Hartford SINA Neighborhoods

Hartford

In 1997 Trinity College created a Master Plan to guide the physical development of the campus over the next quarter of a century. The Trinity Master Plan broke new ground in its emphasis on engaging the surrounding neighborhoods which had been experiencing serious decline. Following in the heels of the campus planning work Trinity's Office for Community Relations, in conjunction with the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (SINA) initiated the SINA Neighborhood Planning and Design Project. This community building effort extends the Campus Master Plan, focusing on the surrounding neighborhoods as part of an ongoing community outreach effort. A key component of the Plan was the creation of the Learning Corridor, a $100 million educational campus, currently in operation, which contains an Inter-District Montessori School and Family Resource Center, a Neighborhood Public Middle School, a Math, Science and Technology Magnet School, the Greater Hartford Academy for the Arts, the Aetna Center for Families and street retail. The Community Plan integrated this educational campus with the surrounding community and positioned it as a catalyst for renewal.

A centerpiece of this effort has been the Learning Corridor, a $100 million educational campus immediately east of the College and now in operation. The Learning Corridor contains an Inter-District Montessori School and Family Resource Center, a Neighborhood Public Middle School, a Math, Science and Technology Magnet High School Resource Center, the Greater Hartford Academy for the Arts, the Aetna Center for Families and a parking garage with ground level retail stores. The Master Plan integrated the educational campus with the surrounding community and positioned it as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. The Learning Corridor: Southside Institutions Neighbourhood Alliance Plan was the recipient of the 2000 American Planning Association Outstanding Planning Award for a Special Community Initiative.