New London Landmarks
Candidates’ Forum
October 23, 2013
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Questions
1. Please fill out the information below:
Name: Laura Natusch
Address: 7 Mountain Avenue
Email Address: natusch4council@gmail.com
Phone Number: 860-389-3770
2. How important do you think historic preservation is to the economic
development of New London? Can you give examples?
It’s extremely important. Our historic architecture is an irreplaceable asset, one
which is threatened during economic downturns like the one we’re currently
experiencing. Preserving these buildings is going to be important to our economic
recovery for several reasons. First, our architecture gives us a distinctive
character which attracts tourists, residents and investors. Second, historic
preservation creates jobs—more jobs than new construction because the work is
so labor intensive. Third, it’s a way to leverage existing funding and bring
additional funding into our city because of the state and federal grants and tax
credits for historic preservation. Fourth, it increases property values and tax
revenue.
One example of historic preservation financially benefiting New London is the
Hygienic, which was nearly torn down and turned into a parking lot. Now it
provides affordable housing and professional development for artists, and
creates foot traffic which supports surrounding businesses.
Conversely, areas where we failed to preserve historic buildings and
neighborhoods have proven to be economic drags. Imagine what Bank Street
would look like had the Capitol Theatre not been allowed to deteriorate, or how
much more vibrant Hodges Square would be if had we not lost the neighborhood
which connected it to downtown.
3. Have you contributed to historic preservation in New London or how
would you contribute if elected to city council?
I first became active in New London politics trying to save the Fort Trumbull
neighborhood. More recently, I campaigned to preserve Riverside Park, and have
participated in meetings about reconnecting and revitalizing Hodges Square.
As a Councilor, I would support developing a strategic operating plan which
incorporates historic preservation as a goal. I would support hiring a grants writer
who could help local organizations and property owners access funding for historic
preservation. I would also work to develop stronger communication between City
Council and Planning and Zoning. We’ve had joint meetings with Council and
Board Education. Why not have joint meetings with City Council and P&Z? I’d be
interested in discussing ways in which updates to zoning could encourage both
historic preservation and economic development.
4. How do you think construction of the proposed Coast Guard Museum
might impact New London’s historic downtown waterfront district?
I’m optimistic about how the Coast Guard Museum will impact the downtown
waterfront district for several reasons. Of course, once the museum opens the
increased foot traffic will benefit our downtown businesses. But more immediately,
I expect we’ll be preparing for the museum in ways which will benefit the district
even before the museum opens. I imagine we’ll be discussing potential
improvements such as changing our traffic patterns so we’re not whisking people
out of downtown, adding bicycle racks, adding signage, improving infrastructure
and updating our parking policies so that our businesses can act as a mutual draw
instead of being pitted against each other.
I also think the architecture is breathtaking, and expect that it will become an
attraction in its own right. I think it will provide an exciting visual contrast to the
existing historic buildings.
One potential downside is the possibility of speculators buying inexpensive
buildings now and keeping them vacant until the museum opens. It’s a problem we
ignore at the peril of our existing small businesses.
5. What are your thoughts on adaptive re-use of historic buildings such as
Union Station, Martin Building, and/or the Post Office?
I’m all for it, so long as we respect the building’s integrity. We live in an evolving
city, not in a mausoleum or Disney World. Adaptive reuse allows us to preserve
what’s distinctive and irreplaceable about a building while meeting contemporary
needs. In New London we’ve seen it work for the Hygienic and the old Monte
Cristo garage. I’m particularly interested in adaptive reuse as a way of increasing
affordable housing options. In Bridgeport, Habitat for Humanity recently completed
its first historic preservation project, converting a large residential building into 12
affordable condominiums. Here in New London, we have historic multifamily and
large single family houses which are in danger of falling into blight or foreclosure,
and this sort of adaptive reuse could preserve them. I’d also like to see some of
our vacant commercial spaces converted into artists’ live/work studios. This would
involve working with Planning and Zoning and also working to change building
codes.
As far as the Martin Center goes, we have the possibility of turning it into senior
housing, and I’m looking forward to seeing that proposal. The Post Office is a
different matter, because whether or not someone buys it and adapts it for another
use is out of Council’s control. I’m relieved that the post office recognizes the
historic significance of the murals and has a protection clause that any buyer
would have to preserve them.
All three of the buildings you mention—Union Station, the Martin Building and the
Post Office—are currently in use and meeting community needs, so I have to add
that while it’s important to preserve these buildings, it’s also important to preserve
the services they house.
6. What can the city do to realize the potential of Hodges Square, Riverside
Park and/or Fort Trumbull?
Fortunately, the City doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to Hodges
Square, Riverside Park or Fort Trumbull. We’ve already received good
recommendations from a number of studies.
Because funds are tight, changes will have to be incremental. But in Hodges
Square we can begin with more outdoor seating, public art and greenery while
aiming to make the area more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. In Riverside Park,
volunteers have already animated the space with events, cleaned the underbrush,
added community gardens near the entrance, and built a rain garden. Next we can
create a better sightline to the water, build the playscape, separate vehicular traffic
from pedestrian
traffic, and ultimately—but this is an expensive, long term goal--work to regain
access to the water.
Fort Trumbull is trickier because federal law limits what we can do with land taken
through eminent domain. However, I like the Yale Urban Design workshop plan,
even though it will need to be updated. What I especially like about the Yale
Urban Design workshop is that it was put together with input from our community
rather than being imposed top down from the state.