Middlesex Community College started looking to relocate its Meriden Center in 2003. Says Middlesex Dean David Sykes, “We had just outgrown our previous location at 500 South Broad Street. Since our lease was running out, it was the opportune time to move.”
Timing isn’t everything. Knowing key players and serving as an effective liaison is. “When the Department of Social Services vacated the space at 55 W. Main Street they still had to honor payment on an additional two years of their lease,” said Senator Thomas P. Gaffey, who played an instrumental part in facilitating the discussion that ultimately led to the college’s relocation into the downtown area. “Because of my role as Vice Chairman of the state’s Higher Education Committee, I knew that Middlesex was looking to expand. I put their decision-makers in touch with the people who were dealing with the disposition of the lease at 55 W. Main and got the ball rolling,” he said.
When looking for a new location the college considered accessibility, expansion opportunities and what worked best for both the students and the city. According to Sykes, “Middlesex Community College was very willing to become a partner in the downtown revitalization. Our new location provides more space and the possibility for expansion and it’s so centrally located that it’s more convenient for students.”
The Meriden Center occupies the fourth and fifth floors of the downtown building which are computer labs,” says Deborah Jeffers, director of the Meriden Center. “The classrooms can accommodate between 25-40 students, depending on room size.” The Center is offering a combination of credit and non-credit courses, as well as business and industry training. “This semester we are offering a total of 36 classes and are planning to expand our list of courses in the coming semesters,” says Jeffers.
Dr. Wilfred Nieves, President of the Middlesex Community College believes that Downtown Meriden offers unlimited growth potential and wonderful opportunities for the college to be responsive to students from Meriden and Wallingford. “People are seeing the quality of our facilities and programs and we’re looking for opportunities for future growth and development,” he says.
Up until Middlesex opened in downtown Meriden, the city was the second largest community in Connecticut without a significant institution of higher learning in its center. Now, according to State Representative Jim Abrams, Meriden has added another essential piece to the puzzle of downtown revitalization. “Having Middlesex in downtown will bring an influx of people into the area, during both the day and evening,” he says. “We know from experience in other cities that college students tend to circulate through the neighborhood and add to the vitality of the area. We look forward to that same positive impact in Meriden.”
Middlesex Community College also plans to partner with community businesses. The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce has already expressed interest in providing internships to students so they can have hands-on, practical work experiences. “For a city of our size, it’s about time we had a college presence in downtown,” says Sean Moore, president of The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce. “With Meriden’s diverse population, the suite of courses being offered by the college and its central location, the college is sure to be successful in its new spot.”
The anticipation of the college moving into the Main Street location has also created excitement among downtown Meriden businesses and organizations. “Bakeries, coffee shops and book stores wanted to get involved and help make this transaction possible,” says Moore. “Some immediate changes include the Friends of the Library Bookstore extending its hours and merchants providing discount coupons for students.”
As a direct result of the momentum created by Middlesex’s move, additional businesses are looking at the area for real estate. Moore says, “We’ve received interest from at least four more businesses.”
David Salafia, proprietor of Fischer’s Fine Foods, is located about 2 blocks away from the Meriden Center. He anticipates some positive changes for the downtown area now that the college has moved to the neighborhood. Salafia says, “I’m looking forward to the increased pedestrian traffic that will take advantage of the businesses that are already downtown. The college will give local merchants more visibility and provide new customers with each semester.”
Bruce Miller, executive director of the Meriden YMCA, also views the college’s move to downtown as positive. “The addition of Middlesex Community College adds another significant stakeholder,” says Miller. “There is a potentially huge impact economically as the college and other businesses invest in downtown.” The YMCA plans to collaborate with the college through memberships, volunteer and internship opportunities as well as helping with childcare needs for those students with children.
The new location offers plenty of parking for students. The upper level of the parking garage behind the building provides free parking and lower level is free after 5:00 p.m.
According to Captain Frank Lewandowski of the Meriden Police Department, the downtown campus of Middlesex Community College is a safe and secure learning environment. The well-lit campus area is located right near the police station and the college employs a full-time guard to check student identification badges and provide additional security assistance.
“This is one big win for Meriden,” says Mayor Benigni, who believes that the Middlesex presence provides one more reason for people to come downtown.
Courtesy of Meriden Magazine, Spring 2004
