Wallingford, Connecticut

A Visionary Town Balancing History and Innovation

 

Enhancing infrastructure, embracing technology, and nurturing a sense of community to create a vibrant future for residents and businesses.

Wallingford, a historic town strategically located at the intersection of Interstate 91 and Connecticut Route 15, offers an intriguing blend of small-town charm and vibrant economic activity. It sits equidistant from New York and Boston, providing residents and visitors an accessible gateway to various destinations while maintaining a distinct identity steeped in history and community spirit.

Mayor Vincent Cervoni describes Wallingford as a place where the past and present harmoniously coexist. “You become very aware of the history of this town,” he states, highlighting the town’s 350th anniversary celebration, which was delayed to 2022 due to the pandemic. This milestone indicates Wallingford’s enduring legacy and the resilience of its community.

Downtown Wallingford is a bustling activity hub centered around the intersection of Center Street and North and South Main Streets. The mayor proudly notes, “Downtown dining is terrific. We have, within walking distance, probably 7 or 8 excellent restaurants.” This culinary variety caters to diverse tastes and adds to the town’s lively atmosphere.

The town’s economic landscape is marked by diverse businesses, from local enterprises to multinational corporations. Mayor Cervoni mentions Holo-Krome, a division of Fastenal, a key player in the automotive parts industry, and Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., which recently celebrated its centennial. Another notable business is Fortune 500 company, Amphenol. “It provides high tech and microwave cabling applications as mundane as home audio and as sophisticated as the F series fighter planes used by the Air Force,” the mayor shares.

Revitalizing Downtown Wallingford

Wallingford’s downtown area is experiencing significant revitalization driven by strategic city planning and community incentives. Mayor Cervoni shares the town’s recent efforts to improve infrastructure, stating:

“We started this season by repairing and paving a couple of thousand feet of sidewalk downtown. We have a very walkable downtown.” These improvements are part of a broader strategy to make the area more accessible and inviting for residents and visitors.

In addition to infrastructure upgrades, Wallingford has implemented various incentives to attract businesses. The mayor highlights the town’s competitive edge: “We have our own electric division, which makes us very attractive because our electric rates are between 30 and 40% lower than competing communities.” This cost advantage is further bolstered by a program that offers additional incentives for new downtown businesses.

Wallingford Center Inc., a local organization similar to a mini chamber of commerce, plays a crucial role in the town’s revitalization efforts. Mayor Cervoni explains, “They have a grant program for facade and sign improvements,” which helps enhance the visual appeal of downtown businesses. These initiatives have yielded tangible results, with five new locally-owned 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-of-the-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 theme park, but in terms of history, the whole town kind of is that.”

 

Investing in Infrastructure and Technology

Wallingford is prioritizing significant upgrades to its critical infrastructure, ensuring the town is well-equipped to handle current needs and future growth. Mayor Cervoni highlights the town’s intensified focus on road maintenance.

“We’ve budgeted more for roads this year than in the past.” This includes repaving an industrial zone road for the first time in many years and continuing a town-wide road repaving initiative. “We’re exploring more options like chip sealing to get more life out of some roads,” he adds, detailing their proactive approach to infrastructure longevity.

In addition to road improvements, Wallingford is undertaking a comprehensive review of its town-owned buildings to develop long-term plans for their maintenance and improvement. Mayor Cervoni explains, “We are doing a town government-wide review of our buildings to come up with a five-, ten-, and 20-year plan.”

In addition to physical infrastructure, the town is also making significant strides in technological advancements. A critical project is relocating the police station from the former state armory downtown to a renovated facility in one of the industrial parks. This new state-of-the-art public safety command center will be operational in the fall and provide enhanced services to the community.

The town is also upgrading its information technology infrastructure. “We had a consultant perform a technology assessment at the beginning of this term,” Mayor Cervoni explains, revealing that the town was barely Y2K compliant. To address this, Wallingford has created the position of Information Technology Director, a role he filled just two months ago. “He is going to oversee the assessment that our consultant did to bring the town up to modern standards,” the mayor shares.

Housing and Business Development

As housing shortages and affordability become pressing issues nationwide, Wallingford is taking proactive steps to address these challenges head-on. Mayor Cervoni discusses the town’s strategy.

“We’re meeting with developers to try and increase moderate-income housing in town.” This initiative is crucial as companies like Holo-Krome, Ulbrich, Amphenol, and BYK attract young professionals who need affordable housing options.

The mayor explains the dual-edged nature of Wallingford’s real estate market: “We are both blessed and cursed with precious real estate. Since Covid-19, the value of real estate has increased substantially. It’s a great time to sell your house but a challenging time to buy here.” The current inventory shortage, with often no more than eight houses for sale at any time, exacerbates the situation.

Mayor Cervoni elaborates, “We are looking for opportunities to increase affordable and moderate-income housing so that young people who have employment opportunities here with those multinational companies can find a place to live.” This forward-thinking approach aims to balance the market, making it easier for new employees to settle in Wallingford and contribute to the community.

Expansive Green Spaces and Recreation

Complementing these efforts, Wallingford boasts an impressive array of green spaces and recreational facilities, enhancing the quality of life for its residents and drawing outdoor enthusiasts to the town. Mayor Cervoni emphasizes the abundance of open space in Wallingford, stating, “We have tremendous amounts of open space in this town, well over 2,000 acres.”

One particularly notable parcel is a 999-acre tract of undeveloped wooded land previously owned by the New Haven Water Company. “We acquired it for a variety of reasons, one of which is that the Muddy River runs through it, which is a class A potable water stream that feeds several of our reservoirs,” Mayor Cervoni explains, showcasing the town’s proactive approach to protecting its natural resources and ensuring the sustainability of its water supply.

Wallingford features 32 parks and facilities, each offering a range of recreational activities. The mayor details, “We have a downtown park with a jungle gym and a basketball court, and outlying parks with baseball, football, and soccer fields.” These facilities cater to diverse interests and provide residents with ample options for outdoor enjoyment.

One trendy addition is the pickleball courts located just off North Main Street, adjacent to one of the town’s baseball fields. “We have close to eight pickleball courts,” Mayor Cervoni states, noting that the courts were installed in response to demand from the aging population transitioning from tennis. “You can drive by those courts on many weekday mornings and see every single one in use,” he observes.

 

Embracing Sustainability and Community Partnerships

Wallingford is making strides in sustainable development, ensuring that future commercial and residential projects incorporate green building practices and energy-efficient technologies. Mayor Cervoni highlights the town’s proactive approach to sustainability.

“Our electric division has a program that incentivizes high-efficiency changes to your facility. For example, if you want to change from fluorescent lighting to LED fixtures, they’ll calculate the savings over several years and provide a rebate based on the energy saved.” This program encourages businesses and residents to adopt greener practices, contributing to the town’s sustainability goals.

One notable project involves the Wallingford Housing Authority, undertaking major renovations to some properties. “They are doing major renovations to one of their townhouse-style properties and have taken advantage of incentives to go greener,” Mayor Cervoni shares. This includes exploring the implementation of a geothermal heating and cooling system subsidized by the state, which would further reduce the environmental footprint of these housing units.

Key Partnerships and Community Collaborations

Strong partnerships with key community organizations and businesses bolster Wallingford’s success in sustainability and development. Mayor Cervoni highlights several notable collaborators, including Gaylord Rehabilitation, which has evolved from a tuberculosis sanitarium at the turn of the 20th century to a major rehabilitation center.

The town also benefits from BYK, a German-based chemical organization with one of its most extensive facilities in Wallingford. The mayor notes, “They are a tremendous community partner, working on innovative ways of dealing with hydrogen storage and metal manufacturing.”

Wallingford is also set to host a new proton therapy center for cancer treatment, further solidifying its position as a hub for advanced medical technology. “We will have people coming to this area from the tri-state area for this innovative, advanced cancer treatment,” Mayor Cervoni shares, emphasizing the town’s strategic location between Boston and New York.

In concert, local businesses like Nucor, Holo-Krome, and Ulbrich Steel also play vital roles in the community. “Ulbrich Steel was created in this town 100 years ago. They have been very generous to us and a great provider of employment,” the mayor remarks.

Vision for Wallingford’s Future

Wallingford is on a clear and ambitious path to enhance infrastructure, advance technology, and foster community engagement. Mayor Cervoni articulates the town’s roadmap through the second quarter of 2025, emphasizing key areas of focus.

“Look for these infrastructure improvements to start showing their faces,” he says, indicating that residents can expect tangible progress in the near term, including continued upgrades to roads and town facilities. “Also look for technology improvements in town to make the town more user-friendly,” the mayor adds, referring to advancements aimed at modernizing the town’s systems, making interactions with municipal services more efficient and accessible for residents and businesses.

Championing a vibrant community life is equally important. The town’s emphasis on creating enjoyable, communal experiences is reflected in initiatives like the new block party. “We’re closing the first block of North Main Street from Center Street up to Church Street,” Mayor Cervoni describes, in an event that encourages residents to explore downtown, enjoy local dining, and participate in community activities.

Wallingford is on a course toward a brighter, more prosperous future through strategic infrastructure improvements, technological advancements, economic development, and community engagement. Mayor Cervoni’s vision encapsulates a comprehensive approach to growth, ensuring that the town thrives on multiple fronts.

AT A GLANCE

Wallingford, Connecticut

What: Innovative infrastructure and community development

Where: Wallingford, Connecticut

Website: https://www.wallingfordct.gov/