VIRTUAL Lisbon Livable Cities

Abstract

The historic city of Middletown, Connecticut is made up of 50,000 residents and is located along the Connecticut River. Once a thriving maritime harbor, the urban center today supports local residents, Wesleyan University students, and serves as a home for commuters working in New Haven or Hartford. Recently, graduate architecture students at the University of XXXXX were asked to consider interventions that would help develop, expand, and enhance the opportunities embodied in the town’s ideal location. After reviewing principles of “True Urbanism” and the design tenets promoted by the “10-Minute Neighborhood” design, the students developed proposals that address the needs of three residential groups: young families, 55+ seniors, and visiting tourists. The goal is to create a more sustainable and ecologically enhanced living environment by 2035. While the primary goal was to physically connect the urban Main Street and the recreational riverfront by bridging a six-lane interstate highway, significant revitalization efforts were also required. The design team engaged issues related to transportation, streetscape, pedestrian networking, public green space, and new civic centers. Additionally, they proposed new and expanded areas for recreation, commerce, and housing. This paper identifies the critical urban issues revealed by extensive urban analysis. It presents the overarching master plan developed for the Middletown/Portland riverfront, as well as highlighting the transformative design interventions which make the future plan possible. The carefully woven urban fabric serves to link Middletown to surrounding major metropolitan centers, while maintaining a livable community set within a dynamic and innovative urbanity.