With New ‘Transit District,’ Officials Seek New Era in Downtown Meriden

There is a new district in town – and officials are hopeful it will be the start of a new era in Meriden.

The city underwent one it’s largest zoning district changes since 1966 on Monday, implementing transit-oriented zoning changes designed to promote business growth, establish a historical commercial district and bring vibrant change to the community.

The changes are part of a city plan to redevelop the former Meriden Hub site as well as create a more pedestrian-friendly environment based around the train station.

“We’re poised to move forward,” Dominick Caruso, the city’s director of development and enforcement, told the Record-Journal. “Everything is official. Hopefully it’s recognized and the economy maintains itself so people take advantage.”

The Hub showed that the change in regulations would be beneficial because it allowed more desirable density and decreased the parking regulations, Economic Development Director Juliet Burdelski told the Record-Journal.

There have been no applications filed in the first couple days, according to city planning staff, but there have been inquires regarding the new zones.

For more details, including a full look at the new districts, see the Record-Journal article.

What do you think of the new district layout? Will it help bring more business and life to the downtown area?

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