Blue Back Square is a mixed-use, downtown destination development located in

West Hartford, Connecticut West Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, west of downtown Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford. The population was 64,083 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The town's popular downtown area is colloquially ...

. Blue Back Square is a unique 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. Talk of the new square started in 2003, with construction from late 2006 to early 2008. Blue Back Square was named after the "Blue-backed Speller," an educational book by

Noah Webster Noah ''Nukh''; am, ኖህ, ''Noḥ''; ar, نُوح '; grc, Νῶε ''Nôe'' () is the tenth and last of the pre-Flood patriarchs in the traditions of Abrahamic religions. His story appears in the Hebrew Bible ( Book of Genesis, chapters 5� ...

, who was once a West Hartford resident.

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. The town decided to have a

referendum A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...

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.

Mural

On June 19, 2021 -

Juneteenth Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Deriving its name from combining "June" and "nineteenth", it is celebrated on the anniversary of General Order No. 3, i ...

- West Hartford dedicated a new mural devoted to African-American history and life, both locally and nationally. 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 Ella Josephine Baker (December 13, 1903 – December 13, 1986) was an African-American civil rights and human rights activist. She was a largely behind-the-scenes organizer whose career spanned more than five decades. In New York City and t ...

Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...

, and

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Amanda Gorman Amanda S. C. Gorman (born March 7, 1998) is an American poet and activist. Her work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth P ...

. Facing Main Street, another panel includes Gertrude Blanks, Judy Casperson, and State Rep.

Tammy Exum Tammy R. Exum is a teacher and politician from Connecticut. She is a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives since 2019, when she won the special election. Formerly, she was a member and later the Vice Chair of the West Hartford, Conne ...

over a quotation from US Vice-President

Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who is the 49th vice president of the United States. She is the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well ...

. 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

Image:Outside the library at Blue Back Square in West Hartford, Connecticut, August 10, 2008.jpg Image:Blue Back Square in West Hartford, Connecticut 2, August 10, 2008.jpg File:Blue Back Square stairs with Blueback Speller imagery, 2010-04-19.jpg, Blue-backed Speller imagery decorating Blue Back Square

References

External links

* Buildings and structures in West Hartford, Connecticut Shopping malls in Connecticut Tourist attractions in Hartford County, Connecticut New Urbanism communities {{US-mall-stub