The Resource Team Report is a wealth of information for the direction of Darien. It's a lot of reading and a bit of reading between the lines but is a great road map for how Darien can and should develop a plan for the future. There is so much happening in town right now and it would be GREAT to be able to approach in a thoughtful and controlled manner and the CT Main Street Resource Team has given us the map.
Great reading for all that are interested in how our town moves ahead.

George McKnight
Fairbanks Photo
Darien, CT

A compreshensive review of issues, options, and potential actions. The Resource Report provides extensive advise from experienced experts (at no cost to the Town) about how to best revitalize downtown Darien. First, and most important, a shared vision of what we want in downtown with concrete steps how make that happen. DRI is working on that now.

The report follows the Planning and Zoning Commission's recently adopted Town Plan goal of a "pedestrian friendly, walkable, retail and restauant oriented space," with pocket parks, public places and housing on upper stories to enliven downtown.

Downtown Darien has changed more in the past 3 years than it has in the previous 25. We have great opportunities and need to make the right decisions to make it work for the next 50 years. We need people to participate in creating and implementing thevision. Contact Debbie Parnon at Darien Revitalization Inc 655-7557.

Wilder Gleason

The CT Main Street Resource Team spent four intesive days getting to know Darien last May. This report is a compilation of their recommendations. It is exciting to consider the report's vision and creative solutions to problems that have plagued our town for years.

There seems to be a growing interest among residents for a friendlier downtown that serves the needs of the community. It is unfortunate to see the library move outside the downtown district as one of the points of developing a town center is to create reasons for people to go downtown by encouraging civic groups, schools, town government and the arts to locate there.

DRI is committed to working with the various groups, individuals, residents, merchants, developers and others who have a stake in downtown Darien to guide its growth. This cooperation is essential to ensuring a broad-based and widely accepted vision. The creation of a Master Plan is key to the implentation of projects over a period of time.

DRI has a daunting task in tackling the deeply rooted habits, perceptions and attitudes of Darien residents about the center of town as it exists today. The recommendations put forth by CT Main Street challenge us to think beyond what we are accustomed to seeing and experiencing in our downtown. Think of what Darien could be: the goods and services that could be offered, the diversity of entertainment and gathering places you now leave town to find.

What do you leave town to do, to purchase, to experience? Please take a look at the report then share your thoughts with us...the first step is dialogue and conversation.
Call Darien Revitalization at 655-7557, email us at DarienMainStreet@aol.com or post your thoughts on this blog. Let's get the conversation going and we'd love to hear from you.