Stamford native, local historian and historic preservation specialist Wes Haynes will be joined by Dave Avery in leading Stamford’s first-ever Jane’s Walk on May 3, 2025. The walk will explore downtown Stamford’s vibrant historic blocks, the chain of downtown public parks, including the splendid Mill River Park, and other open spaces and historic districts in between. Avery is President of the Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Association.
The talk examines these elements through the lens of Urbanist Jane Jacob’s ideas on how local economies, innovation and the gradual infusion of money for development shape desirable places to live, work and play.
The acclaimed Jane’s Walk program is hosted Stamford by Historic Neighborhood Preservation, the Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Association, and Emerson Hall at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
Today’s downtown is a dynamic, multi-layered urban core that evolved over more than 375 years and remains a work in progress. Changes to the city’s plan during late 20th century urban renewal prioritized the automobile over public transportation and pedestrians, replacing blocks of small-scale housing and retail with large-scale office buildings. Since then, planners have striven to invite pedestrians back by preserving, enhancing, or re-creating a walkable city.
The two-hour tour will start at 10 am and end at Emerson Hall at the Unitarian-Universalist Church at 20 Forest Street in Stamford, one of downtown’s most important historic buildings. Before the walk begins there will be a brief orientation at the Church. We suggest parking in the Bedford Street public garage/parking lot (small fee) between Broad and Forest Streets.