Residents find a lot to like about Taftville, Greeneville

Norwich - Using green dots to mark the positive elements on their neighborhood map, Greeneville residents weren't shy Thursday night about showing their pride.

"That's my house," lifelong resident Olive Buddington said of one green dot she placed on the map.

Others said they too put dots on their homes or businesses. They also marked the Greeneville playground, which is now being renovated and expanded.

Someone said he couldn't put a dot on what makes him proud about Greeneville - "the people."

About 25 Greeneville residents and business owners attended Thursday's workshop on the new city Plan of Conservation and Development, held in the Greeneville Fire Station.

But residents also used red dots to mark "sorry spots," turning the blighted and collapsing former Capehart Mill into a red blob. The former 751 social club also collected red dots, as did a few intangibles, such as drugs, crime, blight and prostitution.

After marking the maps, planning consultant Jason Vincent of Planimetrics asked attendees to break into two groups to tackle the problems and build on the positives.

One group hit on the scenic Shetucket River as the village's top feature but said views are blocked, and there is no public access to the waterfront. Residents want fishing near the Greeneville Dam and walking trails along the river.

Vincent encouraged residents to approach the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to help establish fishing access or walkways - perhaps through the abandoned former 751 Club, located on a wooded site along the river, or through the Capehart Mill.

To counter the perception of crime, resident Keith Ripley said the village should invite the media and celebrate when new community police patrols gear up or when four new security cameras are installed on Central Avenue.

Jean Tardif, Neighborhood Watch chairwoman, said Greeneville needs to promote local businesses, such as hardware store A.P. Savage Supply. The Floor Covering Shop just moved from downtown to Greeneville, and a new grocery store will open soon on Central Avenue.

Vincent suggested a "buy local" campaign to promote those businesses.

"If we don't start supporting them, these businesses are going to start to close," Tardif said.

Vincent said the village should take advantage of its role in the Industrial Revolution, suggesting Greeneville is "not telling that story" right now. He suggested Greeneville residents host a Walktober walking weekend tour next fall.

"If we have this historic resource here, why can't we find a way to celebrate that?" Vincent said.

Although the workshop was meant to cover both Greeneville and Taftville, the floor was dominated by Greeneville residents. Asked about the positives and negatives about the neighboring village, participants liked that Taftville has a post office, two banks and still has its neighborhood school.

The Greeneville School closed in June 2010 and is now being torn down. Village students are divided among the city's three remaining elementary schools.

c.bessette@theday.com