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Main Street Economics

We love our town of Essex, and we cherish our beloved waterfront, our local businesses, and our many local non-profit organizations who work so very hard to provide services, educational resources and entertainment. In fact, we have been patrons and community supporters of these businesses and causes for more than 30 years. It is because of our love for the town and our residents that we have proposed a Main Street waterfront building to include an office, marina and restaurant (seating up to 55) to beautify the Essex Boat Works property and to ignite some much-needed economic development into the downtown Essex area.

Let’s agree that the time is now. The retail economy on Main Street in Essex needs a boost, and the taxpayers need a break. Our vision is in line with the Essex Economic Development Commission, whose primary desire is to increase foot traffic and visitors (locals and tourists) to the Main Street areas of our three villages by means of an increase in the number of restaurants in town. The building and use of the building will generate new tax dollars to the Town of Essex. We are fortunate to channel our love for this community into an economic benefit that will serve our taxpaying residents while providing public access to Connecticut River waterfront dining.

We want to assure you that we worked very hard to come up with a plan to satisfy our neighbors without giving up our plans for Main Street and legal rights to access our property.

Main Street matters. We encourage your readers to join us in support of our proposed building plan at the upcoming Zoning Commission hearing on Monday, June 19 at Essex Town Hall.

Rick Carlson and Diana Gregory

Essex