Fourteen NRZs have been formed in Hartford. They are Asylum Hill, Blue Hills, Clay Arsenal, Sheldon-Charter Oak, Frog Hollow South, North Frog Hollow, MARG (Maple Avenue area), Northeast, Parkville, South End, South Green, Upper Albany, SODO (South of Downtown).

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. (CGS Chapter 18 Sec. 7-600-608.) 

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, and schools 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?
• How can we measure our progress?

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.

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.

All NRZ meetings are open to the public and all NRZs welcome the involvement of new people. Anyone who lives, works, worships, owns property, or has any direct interest in an NRZ is encouraged to attend NRZ meetings, volunteer for committees, participate in issue discussions, and obtain information about the work of the NRZ.