Blue Back Square

Blue Back Square
Coordinates	41°45′37″N72°44′24″W / 41.760403°N 72.7400565°W
Address	65 Memorial Road, West Hartford, CT 06107
Management	Charter Realty & Development
Owner	Charter Realty & Development
Website	https://www.bluebacksquare.com

Last updated May 13, 2024

Blue Back Square is a mixed-use, downtown destination development located in West Hartford, Connecticut. Blue Back Square is a shopping, living, dining, and entertainment destination and is home to 120 residences, 250,000 SF of commercial and office space and merchants including Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Barnes & Noble and The Cheesecake Factory. It is adjacent to Whole Foods Market and Delamar Hotel.

Controversy

When the project was first introduced, controversy arose over the transfer of town land for the project as well as the issuance of bonds. Land that was proposed for transfer for the development included open space behind Town Hall and the former Board of Education building.^[1] The town decided to have a referendum to settle the matter after a petition campaign was mounted to force a vote. In a two-question referendum, one on the issuance of bonds and the other regarding the land transfer, town residents approved the project, with about 60 percent in favor and 40 percent opposed.^[1]

Mural

On June 19, 2021 - Juneteenth - West Hartford dedicated a new mural devoted to African-American history and life, both locally and nationally.^[2] The mural is located on an exterior wall of the Noah Webster Memorial Library (1917 building) and was painted by Corey Pane. One panel of the mural includes Ella Baker, Martin Luther King Jr., and Bernard Lafayette over a quotation from Amanda Gorman.

Facing Main Street, another panel includes Gertrude Blanks, Judy Casperson, and State Rep. Tammy Exum over a quotation from US Vice-President Kamala Harris.

In 2022, more murals were designed at the property with local artists from RiseUP Connecticut on Raymond Road, Memorial Road, and Isham Road. Blue Back Square is proud to be the community hub of West Hartford. Updated art is intended to reinvigorate the space by featuring bright colors, sculpture and more while blending in the timeless New England features for which our community is known for.

Images

Blue-backed Speller imagery decorating Blue Back Square

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References

1 2 Altimari, Daniela (13 October 2004). "Voters Approve Blue Back Square". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
↑ "New mural in West Hartford honors MLK and other civic leaders". 16 June 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

External links

Official website

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[Courant-1] 1 2 Altimari, Daniela (13 October 2004). "Voters Approve Blue Back Square". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved 14 February 2013.

[2] "New mural in West Hartford honors MLK and other civic leaders". 16 June 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

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