OP-ED

Nick Wylie: Norwich has history of thoughtless development

For the Norwich Bulletin

The recent proposal to rezone large parts of Norwich to make it available to intensive commercial development is particularly egregious in the case of Washington Street.

The short distance from Town Green to Broad Street could be claimed to be, in many respects, the birth place of America. Literally millions of dollars have been dedicated to the memory of two great Americans: Samuel Huntington, chairman of the Continental Congress, original signer of the Declaration of Independence, effectively the first President of the United States and two term Connecticut governor, and Chief Uncas, perhaps the best known Native American leader. It is also the place where our most famous traitor Benedict Arnold lived.

The street is currently flanked by many significant institutions such as NFA and its historic buildings. It remains a beautiful stretch of streetscape which is a very significant part of what makes Norwich, Norwich.

For what will it be offered, like a spoil of the night, to any two-bit commercial developer who cares not one wit about the history of America, or that of Norwich, and certainly has little or no regard for the current good.

It will be offered up for a Walgreen store which wants to be built near Backus Hospital. Wait a minute, don't we have a Walgreen? The new one would shave perhaps a minute off the travel time of those to the north, but add the same minute to those who live south. It will add little to the tax base and may, over time, reduce the tax base by diluting the value of West Main Street property, and certainly diluting the value of current Washington Street and neighboring property. It will destroy two beautiful buildings and pave over the Benedict Arnold site.

It is the job of town planners to direct and channel development in part to preserve important historical streetscapes and to preserve worthy places. It is not the job of town planners and town fathers to lie down and offer up all that is attractive and important to those who would rape and pillage. Treason? In this case it might certainly be described as Benedict Arnold-like behavior. Make no mistake the zone change will begin a process that, like dental decay, will have as its mid point a gap tooth ugliness ending over the years in another West Main Street. Do we want another one? Norwich as we know it will have been given over to mindless, crass and yes, unneeded development, turned over just as Benedict Arnold tried to turn over the fledgling country to the British.

The town planners have already destroyed one of Norwich's jewels, what was its gorgeous waterfront. The mindless stupidity of what has now been cemented by tens of millions of dollars in waterfront garages, unneeded subsidized office buildings and seven lanes of traffic artery through the middle of downtown will scar the area for decades, perhaps centuries. What could have been achieved? What a shame.

Disgraceful as the Washington Street rezoning is the equally mindless, unthoughtful rezoning of other main arteries. None of it will ultimately get the town anywhere. We will get half baked, canabalized West Main Streets on every main artery. Not necessary and not useful.

We will continue to be at the mercy of stupid decisions, our planners and civic leaders will continue to be bombarded by attractive sounding candy, perhaps even offered perks, to allow new development unless the past practices are decisively abandoned.

The beautiful cities and towns of America, Charleston, Annapolis, Boston, Burlington, Portland, Seattle and many others, have faced the same pressures and won. They have retained their history and charm and risen to new heights by having strong preservation laws protecting the past and a plan which moves development into paths that help the town, not just the pockets of a few.

Norwich needs to dedicate some money to have serious imaginative national planners create a plan that will preserve, enhance and yes, channel development in a logical way that will add to the tax base, not destroy it in the name of dubious progress.

Town planners, city fathers and those who stand for election, this message is for you. Will you become known for shame or for creating a future that respects the past?

Nick Wylie is a Norwich resident with more than 40 years experience working in the real estate industry.