Survey cites Cornwall pros and cons

CORNWALL — A close look at the commerce centers in West Cornwall and Cornwall Bridge, as well as suggestions for improvements, are offered in a newly released survey compiled for eight area towns.

The online survey, conducted in May and June by AKRF (an environmental and planning consulting firm based in Willimantic) was commissioned by the Northwest Connecticut Regional Planning Collaborative.

The survey gives demographic information for the six towns in the collaborative: Cornwall, Falls Village, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury and Sharon, plus Norfolk and Goshen.

The results for Cornwall should come as no surprise to town officials and merchants who have identified the same issues spelled out in the survey results.

Both groups have been meeting regularly to look for solutions.

The survey is meant as a starting point for “action strategy recommendations†by the collaborative. A wealth of regional information and town comparisons was also compiled.

A profile of Cornwall commerce included 21 businesses. They break down into 33 percent deemed as “neighborhood services,†such as professional offices, beauty salons and banks. Shopping goods were close behind with 29 percent; building materials and garden supplies represented 14 percent, eating/drinking establishments were 10 percent, convenience goods were 9 percent and vacant storefronts were 5 percent.

The town’s natural beauty is an obvious strength.

The survey also lists iconic recreation and tourist destinations, including Mohawk Mountain Ski Area, the Housatonic River and the Covered Bridge in West Cornwall.

It also has “regional commercial destinations,†such as Housatonic River Outfitters, Clarke Outdoors, RSVP restaurant, The Wandering Moose Café and cabinetmaker Ian Ingersoll.

Weaknesses centered mostly on West Cornwall, where there is a lack of adequate parking and general services. A lack of critical mass of retailers in either town center is also a problem.

Described as a “threat†was West Cornwall’s lack of parking to support its businesses, which could cause it over time to morph into more of a residential neighborhood.

The analysis suggests opportunities, such as unifying Cornwall Bridge commerce by marketing themes or brands;parking and pedestrian access; and more use of the village Green there.

Underutilized property in West Cornwall could be used for parking, and hiking trails  along the Housatonic River and the railroad tracks could be made easier to enter. All these steps could attract more visitors.

There was little change in the village centers over the summer. Railroad Square Café opened in West Cornwall, replacing a barbecue restaurant. The farmers market, held every Saturday on the Wish House lawn, continues to grow after several years.

The town has been working on utilizing a tourism grant to install brochure kiosks and radar speed signs, but the going has been slow, and there was little apparent impact for this season.

The collaborative is holding a “strategies meeting†in Falls Village with the first selectmen of each town and local legislators on Monday, Sept. 20, at 9 a.m. A draft version of action strategies will be discussed. To see the complete survey report, go online to nwctplanning.org.

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