The Great Pfizer Caper: A Tale of Two Cities (and One Very Confused Neighborhood)
Ah, New London, Connecticut. A quaint seaside town known for its maritime history, delicious lobster rolls, and... a rather bizarre turn of events involving a giant pharmaceutical company and a very disgruntled group of homeowners. Buckle up, folks, because we're diving into the curious case of Pfizer in New London, a story that's equal parts head-scratching and chuckle-worthy.
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| What Happened To Pfizer In New London |
Act I: The Land Grab
Imagine this: Pfizer, a bigwig in the drug game, announces they're setting up shop in New London. The city, seeing visions of dollar signs and economic booms, decides to roll out the red carpet (and maybe a complimentary lifetime supply of Advil). They offer Pfizer a sweet deal on land, including a hefty chunk currently occupied by a well-established neighborhood called Fort Trumbull.
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Cue the Uproar
The residents of Fort Trumbull, understandably, weren't thrilled with the idea of being bulldozed to make way for science beakers and lab coats. A court case of epic proportions ensued, with the whole kerfuffle reaching the Supreme Court in a landmark case known as Kelo v. City of New London. Let's just say it did not go down well for Fort Trumbull.
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Act II: The Plot Twist (and Subsequent Tumbleweed)
Pfizer builds its fancy new research facility, the displaced residents move on with decidedly less fancy accommodations, and everyone waits with bated breath for the promised economic boom. Except... Pfizer decides a few years later that, hey, maybe the Groton campus across the river is a better fit after all. So, they pack up their test tubes and head on over, leaving New London with a shiny new research facility and a whole lot of "what-the-hecks?"
The Aftermath: A Redevelopment Rollercoaster
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With Pfizer gone and the redevelopment plans in shambles, New London found itself holding the bag (or, more accurately, a giant, empty research facility). The area remained somewhat neglected for a while, a constant reminder of the whole ordeal. But hey, there's always a silver lining! As of recently, there are plans to develop the area with apartments, a hotel, and a community center.
So, what's the moral of the story? Well, a few things:
- Don't underestimate the power of disgruntled homeowners.
- Eminent domain can be a tricky business.
- Sometimes, even big pharma companies have a change of heart (or maybe just a change of address).
## Frequently Asked Questions (The Not-So-Scientific Edition)
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How to avoid eminent domain shenanigans? Let's just say staying on the good side of your local government might not be a bad idea.
How to deal with a giant corporation leaving town? Retail therapy and a good sense of humor might be your best bet.
How to make the best of a bad situation? Channel your inner entrepreneur and brainstorm some creative ways to revitalize the area (think lobster roll food truck park!).
How to learn more about Kelo v. City of New London? A quick Google search will get you there! Just be prepared for some legalese.
How to build a successful science lab (or anything else, really)? Location, location, location! And maybe make sure you actually want to stay put for a while.
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