With its low self-esteem and high urban blight, Hartford is the ultimate underdog city. Sad City Hartford documents the joys, sorrows and eccentricities of New England's Rising Star.

Friday, April 15, 2011

A Farewell To Arms?



The Colonial Arms building at the corner of Sisson and Farmington has recently been emptied and boarded up.  We are unsure of the occupancy rates in the Colonial Arms, but we do know that people were recently living there.  From our observations it was a fairly rough crowd and as can be seen by the trash strewn about in the photo the tenants didn't care too much about the premises.



Located at a busy corner near UConn Law School, Braza Grill, the Half Door and Hartford's most awkward bathroom, and access to the highway this is a building that could show some promise. Since the building seemed to have a good deal of tenants very recently it's hard to believe that the owners would simply abandon and board up the place. Maybe a rehab to try and attract some different tenants?


13 comments:

  1. LOVE to see the neighborhood cleaned up a bit. BEST pizza in town (Sergent Pepperoni) doesn't get deserved recognition because it is in "dangerous" part of town.

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  2. Not a huge Sgt. Pep's fan but would like to see the area improved.

    "Danger" factor highly overrated in area. Walk in the area all the time day and night and never get bothered

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  3. I saw you taking these pictures last Sunday, same day as the kfc protester, as I was stopped at the light right there and I wondered if you were a dude from sad city doing a blog on that boarded up building.

    I never thought of that area as being particularly dangerous. The only time I've been bothered was by a hobo trying to sell me porn DVD's which was more funny than dangerous.

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  4. Yup, that was me.

    Area isn't dangerous at all. That was probably Jumper trying to downsize his "archives"

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  5. I love the guy that sells porn instead of just begging for money! he's a real entrepreneur!

    More importantly is Sisson Ave pizza still open during renovation cause their party size is the best thing in town!

    Also, does this have anything to do with the Fire that happened there a few weeks ago?

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  6. I think the guy who owns this property also owns one of my favorite lunch spots. He's at his restaurant working all day from the first thing in the morning until closing everyday so I wouldn't be surprised if he couldn't keep up with managing the place and had to ditch it. If that's the case though idk why it would be boarded up, maybe no one wanted to buy it or something.

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  7. I go to area all the time..The only sketchy thing that happened to me was when a man tried to sell me a video camera...this was 12am at night. The area could use some cleaning up.

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  8. Fix up the apartments a tiny bit, rent to hipsters for twice the price, win.

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  9. I think the biggest problem Hartford has is all the Black and Ricans running around. I think HPD should be given the green light to really clean up Hartford and watch..overnight Hartford will be the safest city in North America.

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  10. I think the biggest problem Hartford has is all the anonymous people who think that the biggest problem are Blacks and Ricans running around. News flash: We hate to run! Check out tomorrows Boston Marathon and tell me how many Blacks and Ricans you see. I almost ran today but then remembered we have a car AND a friggin bike, why get all sweaty?! But I agree with you on one thing...we should definitely give cops the green light to go after those runners. Heck, I'll help out myself and clip a couple with my 3 speed Collegiate...20 points!!

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  11. Haakan,

    That was you; taking the pictures or selling the DVD's?

    And you're right; not dangerous.

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  12. That's a handsome building! And those windows look semi-new. It would be a shame to lose a classic like that.

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  13. @jimmy, taking pics. Not at the point of selling DVD's on the street....yet

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