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Help Shape the Future of Cromwell’s
Historic Downtown
Cromwell Riverport Upper Houses Association Overview and Principles

Our Vision Statement
Our vision for Cromwell’s future is to provide a clean, comfortable, family friendly environment that is focused on the following key aspects.
  • Promote small distinctive businesses and restaurants that incorporate the history of our riverfront community.
  • Provide visitors and residents with a well lit, pedestrian friendly atmosphere that features ample parking and an old time town feeling.
  • •Instill a sense of community pride by hosting cultural and community events that showcase the uniqueness of Cromwell’s historic downtown area.
Our Mission Statement
Through community leadership, positive actions, teamwork, devotion and mutual respect we will:
  • Develop and promote the Historic Downtown neighborhood in a manner that is attractive to residents and visitors of diverse interests and backgrounds. 
  • Support and create recreational, entertainment, dining opportunities and cultivate appreciation and preservation of our historic assets. 

 

SWOT Analysis Results

An examination of :
 
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Strengths:
  • What advantages do we have?
  • What do we do well?
  • •What relevant resources do we have access to?
  • •What do other people see as our strengths?
Strengths:
  • •the river
  • the riverfront park
  • •available riverfront land owned by the town
  • •municipal buildings in the downtown area:  police
  • dept.,  fire dept.,  and town hall/library each with public meeting rooms
  • •Community field/Pierson park
  • •historic homes   -    nationally recognized historic district
  • •interesting small businesses
  • •location - off Rt. 9 and not too far from interstate 91
  • •busy traffic
  • •nice friendly people
  • •railroad crossing
  • •sense of community - people stay in the area
Weaknesses:
  • What could we improve?
  • What do we do badly?
  • What should we avoid?
Weaknesses:
  • lack of zoning enforcement
  • not enough parking
  • lack of pedestrian traffic
  • not pedestrian friendly
  • blighted areas
  • poor lighting
  • cars move through too fast
  • zoning regulations hinder development
  • river flood plain
  • Cromwell Landing park needs parking and lavs
  • lack of progress on town - EDC -development efforts
  • too little commercial activity
  • too many non-conforming uses
  • uses that are permitted are not strategic
  • road design limits traffic flow
  • viewed as the “wrong side of the tracks”
  • general appearance
Opportunities:
  • Where are the good opportunities facing us?
  • What are the interesting trends impacting our Historic Downtown?
  • Useful opportunities can come from such things as:
  • Changes in technology and markets on both a broad and narrow scale
  • Changes in government policy related to downtown development
  • Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, etc.
  • Local Events
Opportunities:
  • Stocking Triangle  (possible focal point)
  • historic area monument
  • Riverport Festival - 9/16 & 9/17, 2005
  • Memorial Green (next to Legion Hall Building) possible focal point with a gazebo
  • Main Street design change could facilitate pedestrian activity
  • implement existing study and plans
  • available store fronts
  • Marino Property - vision for use as a restaurant
  • town owned property on the riverfront
  • railroad
  • to create river front gateway
  • to create docks and passenger boat traffic
  • Main Street and West Street intersection is a natural gateway to downtown
  • good place for MORE  community events, even if they are small
  • restrictions of flood plain create opportunities for temporary structures, like tents - flee market - festivals
Threats:
  • •What obstacles do we face?
  • •What is our competition doing? Who is the competition?
  • Do we have the necessary attributes to satisfy the demands of the consumer?
  • •Is changing technology threatening our position?
  • •Do we have financial resource problems?
  • •Could any of our weaknesses seriously threaten our vision for the Historic Downtown?
Threats:
  • apathy
  • town government
  • regulations
  • perception that the area is tough to navigate
  • townspeople don't seem to place a high priority on
  • historic downtown area
  • no money
  • a good strong partnership with historical society
  • state and federal regulatory agencies - roads and river
  • traffic authority

 

  

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