•
N
A
U
G
A
Z
I
N
E
•
Wouldn’t It Be Nice ....
Wouldn’t be nice if you could walk down this walkway next to the Howard Whittemore Library on Church Street, walk between Town Hall parking garage and the pleasant, landscaped patio that currently exists behind the library, walk through a break in the historic cast-iron fence (the ugly, chain-link fence having been removed), down a couple of broad, easy steps to a generous, paved parking lot behind Goodyear Building 25?
Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to hunt in vain for a space in the drastically over-crowded area over the garage behind the town hall?
Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to navigate around the cars parked where they should not be by selfish owners who figure they have the right to make life difficult for everyone else just for their own convenience?
Wouldn’t it be nice to see the crap-apple tree and all the wild vines trimmed back to let a little more light into the lovely little patio at the back of the library. Many people probably don't even know it is there. With this proposal, more people would be encouraged to take notice of it and perhaps stop and enjoy it.
Back in the spring, toward the end of our editorial about the vote on Renaissance Place, we made the following proposal:
We would like to see the small portion [of the land] behind both the Whittemore Library and Building 25 as permanent public parking. This would relieve the congestion in the Town Hall lot. Then the walkway along side the Library could be extended to the parking lot. The old barbed-wire-topped fence and the dead trees could be cleared away (the cast iron picket fence would stay). Not only would the back of the Library become as attractive as it was intended to be, but it would have a view of and be accessible to the new proposed Whittemore Avenue that appears to be part of Phase 2. We have added our proposed lot in red to Exhibit K shown above. We would go so far as to suggest that this parking lot be created regardless of whether or not Renaissance Place passes or not. It is needed right now.
Well, the vote is over. We are going ahead with Renaissance Place. The time has come to turn our attention to less monumental matters. Here is a small, inexpensive project that would make life in the Borough of Naugatuck easier for many people, including borough officials. Don't let the glamerous, big project grab all the attention and push this aside. If you agree that this is a good idea, please contact Mayor Mike Bronko and the burgesses today and let them know how you feel.
•
We would again like to recommend Jane Jacobs' wonderful book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. If you have a chance to read the book, do so. It is available from Amazon.com
•
For more information on Renaissance Place,
go to the
Borough of Naugatuck Official Site and click on Economical Development
•
View of access to proposed parking lot prior to paving • Click to Enlarge
Contents • Editorial Policy