Eversley Departs City Development Post–Mayor Wants Him To “Reinvigorate” BEDCO–Pass The No Doz

Mayor Bill Finch announced Monday afternoon that Economic Development Director Don Eversley will leave city employment to try to revive the Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation, the dormant quasi-public agency Finch once led before becoming mayor.

The city will announce Eversley’s replacement on Tuesday, a professional with a strong regional planning background. Eversley, the city’s chief development official for four years, is one of those professionals who looks great on paper: Brown University and graduate of Penn Law School, but his critics maintain he was often disengaged from the city job. In his new role Eversley will be working under the umbrella of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council headed by Paul Timpanelli. BRBC employees are generally financed by its dues-paying members. Sources say Eversley’s $123K position will be funded largely by the business community including United Illuminating and a smaller portion by the city. BEDCO, as an organization, had been funded by city and state grants.

Finch worked for the BRBC while serving as a State Senator prior to his election as mayor in 2007.

City officials had been mum about Eversley’s future as they’ve gone on about finding a replacement. Rumors about Eversley have swirled for months as several community interests have expressed frustration with the pace of development projects, including the Steel Point redevelopment area on the East Side that has been 30 years in the making. City officials have expressed optimism they can move the needle on the Steel Point project including an announcement for a major tenant this summer.

This move by the mayor clearly is intended to help Eversley save face while placing him in a position where his skills can be better utilized. Several city interests had urged the mayor to make a change because they felt Eversley was not a fit for the position. Many OIB readers claim Eversley was so enthusiastic about his city role they’ve witnessed him snoozing at city meetings.

From the mayor:

Mayor Bill Finch today announced that Donald Eversley, who has helmed the City’s Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) since July 2008, will help reinvigorate BEDCO–the Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation.

“One of my long-standing goals since taking office was to re-form and reinvigorate BEDCO to provide greater support and incentive for private sector development in Bridgeport,” said Mayor Finch. “Don’s wide-ranging knowledge of economic development, city, state and federal development programs, and his extensive contacts in the public and private sector make him the right person to breathe new life into this public/private venture.”

BEDCO counts among its successes the Read’s ArtSpace project and the renovation of the Arcade Mall and Hotel as a mixed-use commercial/residential project in downtown Bridgeport.

Paul Timpanelli, CEO of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council said, “It is our hope that this will add to our toolbox of public/private resources in pursuit of continued economic development for Bridgeport.”

During his tenure at OPED, Eversley successfully led the City’s support of a number of prominent projects including, the revitalization of Bijou Square, the Mechanics & Farmers building, 333 State Street and the five-block area at the north end of Main Street, which was recently awarded to developers. On Steel Point, he is credited with dividing the project into phases with ownership remaining with the City until the developer is ready to proceed with each parcel. Implementing the City’s new Master Plan and Zoning Code, the Bridgeport Arts Fest, Downtown Thursdays and a storefront improvement program were other key initiatives.

In this new position, Eversley will initially be focusing on the Eco-Industrial Park in the City’s South End, one of Mayor Finc’s top sustainability and economic development goals. He also will be working with the Bridgeport Port Authority to re-position the Bridgeport Shipyard, and a new minority contractor bond assistance program, which was recently authorized and funded through the state Legislature. Plans for the Eco-Industrial Park include a solar array to be placed on the Seaside Park landfill in conjunction with United Illuminating, and an anaerobic digester facility, among other projects.