Urban Dispatch
@urbandispatch.bsky.social
Safe streets & Transit. People need somewhere to sleep and the sidewalk isn’t it. Believer that better more livable cities are possible. Let's stop letting perfection get in the way of progress.
Anon here but happy to chat/meet up IRL
Hartford, CT
Anon here but happy to chat/meet up IRL
Hartford, CT
LOL. LMAO
Denial of Aquarion deal overturned and is back on the table! Public water infrastructure should be in the hands of the public, not private shareholders
Denial of Aquarion deal overturned and is back on the table! Public water infrastructure should be in the hands of the public, not private shareholders
January 16, 2026 at 1:02 PM
LOL. LMAO
Denial of Aquarion deal overturned and is back on the table! Public water infrastructure should be in the hands of the public, not private shareholders
Denial of Aquarion deal overturned and is back on the table! Public water infrastructure should be in the hands of the public, not private shareholders
Love the DOT having a person now dedicated to TOD statewide. Apparently the Stamford TOD project is using a design build standard.
I wish we used the European style design competition more often. This would be a great opportunity to do something like that!
I wish we used the European style design competition more often. This would be a great opportunity to do something like that!
January 11, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Love the DOT having a person now dedicated to TOD statewide. Apparently the Stamford TOD project is using a design build standard.
I wish we used the European style design competition more often. This would be a great opportunity to do something like that!
I wish we used the European style design competition more often. This would be a great opportunity to do something like that!
🚨🚨This just in 🚨🚨
Arunan Arulampalam, the Mayor of Hartford CT, says an investigation into the attempting vehicular ramming of vigil attendees by federal agents is being opened
Arunan Arulampalam, the Mayor of Hartford CT, says an investigation into the attempting vehicular ramming of vigil attendees by federal agents is being opened
January 9, 2026 at 9:36 PM
🚨🚨This just in 🚨🚨
Arunan Arulampalam, the Mayor of Hartford CT, says an investigation into the attempting vehicular ramming of vigil attendees by federal agents is being opened
Arunan Arulampalam, the Mayor of Hartford CT, says an investigation into the attempting vehicular ramming of vigil attendees by federal agents is being opened
This occurred at the rear of the building, the primary vigil and rally occurred on the Main St side and was uninterrupted. I personally did not see or really know about these events occurring other than some crowd murmurs
Shoutout to my favorite city rep @rsgat.bsky.social who always shows up
Shoutout to my favorite city rep @rsgat.bsky.social who always shows up
January 9, 2026 at 1:13 PM
This occurred at the rear of the building, the primary vigil and rally occurred on the Main St side and was uninterrupted. I personally did not see or really know about these events occurring other than some crowd murmurs
Shoutout to my favorite city rep @rsgat.bsky.social who always shows up
Shoutout to my favorite city rep @rsgat.bsky.social who always shows up
The Mirror is a national treasure, on the scenes with some incredible photos from last night
What is clear is federal agents used vehicles as weapons to maim and disburse vigil attendees before pepper spraying the crowd. Backing up a van at a high rate of speed into a crowd is indefensible
What is clear is federal agents used vehicles as weapons to maim and disburse vigil attendees before pepper spraying the crowd. Backing up a van at a high rate of speed into a crowd is indefensible
January 9, 2026 at 1:10 PM
The Mirror is a national treasure, on the scenes with some incredible photos from last night
What is clear is federal agents used vehicles as weapons to maim and disburse vigil attendees before pepper spraying the crowd. Backing up a van at a high rate of speed into a crowd is indefensible
What is clear is federal agents used vehicles as weapons to maim and disburse vigil attendees before pepper spraying the crowd. Backing up a van at a high rate of speed into a crowd is indefensible
Many Hundreds of people gathered tonight in Hartford Connecticut for a Vigil and anti-ICE protest
Short notice and events thousands of miles away, people aren't having it
Short notice and events thousands of miles away, people aren't having it
January 8, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Many Hundreds of people gathered tonight in Hartford Connecticut for a Vigil and anti-ICE protest
Short notice and events thousands of miles away, people aren't having it
Short notice and events thousands of miles away, people aren't having it
Latest update on scope and timing of the next batch of Hartford Line upgrades
Looks like double tracking work won't be wrapped up until 2030 at which time it will be just the area near Hartford Union and the CT river bridge left single tracked
Looks like double tracking work won't be wrapped up until 2030 at which time it will be just the area near Hartford Union and the CT river bridge left single tracked
January 7, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Latest update on scope and timing of the next batch of Hartford Line upgrades
Looks like double tracking work won't be wrapped up until 2030 at which time it will be just the area near Hartford Union and the CT river bridge left single tracked
Looks like double tracking work won't be wrapped up until 2030 at which time it will be just the area near Hartford Union and the CT river bridge left single tracked
Woah, the Hartford Courant has switched out its "post to twitter" button for a "post to Bsky" button
They are owned by Alden Global Capital... times are a changing
They are owned by Alden Global Capital... times are a changing
January 5, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Woah, the Hartford Courant has switched out its "post to twitter" button for a "post to Bsky" button
They are owned by Alden Global Capital... times are a changing
They are owned by Alden Global Capital... times are a changing
Hartford is full of amazing people and programs that ensure cost is no barrier to city residents. Love the Y
January 4, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Hartford is full of amazing people and programs that ensure cost is no barrier to city residents. Love the Y
Add in NINA receiving over $1M to rehab these two middling abandoned buildings into Single Family homes. They're continuing to try to bring back the 1890s. In what world is having a half acre of land locked into housing exactly two families in the middle of our capital city the best outcome?
January 4, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Add in NINA receiving over $1M to rehab these two middling abandoned buildings into Single Family homes. They're continuing to try to bring back the 1890s. In what world is having a half acre of land locked into housing exactly two families in the middle of our capital city the best outcome?
Woah, I just learned that Hartford 21 (a 36 story town built in 2006 in Hartford and remains the tallest residential building in New England outside of Boston) cost $191 Million to build
That's crazy! That is over $700k per apartment! In 2004 dollars!
www.hartford21.com
That's crazy! That is over $700k per apartment! In 2004 dollars!
www.hartford21.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Woah, I just learned that Hartford 21 (a 36 story town built in 2006 in Hartford and remains the tallest residential building in New England outside of Boston) cost $191 Million to build
That's crazy! That is over $700k per apartment! In 2004 dollars!
www.hartford21.com
That's crazy! That is over $700k per apartment! In 2004 dollars!
www.hartford21.com
I will admit I have not read it in full detail but the segregationists are continuing to crash out so it must be good
January 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM
I will admit I have not read it in full detail but the segregationists are continuing to crash out so it must be good
The aversion of the shoreline CT cities to being cities and having tall buildings is really something to behold
Stamford looks like a generic second rate great plains city not a major financial hub an hour by frequent rail outside of Midtown Manhattan
Stamford looks like a generic second rate great plains city not a major financial hub an hour by frequent rail outside of Midtown Manhattan
December 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The aversion of the shoreline CT cities to being cities and having tall buildings is really something to behold
Stamford looks like a generic second rate great plains city not a major financial hub an hour by frequent rail outside of Midtown Manhattan
Stamford looks like a generic second rate great plains city not a major financial hub an hour by frequent rail outside of Midtown Manhattan
3. Breaking ground for phase 2 of 55 elm and opening of Trinity street projects - These will be a test of housing demand outside of "downtown"
4. There are a variety of small infill projects scatter shot around the city I'm tracking in the North East, Frog Hollow and South End
4. There are a variety of small infill projects scatter shot around the city I'm tracking in the North East, Frog Hollow and South End
December 28, 2025 at 12:32 PM
3. Breaking ground for phase 2 of 55 elm and opening of Trinity street projects - These will be a test of housing demand outside of "downtown"
4. There are a variety of small infill projects scatter shot around the city I'm tracking in the North East, Frog Hollow and South End
4. There are a variety of small infill projects scatter shot around the city I'm tracking in the North East, Frog Hollow and South End
Look at this beauty of an old factory, wow!
December 24, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Look at this beauty of an old factory, wow!
I recently picked up this fabulous coffee carafe (tea, tea only) from a goodwill and I turned it over today and learned Thermos was based in Norwich Connecticut!
Turns out the story is pretty wild, the citizens of Norwich bought the land and funded the construction of the factory in 1912
Turns out the story is pretty wild, the citizens of Norwich bought the land and funded the construction of the factory in 1912
December 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I recently picked up this fabulous coffee carafe (tea, tea only) from a goodwill and I turned it over today and learned Thermos was based in Norwich Connecticut!
Turns out the story is pretty wild, the citizens of Norwich bought the land and funded the construction of the factory in 1912
Turns out the story is pretty wild, the citizens of Norwich bought the land and funded the construction of the factory in 1912
Like it takes an hour to go the 30 miles to Danbury today and they run pretty infrequent, me thinks few will ride from New Milford
If you're going to greenfield rail, doing New London-Norwich (and beyond) is probably your best bet but single track freight grade rail today so not easy
If you're going to greenfield rail, doing New London-Norwich (and beyond) is probably your best bet but single track freight grade rail today so not easy
December 22, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Like it takes an hour to go the 30 miles to Danbury today and they run pretty infrequent, me thinks few will ride from New Milford
If you're going to greenfield rail, doing New London-Norwich (and beyond) is probably your best bet but single track freight grade rail today so not easy
If you're going to greenfield rail, doing New London-Norwich (and beyond) is probably your best bet but single track freight grade rail today so not easy
I talk a lot about Eversource and power prices but a large % of the cost of power in CT comes down to photos like this
We made it so 81% of the state has 1 acre or larger lots by fiat and it costs A LOT to service such low density residential with power. All those homes are subsidized heavily
We made it so 81% of the state has 1 acre or larger lots by fiat and it costs A LOT to service such low density residential with power. All those homes are subsidized heavily
December 22, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I talk a lot about Eversource and power prices but a large % of the cost of power in CT comes down to photos like this
We made it so 81% of the state has 1 acre or larger lots by fiat and it costs A LOT to service such low density residential with power. All those homes are subsidized heavily
We made it so 81% of the state has 1 acre or larger lots by fiat and it costs A LOT to service such low density residential with power. All those homes are subsidized heavily
*Taps sign*
We too can have nice things for very little money
We too can have nice things for very little money
December 19, 2025 at 11:13 AM
*Taps sign*
We too can have nice things for very little money
We too can have nice things for very little money
Counterpoint: No you aren't Senator
December 17, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Counterpoint: No you aren't Senator
The sidewalk condition at one of the highest ridership bus transit stops in the entire state of Connecticut
Yep - looks fine to me
Yep - looks fine to me
December 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The sidewalk condition at one of the highest ridership bus transit stops in the entire state of Connecticut
Yep - looks fine to me
Yep - looks fine to me
Here are just a few of the properties that will be brought back to life. Years overdue, transformational planning, love it!
December 12, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Here are just a few of the properties that will be brought back to life. Years overdue, transformational planning, love it!
Look at how ridiculous these floorplans are
The exterior wall looks like a 3 year old trying to draw a straight line. The 2-stair design = a long interior hallway eating up a ton of livable space. Every apartment is super deep & dark. Plus you live in a parking lot
It doesn't need to be this way!
The exterior wall looks like a 3 year old trying to draw a straight line. The 2-stair design = a long interior hallway eating up a ton of livable space. Every apartment is super deep & dark. Plus you live in a parking lot
It doesn't need to be this way!
December 8, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Look at how ridiculous these floorplans are
The exterior wall looks like a 3 year old trying to draw a straight line. The 2-stair design = a long interior hallway eating up a ton of livable space. Every apartment is super deep & dark. Plus you live in a parking lot
It doesn't need to be this way!
The exterior wall looks like a 3 year old trying to draw a straight line. The 2-stair design = a long interior hallway eating up a ton of livable space. Every apartment is super deep & dark. Plus you live in a parking lot
It doesn't need to be this way!
Modern zoning is perfectly designed to build places that straight up suck to live. Why do we do subject ourselves to this?
Crazy fact: This single new project is adding more homes to Wethersfield than they have allowed in the last 21 yrs combined... only 160 new homes... in a town of 30k people! 🤯
Crazy fact: This single new project is adding more homes to Wethersfield than they have allowed in the last 21 yrs combined... only 160 new homes... in a town of 30k people! 🤯
December 8, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Modern zoning is perfectly designed to build places that straight up suck to live. Why do we do subject ourselves to this?
Crazy fact: This single new project is adding more homes to Wethersfield than they have allowed in the last 21 yrs combined... only 160 new homes... in a town of 30k people! 🤯
Crazy fact: This single new project is adding more homes to Wethersfield than they have allowed in the last 21 yrs combined... only 160 new homes... in a town of 30k people! 🤯
The real solution is to redo the regional bus network and increase the number of places that you can more easily get to Hartford Union from but we're super not ready for that convo
Like I would do this route if given the chance
Like I would do this route if given the chance
December 6, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The real solution is to redo the regional bus network and increase the number of places that you can more easily get to Hartford Union from but we're super not ready for that convo
Like I would do this route if given the chance
Like I would do this route if given the chance