sign improvements,” which helps enhance the visual appeal of downtown businesses. These initiatives have yielded tangible results, with five new locallyowned restaurants opening downtown within the past six months. The emphasis on walkability and mixed-use development is evident in the town’s planning. Mayor Cervoni points out existing mixed-use developments on Center Street and near the railway, where transportation-oriented development and incentive housing zones encourage commercial and residential integration. “We have a lot of attention being paid to this part of town, which is great,” he says, emphasizing the positive impact of these developments on the downtown’s vibrancy. TOURISM AND INNOVATION IN WALLINGFORD Wallingford is carving out its place on the map through its historical richness and forward-thinking projects aimed at attracting tourists. Mayor Cervoni outlines a critical development in the town’s tourism infrastructure. “We have a kind of a hotel zone up off exit 15, off of I-91. There are four hotels right near the highway.” This cluster of accommodations is strategically positioned to catch the attention of travelers moving along the eastern seaboard. Enhancing this zone’s appeal is the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recent approval of a state-ofthe-art electric vehicle charging facility.“It’s going to be like a highway rest stop,” the mayor explains.This facility will offer more than just charging stations; it will feature a building with concessions and workspaces, providing convenience and comfort for travelers as they wait for their vehicles to charge. This innovative project was conceptualized by a long-standing local family with deep roots in real estate development in Wallingford. “The concept was developed by a lifer in town, a family who’s been developing real estate throughout Wallingford, I would say going back 60 years,” the mayor shares, highlighting a blend of traditional local expertise with modern needs. Wallingford offers a cornucopia of historical sites for those who venture beyond the hotels and charging stations. Mayor Cervoni enthusiastically says, “You can find all the historical markers where George Washington stopped on his trip through New England.” One such landmark is one of the oldest houses in New England, situated on North Main Street. The mayor acknowledges, “We don’t have a 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 09
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