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Showing posts from October, 2023

Enfield Set for Biggest Housing and Population Growth in Decades

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Open space and existing homes — the balance Enfield must navigate as new housing proposals emerge. Enfield is quietly on the verge of its largest housing expansion in decades. Over the past several years, the town has approved or is reviewing projects that together could add nearly 1,400 units — most of them smaller, rental apartments. If built, these developments would bring about 2,300 to 2,600 new residents to town. The town needs this new housing. Enfield's population is flat. It's getting older. Young people are declining. Our job market growth is flat. (see appendix)  Young People Are Key Without young people, Enfield will face a long and persistent decline and soaring taxes. We're surrounded by communities that help underpin our commercial sector that are seeing similar demographic shifts. Enfield Has 5,000 Fewer Residents Than in 1970 In 1970, our population was 46,200. The U.S. includes prisoners in the local population, but our prison population at that time was n...
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Enfield finally gets its own Central Park

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  The improvements to Higgins Park, the area behind the town hall, are giving Enfield something it never really had: a central park. This park is large enough for community events and gets many of them. The town is adding parking, exercise stations, and "potential additional walking trails, a sidewalk connecting the upper and lower parking lots, and a brick-paved courtyard that would be built behind Enfield Express," reported the Journal Inquirer on Aug 5th. The new bandstand also seems complete. Enfield has a lot of open space and walking areas, especially around the Scantic River area, but it's never really had a park that the entire town could call its own. Brainerd Park, in the northern part of town, is more of an area for that neighborhood. It's never been a place for town-wide activities. Enfield's central park (i.e. Higgins Park) is especially attractive because of its connection to the walking path across from the town hall along Freshwater Brook that lead...
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Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
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If I were running for a seat on the Town Council, here's my platform

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  Local elections can be an opportunity to discuss the issues. If I were running for Town Council, here are some issues that would make up my platform. In no particular order:  It's time to revisit Enfield's flooding risks   Are we prepared for storms that can deliver 5-plus inches of rain in an hour or a day? Climate change is increasing rainfall intensity generally in the Northeast. West Point, NY, recently saw as much as 10 inches of rain over 24 hours in July, and that same storm delivered three to nine inches of rain in Vermont, causing massive damage.    The proposal:  Hold a public information session in the JFK Auditorium on flooding risk in Enfield. Invite people to speak and share their experience with overflowing streams and flooded basements. The hearing will begin with a presentation by town officials reviewing flood maps and risks. It could include scenario discussion. What would happen if we saw 5" or more rain in 24 hours? Let's find out how...
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