The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received February 27, 2024.
The answer to the question is quite simple, but it starts with the sole, fundamental question: What do you want Higganum Center and the Town of Haddam to look like 100 years from now?
I see a wonderful, small, walkable downtown, where people can live, eat and walk around, with fantastic access to the Connecticut River at the Cove!
Considering that the town is more than 350 years old, we realize that the town will be here in 100 years; the Town has the ability to play the long game and invest in the future. The residents are really the investors, and having a vibrant town center in a charming rural community, the benefit to residents from the investment now will quickly provide a healthy return with increased value of their number one asset: their home.
But the other very concrete return on investment is the ability to raise a family in a small town with charm, and valuable businesses that want to service the residents.
I would venture to guess when you purchased your home, you focused on the great rural aspect. You wanted to be closer to nature, the numerous state parks, the fantastic Haddam Meadows with its proximity to the Connecticut River. You wanted the favorable student-to-teacher ratio that exists in Haddam-Killingworth school system.
I would also venture to say you might not have thought about some of your other basic needs for restaurants, supermarkets, clothing stores and other shopping experiences. You probably weren’t thinking about where your kids would be able to get their first jobs, or where you would want to meet with friends to just catch up.
To have these services, the town needs to invest first to attract these businesses. Higganum can have all the amenities that residents need and want in less than a one mile radius from the center’s traffic light. Haddam is lucky to have the leadership that is willing to get this accomplished. Higganum has a developer who is willing to contribute not only the millions needed to build, but who also is willing to pay the taxes after it is built.
There have been many plans over the years, but the land wasn’t available, and developers weren’t lining up to come in. Leadership has worked to make the land available, cleaning up the prime spot. We are almost there! I support this, along with a plea to get water and sewer, to make this town what it can be. I am sure the State of Connecticut would also want a vibrant Higganum town center.
Greg McKenna, Nutmeg Pharmacy, Higganum
