History: Willimantic Redevelopment, Part 7

Strand Theater Bulldozed, Fedor Litryn  owner watches, 1976  Chronicle photo

Vacant Lots and Broken Dreams:
Urban Renewal in Willimantic Connecticut
Richard Baber

Part 7



The following May a debate ensued weather or not to use a portion of the central business district parcel for housing.  A proposal was made for fifty state funded units along Jackson Street. in a letter to the editor in the Willimantic Chronicle, dated may 4, 1974, Rev. John K Honan, Pastor of St Joseph's Church and a long time affordable housing advocate wrote:  I am not concerned with the use of this pace from a tax viewpoint because I believe  there is more redevelopment land  going to be available then there will be a demand for by commercial developers.No one seems to be knocking down the doors to get in line for purchase.His letter proved prophetic.

By June 1974 eighty two of one hundred one buildings slated for demolition had been acquired.  The owners of the remaining nineteen were challenging the WRA in court but by the end of the year they would also be acquired through the powers of eminent domain.  Demolition was complete on forty of the structures and contracts had been signed for the remaining forty two.  Preferred developer status had been awarded for two of the smaller parcels and the WRA decided it was time to lock in a for the crown jewel of the project.- the shopping mall on the ten acre downtown parcel.  Developers  kits and the deadline for completed proposals was set for 2p.m. on September 25, 1974.  The city got the first indication that Reverend Honan may have been right about,  "no one knocking down any doors to get in line to purchase" when the deadline came and went without a single proposal submitted.  Yet the project went ahead without modifications as if it had a life of its own . 

It took an additional two years for the first phase of urban renewal to be completed.  Although during that time the focus was still on the major downtown parcel, there was much activity elsewhere.  Site improvements were bid out  and improvements began on the city's infrastructure. An in depth historic survey was conducted, and commercial and residential rehabilitation were planned. Restoration began on the only structure on the major parcel, the historic Jilson House.  They planned to turn it into a museum.  Much needed downtown parking was created and a new fire/police complex on a cleared parcel on Meadow  Street.  These parcels were funded by HUD as part of the overall renewal grant and overseen by the WRA.  The city began spending its allocation of urban renewal funding as well as such items a storm sewers, sidewalks, recreation facilities and human services. In the private sector renovations  began on the Willimantic Trust building and The Connecticut Bank and Trust. The Willimantic Savings and Loan was the first business to locate a new structure in the downtown business district. When it opened its doors at the corner of Church and Main on June 20. 1976, it went unnoticed that the parcel had previously been home to nine businesses, four offices and twenty five apartments.

As demolition proceeded on the major downtown parcel, opposition to the continued leveling began to appear.  This was reflected with town meetings, demonstrations and letters to the editor, It was as if many people were realizing how total the destruction and how much they were losing.  In a letter to the editor of the Willimantic Chronicle, Francelia Butler wrote: "These nineteenth century buildings may mean more to Willimantic  then earlier colonial structures.  Sooner or later everyone deeply  will regret there disappearance."  These sentiments were echoed by John Stearns.. " I pass through the slowly disappearing city almost every day and I can't believe how efficiently  it has been turned into a big vacant lot....The WRA has done away with our landmarks. The next building that will come down are the Hurley and Union Blocks. These two buildings  have stood longer then most can remember."  And Georgia RonDeau lamented that " I think we have Willimantic to thank forWillimantic being the most inconvenient , little city around. Nothing is centrally located.  One has to drive around willy-nilly looking for a place of business that were once on Main Street. (re) development-indeed."  Michael Ziesing
defended businessmen:  "The business people in downtown Willimantic are not responsible for the fact that Storm troopers  from outside the area blitzkrieged the central business area.  Many of us radically oppose it."

By the summer of 1976, the Hurley-Grant building and the Union Block were the only two buildings slated for demolition that were still standing.  People began rallying together in a movement to preserve them.  It was as if these two building for everything that had been lost over the previous three years. There were many private offers to fund the restoration of these structures  and there were almost daily demonstrations.  Support  came from all quarters: 
residents,, city officials, the Chamber of Commerce and downtown merchants. But in the end
Betty Lou and the WRA  prevailed  and on October 20, 1976 demolition began on these buildings.  A photograph in the Willimantic Chronicle showed a crane chomping down a wall where some one had painted: "In the spirit of '76  don't tear me down."  In the aftermath, members of the community seemed stunned at what happened to the city.

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