In 2019, Hartford is a city that feels caught between decline and stagnation, dependent on commuters who flood downtown during business hours before retreating to the suburbs at day’s end. Still, it has a few distinctive qualities.
One of the most notable is the elevation change near the riverfront. The eastern portion of downtown sits noticeably higher, creating striking views of the skyline. At the same time, that divide leaves parts of the city feeling isolated due to limited pedestrian access and a lack of street-level retail.
The architecture presents another challenge. Beyond landmarks like the Travelers Tower, the Connecticut Science Center, and the Phoenix Building, much of Hartford’s skyline is dominated by sterile, boxy office towers that lack character at street level. From a distance, the varying shades of light and color can make the skyline visually appealing at night. Up close, however, the experience feels far less engaging.
The city also has a small riverfront park with a performance stage that could be a real asset if not for the constant noise from the nearby highway. From an outsider’s perspective, Hartford feels like a city still searching for a clear identity and a more thoughtful approach to urban design. The city has good bones, but too many spaces feel disconnected, isolating, and unfriendly to pedestrians. Re-imagining those spaces could be key to encouraging long-term growth and vibrancy.
I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW
From 1972 to 1997, Hartford was home to the Hartford Whalers, a professional hockey team that competed in both the WHA and later the NHL. The franchise originally relocated from Boston, where competition with the Bruins limited its long-term viability. During a redesign of the team’s branding, it was reportedly decided that pairing a whale mascot with harpoons in the logo sent the wrong message — essentially implying the mascot was being hunted by its own team. The team relocated to North Carolina in 1997.
In 2018, Hartford narrowly avoided bankruptcy after agreeing to a state bailout package. One of the city’s longstanding financial challenges is that an unusually large percentage of its land is occupied by state buildings, hospitals, universities, and nonprofit institutions, leaving nearly half of the city’s property tax-exempt.
