From Mayor Bill Finch:
Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Mayor Bill Finch will join developers Forstone Capital to celebrate the grand opening of the latest addition to Bridgeport’s growing downtown–Landmark, 30 new apartments located inside the site of the former Mechanics & Farmers Bank building.
“Downtown Bridgeport is being revitalized, bringing job opportunities and economic growth,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “Landmark is taking a former bank building, which has sat vacant for several years, and transforming it into 30 new apartments that will bring even more residents to our growing downtown,” said Mayor Finch. “Thank you to Forstone Capital for all of their hard work on this project and their investment in downtown Bridgeport.”
Soon, Landmark will also serve as home to Fletcher Thompson, an engineering design firm with 60 jobs that has returned to Bridgeport after leaving for Shelton in 2002. Fletcher Thompson’s architects and engineers designed these new apartments which feature restored early 1900s architecture that surrounds the showcase-quality commercial and residential space, featuring loft-style windows, high ceilings, historic character and modern style.
Forstone Capital was awarded $3.3 million in support from the state through the Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties (CHAMP) initiative administered by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
For more information on Landmark, go to www.landmarkbpt.com.
“Downtown Bridgeport is being revitalized, bringing job opportunities and economic growth” says Mayor Bill Finch.
An architectural firm originally housed in the City, moved away and now returns. That is worthy of slaying the fatted lamb and celebration, however the 60 jobs are not new jobs it appears in the sense that job creation and job opportunities suggest. So a “welcome back Kotter” is due, but since the job opportunities comment is essentially hollow, what does economic growth as stated mean to City taxpayers?
There is no comment on abatements or other special arrangements over time that will impact the property owners as their commercial and residential spaces fill. Why not? Does it make sense to City spokespersons the public is lusting for accurate information on the meaning as far as residential respite is concerned, of the commercial developments that are coming on line? Where is there a list of ‘deals’ made in the past 10-15 years that have reduced, waived, phased in, or otherwise lessened property taxes on newly developed properties? How are their payments increasing? Are they paying in full or looking for further relief? It is not that misery loves company. It is rather showing a scintilla of evidence the City leaders know how to create taxable revenue streams in light of large blocks of visible vacant land remaining unproductive financially, would be NEWS for the many. Is it too harsh to ask for the fiscal truth of a situation and expect it to be provided? Time will tell.
Does anybody know if they will be showing the apartments to the public? If so, I’d like to attend the ribbon cutting, you know, be the cheerleader for Mayor Finch. 🙂 If they will not be open for the public to view, it will be a missed opportunity on so many levels. Lennie, anybody? I’d attend if open to the public or is the press release just for the press?
Steven Auerbach, damn, what’s going here, would somebody from the mayor’s office please contact Steven Auerbach and get a VIP pass so he can see those apartments? As much of an ass-kicking you get on OIB cheering for Mayor Finch, I know you will be able to get in. Team Finch starts with Steven Auerbach. Time will tell.
Ron, 🙂 honestly, the Mayor, Testa, and most people in the Democratic party in Bridgeport do not know who I am and for the past 30 years it is obvious they could care less. Maybe one day they will but I seriously doubt it. I suppose if I really wanted to see the inside, you are correct, I could. I was hoping to attend and see it on Thursday at 4:30 as what would be the point of heading downtown at that hour. It is not like my office is two blocks away. If somebody knows if it were to be open for viewing I’d appreciate it if you could communicate that to me. If not I’ll just mow the lawn, finish reading The Inferno, harvesting some broccoli, beets, tomatoes and flat Italian beans, head to Planet Fitness, finish painting the dining room ceiling, make dinner and relax. I’d rather a diversion downtown. I get excited when good stuff is happening as everybody knows.
Steve,
Not for nothing, but it is Thursday, and you must have forgotten two musical groups are on stage at McLevy Green tonight. Perhaps you were so ‘excited’ you forgot some “good stuff” is happening? Time will tell.
I did not forget, I will not be attending the concert but I have been invited on a tour at 4:30 to see the building interior with “dignitaries” mind you and it wasn’t from the Mayor’s office or op-ed as they were not able to give any information other than there was a ribbon cutting. Interested? Go to website Landmarkbpt.com and call.
John Marshall Lee, as fate would have it, we did end up downtown for a very enjoyable evening after dinner at Ruuthai kitchen. Food is always delicious. The ribbon-cutting was well attended. Finch was beaming and rightfully so. The apartments are quite beautiful. 80 percent rented out. All one-bedrooms. The views of McLevy green are gorgeous. $1300 to $1600. We need more housing like this downtown.
What color pom-pom’s would you like? No cheerleader is complete without a pair. 🙂
I got a pair, wanna see? 🙂
Shake them today for the mayor at the ribbon cutting. He needs to see them more than I.
Are you sure?
The color however a bit neutral, that do not match my colorful personality.
I remember reading sometime in the last six month in the New Haven Register how many thousands of housing units New Haven would be adding in the next 18 months. If Bridgeport were doing numbers like that it would be impressive. Thirty-three is not. And for those who may have forgotten, this same building was being heavily promoted as a mini Grand Central Station with boutiques and fresh food stands and cafes as an extension of the intermodal transportation hub. Of course that was when the city was bailing out a politically connected individual for back taxes and it was Sal DiNardo.
Bob Walsh, I remember that plan like it was yesterday. That building was supposed to connect to the train station underground like a micro version of Grand Central. I liked that plan and when it first was announced by Paul Timpanelli and the City, I envisioned at least 1200 units of downtown housing. Eric Anderson was still the preferred developer and Nancy Hadley was working for John Fabrizi.
The take-away Bob, is things change. Hosing and a business is a step in the right direction. The magnitude of the project may be very very small, however Fletcher Thompson is a first-rate business and we should be happy they are back in Bridgeport. The 60 employees may not be new but they will be 60 bodies that may patronize Bridgeport eateries and the few struggling retailers. We support it. Give the Mayor a pat on the back and move on to another bigger, more grandiose plan. Bob, this is a base hit. Sooner or later we will get a home run. Get on the bus or get out of the way.
Maybe I’ll grab a slice of pizza and a beer at Two Boots and take a walk over. Maybe not. I’ll call the Mayor’s office in the morning and ask if the building will be open for a preview.
I know it’s a typo, but “hosing” does seem appropriate.
Housing 🙂
Thank you, flub. It wasn’t a base hit but an error.
And Stevie,
To use your too thin baseball analogy, this isn’t a base hit, it’s a sacrifice bunt. The problem with the intermodal plan was
* it was ill-conceived in that there was no one to get off the train and walk to Main St.
* it was ill-executed in that the city had always assumed they would get the parking garage cheap through eminent domain which didn’t happen.
* it was ill-advised from the get-go because the mini GCT was sold to the city by the property owner as a way of taking them off the hook for back taxes.
* it was ill-informed in that people were told something would come off McLevy Hall and City Hall Annex to make it a magnet for foot traffic.
This puppy was so sick from the get-go it was terminally ill. So they threw the carcass on the operating table and came up with a hosing, er I mean housing proposal.
The whole thing started with bailing out politically connected property owners and if you need to know who, buy a copy of Who’s Who in CT Power Politics.
Now that I have reminded myself of this building’s history (and I didn’t even mention how the property was damaged when the city allowed it to be used for free in a film-making scam), the official scorer has changed the call from a sacrifice bunt to an ERROR!!!
🙂 Bob, that was brilliant. SERIOUSLY!
I did not say it was a good plan. I said I envisioned Housing to the tune of 1200 units. I have always had a grandiose vision for downtown. A mini Grand Central is not realistic. Get real! On so many levels it was not doable but has been a plan for way too long. Your last post was most eloquent and your analogies were excellent. I just want to acknowledge this as a positive so stop pissing on a good P.R. day for Bridgeport.
Landmarkbpt.com
I will be attending the ribbon cutting and getting a tour. Very excited!!! Not by city hall.
There is no sensible parking in downtown Bridgeport. If you renovate an existing building such as this one there is NO obligation for the builder to provide parking. If a NEW building were to be built, city ordinance REQUIRES substantial parking for tenants. This is another reason for the demise of retail in downtown Bridgeport going back to the 1970s.
Bob,
There is a parking study that was shown within the past several years of alternatives within the teardrop. It seemed to suggest there is plenty of parking within a 3-4 block range of various destinations. Who owns them, what they cost, etc. are beyond the range of my memory if such details were included.
Part of the message relating to center city residents was between buses and train commutes to where jobs are, auto reliance would be significantly reduced. That is not an assumption I live with, but it may work downtown. Of course, management of City parking spaces is inconsistent and delayed at best. New Haven has moved from coin-operated to a ParkSmart type of system with specific cards to be loaded, all the way to solar-powered meters that operate on regular credit cards and are very user friendly.
What has happened in Bridgeport? Is research ongoing? Where is it stuck? And why are there areas without meters (like around the Congress Police Station with no meters and no tickets) or under the bridges (where people used to park for free and are now forced to pay relatively significant fees to park on property owned by whom? And managed under what MOU? And who bears the liability?) And you ask who is managing this process. Who is accountable? Time will tell.