http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/2011/2011_05_12_sg%20110513%20meriden%20feature%20wnpr.mp3
Earlier this week, Connecticut received $30 million federal dollars for the New Haven to Springfield rail project. As the money starts to trickle in, WNPR is checking in with a few towns along the line to see how they're preparing. The first stop is Meriden, a city well on its way to welcoming the train.
Meriden's downtown isn't that different from those in other industrial towns in Connecticut. After manufacturing dried up, retail fled to the malls and slowly, all that was left behind started to crumble.
But some, like Norman Garrick, a professor of engineering at the University of Connecticut, think the new commuter rail line could change that.
"For me, the reason for doing this Springfield to New Haven line is about restoring those city centers," Garrick says.
Dominick Caruso is Meriden's city planner. He says in order to restore the city's luster, you have to turn back the clock.
"The whole development of Meriden was along the railroad line to begin with, so we're basically going back," Caruso says. "You know, Meriden during the 50s was a very vibrant center."
The buzzword for that today is transit-oriented development. It's high-density housing, office and retail space stacked around transit hubs. It's walkable; you can ditch your car and catch a bus, train or cab within a quarter mile of home.
Meriden is actually ahead of the game when it comes to planning for the train, although sort of by coincidence. They'd been planning to revamp a 14-acre lot across from the train station long before talk about the New Haven to Springfield line heated up a few years ago.
Peggy Brennan is the economic development director for the city. She says Meriden has aggressively pursued funding for the site to make sure it's ready when the commuter line comes.
"We want to capture all the positive benefits that come from the start of the train service. I mean we're going to have people coming into the downtown who haven't come in for a while from the region," Brennan says. "We believe that that sort of the buzz of the train going through is really going to have a positive impact on businesses downtown and we just want to take advantage of all that energy."
But so far, Meriden's revitalization only extends to tearing down old buildings with plans to uncover a brook. No developers have committed to new buildings.
And some business owners on Colony Street, right behind the train tracks, aren't holding their breath.
Rose Cignatta has lived in Meriden for 60 years. She was on the city council in the 1970s and now spends much of her time volunteering as the treasurer for the art space Gallery 53.
"I hope that the train would induce people to stop, but I can't imagine why," Cignatta says. "If you could show me the reason why, I would say great, I would love that."
Next door is Butler Paint and Decorating. It's been in this building for 100 years ... Dave Zebarth has owned it for 11.
"I think that anything to revitalize downtown is good for Meriden," Zebarth says. "I don't necessarily agree with the exact direction, but I think any movement is better than none."
Because there aren't blueprints for new housing yet, Zebarth's doesn't expect to see increased business from the rail line any time soon.
"I know a commuter station is good, but basically cars get parked here and people get on a train and maybe buy a cup of coffee and a newspaper and go," he says. "I don't think that's a great economic use."
In other words, they're not going to pick up a gallon of paint on their way to Hartford or New York.
A few doors down is La Insurance. Owner Al Baez is active in the chamber of commerce and has watched plans develop around the station a block away. He's confident that more people living downtown will be good for business ... with perhaps one exception.
"More people walking? Probably not in a good way ... We sell insurance, car insurance, we want them to drive," he laughs.
Back at the art gallery, Rose Cignatta takes me on a tour of the second floor. Unlike most of the buildings downtown, things actually happen upstairs -- the gallery rents out the studio and also teaches classes.
The space was restored a few years ago thanks to a grant from the city. Meriden's been good to them in the past, Cignatta says, but they can always use more support. As we wander to the back of the building, she points out the large windows that overlook the train tracks below.
"When I have the kids up here, they love it," Cignatta says. "They stop and watch the train."
Beyond the station, you can see grass and crumbling asphalt where the development is planned.
Cignatta says she can dream. This will be a great view of something ... someday.