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In 1995, the Connecticut State Legislature adopted Public Act #95-340. "An
Act Establishing a neighborhood Revitalization Zone Process." The purpose of the
legislation was to provide a tool for the revitalization of neighborhoods with
significant numbers of blighted properties.
A neighborhood wishing to obtain the Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ)
designation first creates an NRZ Planning Committee composed of representatives
of all neighborhood "stakeholders," i.e. individuals and groups having an
interest, financial and otherwise, in the well-being of the neighborhood.
Stakeholders might include homeowners, businesses, renters, faith communities,
nonprofits, property owners, government, institutions, schools, etc. At
least 51% of the members of an NRZ Planning Committee must be neighborhood
residents.
The role of the NRZ Planning Committee is to develop a Strategic Plan for the
NRZ. Such a plan must include a vision for the neighborhood and a revitalization
plan that will achieve that vision. An NRZ Strategic Plan must answer four
questions:
 | What does the neighborhood look like today? |
| What do we want the neighborhood to look like? |
| How do we get there? |
Once the NRZ Strategic Plan has been adopted by the NRZ Planning Committee, it
is submitted for adoption as an ordinance by the governing body of the local
government. The NRZ Planning Committee then reconstitutes itself as an
NRZ Implementation Committee and continues the work of revitalizing the
neighborhood in accordance with the Strategic Plan.
What benefits are available through the NRZ program?
The NRZ designation allows the NRZ and its local government access to several
tools provided in the State legislation, such as expanded use of eminent domain,
rent receivership and tax agreements, and waivers of environmental, health, and
safety codes that jeopardize implementation of the strategic plan.
Are there NRZs throughout the state?
A number of Connecticut municipalities have active NRZs, including New
Haven,
New Britain, Waterbury, and Bridgeport. Hartford has the distinction of
having formed the most NRZs of any community in the state: fourteen.
Fourteen (14) NRZs have been
formed in Hartford.
They have completed their Strategic Plans which have all been adopted as ordinances by the Hartford Court of Common Council. The NRZs are in the process of
implementing their Strategic Plans.
Each NRZ has a permanent committee or board of directors. The Mayor of the City of Hartford appoints a representative to each of the NRZs. That individual is a
voting member of the NRZ committee and participates fully in all of the NRZs
work. His/her special responsibilities include representing the City's
interests as a whole, facilitating assistance from City departments as necessary
and keeping the Mayor informed of the progress of the NRZ and all
substantive issues. Additionally, each NRZ is assigned a City Planner who provides or arranges for
assistance with planning and architectural issues and regulatory questions.
All NRZ meetings are open to the public and all NRZas welcome the involvement of
new people. Anyone who lives, works, worships, owns property, or has any
direct interest in an NRZ can attend NRZ meetings, volunteer for committees,
participate in issue discussions, and obtain information about the work of the NRZ.
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