Arrowhead Gateway

Phil Myrick partnered with Colliers Engineering & Design (formerly Bergmann) to create a Small Area Plan and corridor study for Hartford’s Downtown North neighborhood—a diverse area blending early American history with cultural influences from Puerto Rico and Jamaica. The project aimed to celebrate this identity while fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and guiding equitable urban development.

The Small Area Plan outlined a Complete Streets environment along with strategies for economic development, infill housing, adaptive reuse, and clear guidelines for public and private development. Key priorities included retaining small businesses and supporting existing property owners to ensure growth remains inclusive.

Placemaking strategies helped translate market data and planning analysis into meaningful, place-based opportunities. These efforts empowered residents to envision a future rooted in their cultural resources while enhancing the neighborhood’s sense of place.

The study area also highlighted its historical significance as the boyhood home and burial site of Frederick Law Olmsted, the founder of landscape architecture. Additionally, the consulting team represented the City in negotiations with a major developer, ensuring alignment between the City’s vision and a transformative mixed-use development planned for the area.

This project redefines Downtown North as a vibrant, inclusive community that balances its rich history with innovative, equitable urban growth.