What's Going On: The Gateway to New London is nigh upon us

Nov. 5—One of New London's biggest problems has always been a lack of identity upon reaching downtown.

The first thing most people see, after coming off Interstate 95 from the north or south, is a bunch of nothingness. From the south, you hit an intersection near Hodges Square that is far from promising, other than a few signs from local clubs such as Rotary; and from the north, you latch onto a barren road near some sketchy areas where a public housing complex once stood and then are immediately "greeted" by a police station.

So much for making a good first impression.

The next block is a little more promising, with the beautiful Citizens Bank building creating the granite-faced centerpiece that includes the Mariner Square complex and the handsome headquarters of The Day. But after that, the entry to New London along Eugene O'Neill Drive disintegrates into a morass of incongruent buildings and unfriendly parking areas, saved only by Wyland's whaling wall on the Sarge's Comics building and another mural across the way on the Caruso Music facade.

There's just not much to get excited about on Eugene O'Neill Drive (the city's former Main Street), and not much happening there.

So it was heartening to attend the grand opening of the Thames River Innovation Center Oct. 26 at the new Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut headquarters in the former Merrill Lynch offices at 92 Eugene O'Neill Drive and see well over 200 of the most noteworthy business people and politicians in the region partying it up on the outdoor patio.

Chamber President Tony Sheridan proclaimed his headquarters as the new gateway to New London, and that is certainly a high aspiration that has long been lacking.

But the gateway idea got a needed boost this week with news that High Tide Capital, the Maine-based development group that converted the Manwaring Building on State Street into apartments for Connecticut College students, is contemplating a development across the street from the chamber that would house (most likely) an upscale restaurant and 120-room hotel, not to mention apartments and retail space with a pedestrian cut-through to Atlantic Street behind The Day.

Developer Dash Davidson of High Tide Capital LLC told me in a phone interview Wednesday that he has spent a lot of time in New London over the years, whether visiting Connecticut College or coming in on the ferry or traveling by train.

"I always thought it was a very beautiful place," he told me. "It's clear that the foundation is very strong."

Davidson loved the historic buildings and the waterfront location, plus the nexus of transportation options. But now there's even more: the chamber headquarters, of course, but also the new wind-turbine assembly area at State Pier, a mayor and state officials who are encouraging development, the promise of the U.S. Coast Guard Museum finally materializing and huge growth at Electric Boat.

"It's all in conjunction," he said. "It's a great community, a lot of great community leaders who really care about New London."

And, yes, Davidson sees his newest project at the former bank building and The Day, which will be joined in one project, as being part of the New London gateway.

"We see this project as that to a T. It's really the front door of New London," he said. "We want to be loud and proud and reactivate the street. ... It's gonna be a massive project."

As someone who has covered New London for nearly 45 years, I can't remember the last time I've heard anything so positive about a place we've all seen fall short time and time again.

Mayor Michael Passero is certainly pleased that the New London gateway appears to be happening before his eyes, though he insists Eugene O'Neill Drive is actually one of two main entrance points to downtown, the other being the corner of Tilley and Bank streets (a place where Electric Boat employees filter out of town and perhaps only Waterford residents have their first impression of the city).

I would argue that it's out-of-towners who need to feel welcome in New London, and the place to make that good first impression is along Eugene O'Neill Drive. Even the mayor seems to agree, saying he now realizes that the city's holiday decorations need to extend to this main thoroughfare, in addition to the lights that traditionally go up on State and Bank streets.

So, go ahead and erect a mermaid statue, if you must, in the waters of Long Island Sound near the Thames River, but let's keep in mind that for every person who travels here by boat, there are 2,000 who arrive by land. Let's give them a gateway they won't soon forget.

Lee Howard is The Day's business editor. Reach him by email at l.howard@theday.com.