in its place? There has to be something that draws people into the city of interest or else there is no point of leveling existing buildings.