In a busy Monday night, Bridgeport’s Zoning Commission voted to approve a proposal by the Bridgeport Housing Authority for replacement units and rejected a proposed medical marijuana dispensary on Main Street. From Keila Torres Ocasio, CT Post:
After the meeting, Raymond Rizio, the attorney for applicant D&B Wellness, vowed to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court if necessary. D&B Wellness partners Karen Barski and Angela D’Amico, who are seeking to open the dispensary for which they have received state approval, declined comment.
As he did before the commission two weeks ago, Rizio argued there was no need to apply to the P&Z for a special permit at all. He said the sale of pharmaceuticals is allowed in the zone where 2181 Main St. is located.
Full story here.
Statement from Mayor Bill Finch:
“I want to thank Bridgeport’s Zoning Commission for listening to all sides on this matter, and giving it careful consideration. In the end, I strongly believe that the Commission made the right decision.
“Throughout this process, I met with a myriad of community members representing all sides of this issue. After listening carefully to every argument, I remain convinced that we have a responsibility to provide people who are hurting with the care and compassion that they deserve, which includes giving patients the prescribed medicine they need to survive.
“But when it comes to the issue at hand, we must balance patient needs with the safety and security of our families and neighborhoods. And a critical factor that can’t be ignored is location. The location of this proposed dispensary is fraught with risk–it’s entirely too close to residential properties where Bridgeport parents are raising their kids.
“The Zoning Commission decided tonight that this experiment should not start here. As the Park City’s mayor, and as the father of four kids, I’m thankful for their decision. I hope that a more suitable location for this dispensary is found somewhere in Connecticut, because it has the potential to do a lot of good for patients in-need.”
I know this post will piss people off but here goes anyway. Putting public housing near the arena and the ballpark is the beginning of the end to both locations. Go back many years when Crosswalk Mall was built near Pequonnock apartments, the mall did not last long, did it.
The greatest whopper told at the zoning meeting was some of these units will sell for $350,000. Yeah, right. The only single-family housing in this city that sells for $350K is in Black Rock. I can see me spending $350K to live at this new slum they are building. When are they going to learn public housing aka warehousing of people does not work. They should have used the Father Panik model to do this project.
$350K is a ridiculous amount of money to spend to live in that area. For that amount of money, a person can buy a very upscale condo in Milford or Shelton just to name a few towns, and for certain the taxes will be much less than Bridgeport’s.
Well Andy, if people didn’t like what you said, here is my take. I fully support a medicinal marijuana facility. I live in the neighborhood. Walking distance as a matter of fact. An area dotted with bars and liquor stores. Ignorance is bliss here and it is sad. I am more concerned about alcoholics driving around than an individual with a prescription for medicinal marijuana, especially since in the same area there are numerous pharmacies giving serious drugs through prescriptions also. What in hell are the opponents thinking? I am, however, concerned about children watching on a daily basis the disgusting religious freaks holding signs of posters of abortions right next door. Welcome to the 21st century.
As for the replacement housing for Marina Village, although I agree 100 percent with the Mayor that people deserve a decent place to raise a family with a sense of pride, joy and safety; downtown was a poor choice. Just one minor episode will end any hope for downtown revitalization. Word travels very quickly, especially when people try to rationalize the reasons for not wanting to support downtown Bridgeport revenues.
That being said, since it is a done deal I will try to remain optimistic. If downtown business, developers and residents are okay then who am I to judge? Although the mayor’s press releases will make a few happy, in the end I think it will bite him as well as his development director in the ass.
I do hope I am completely wrong and will be happy to admit I am. I have to believe the Mayor and his development director put the future of the City, the taxpayers, businesses and developers on the table before they supported this project. G-d forbid there is one episode. There is one person standing on the corner selling drugs. I hope for success and I am sure on the surface the housing will look attractive and hope the new residents appreciate their cool new urban location and contribute to the health and vitality of the neighborhood.
Steve, you can hope all you want but history does repeat itself many times over. I remember the mall was muggers’ heaven. They would mug people in the parking garage then run and hide in the Pequonnock apartments.
They could have done housing similar to what they did at FPV, pride in ownership always wins out. It has been shown recently the housing authority is a mess and now they want to build this right near the arena and the ballpark. If I owned either facility or business I would be looking to move.
Steve, does the mayor and Adam Wood really think someone is going to pay $350K to live in or with subsidized housing.
BTW those pickets on Main St. are gross.
Andy, truthfully only an ignorant idiot would pay $350,000 to be one of eight units living among government subsidized housing. Does this condo include a tennis court and pool? For $350,000 you can buy the Whittier or Wolcott, two of the largest units at Oronoque. The area is also a little more attractive. I have friends currently renting in the Kuchma building on Fairfield Ave. They are talking about moving because of a certain element living there. Disrespectful tenants who pay half or less to live there. I agree, home ownership is the only way to make this work. The Father Panic Replacement housing by Barnum school is beautiful and well-maintained. Pride in ownership.
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Steve–
What exactly are you referring to? If you have friends who don’t get along with their neighbors, that’s one thing … but there are no units in 323 that pay “half” what others pay. There are a handful of units among the total of 84 that are workforce housing and pay 80% of market rent, not 50%.
Lake Forest Guy, you may be in the know with the percentage they are paying for rent. We are not talking getting along with your neighbors, we are talking white trash to be specific who are clearly not paying even 80 percent of the rent. Is there section 8 in that building?
There is no section 8 in that building. Only the workforce units.
Steve, I am beginning to worry about you. You are sounding somewhat conservative.
Never …
There are serious public health concerns regarding the Marina replacement project, namely
(1) It is in a FEMA Flood Zone; children, the disabled and elderly are vulnerable.
(2) It is within a proximity to the highway (within approximately 500 meters–give or take). The research indicates this proximity poses respiratory risks, particularly for children.
(3) Mold exposure within the parking garages after flood water recedes. Air quality studies have shown elevated levels of mold and airborne mold after water recedes–even 2-3 months after remediation. Again, this poses respiratory risks, particularly to children. It is also important to note the apartments are contiguous to the parking garages so apartments may be exposed to airborne mold that stems from the garages as well.
(4) Particulate matter (car exhaust fumes) within the parking garages on the first level. These areas need to be very well ventilated; otherwise children will be exposed to elevated levels of particulate matter. The residences may also be exposed because they are contiguous to the parking garages.
An area the public will need to keep an eye on will be the makeup of the Marina site on Park Avenue. If the Park Avenue site ends up being comprised of higher-income tiers then this would signify the poor have essentially been moved from a non-flood area (most of Marina is not in a flood area) to a FEMA flood zone containing a myriad of public health risks. I am hoping this does not happen, but the public needs to keep an eye out.
Ultimately, this is not to say to not build the site (arguably). But at the very least the reality remains there are serious public health concerns for children and other subsets of the population (e.g. elderly). The question becomes, will this project perpetuate health disparities in children, at a cost of $32 million ($400,000 per unit).
My response to the CT Post article:
Well, the reason we had to “repeat our concerns” was because the P&Z moved the hearing around with delays, false starts, rescheduling and general confusion since OCTOBER! What a joke. I am disgusted with the members of the Zoning Board. They are no better than the zombies at the Housing Authority. I swear a handful of members were yawning and dozing off during last night’s hearing. I am tired of the way South End residents are dismissed as NIMBY (Not In My Backyard), or being unsympathetic to the plight of those in Marina Village simply because we want our homes to be worth more than $60 thousand cash. Yeah, you can get a co-op in the Lofts that once went for $230,000 for about $60k cash. Nice, right?
And finally let me say the fact that sleazy folks like Carl McCluster have managed to rise to a level of prominence in the South End is a telltale sign decent hard-working individuals stand no chance. Carl was in rare form last night, standing at the lectern and carrying on (yelling at points), accusing people of being racist and evil for not supporting this project … meanwhile he doesn’t live here?
Oh, but I’m sorry, he “spends 16 hours a day in the South End.”
I call bologna on that one! And you know what, don’t do us any favors Reverend, 16 hours a day is not necessary. I am sure you can do enough damage in half that amount of time.
So to recap, the Ferry is moving to the East side. The swath of land by the ball park is now “mixed” subsidized housing, and homes are worth 70% less than they were eight years ago. Excelsior!
All the housing commissioners should be replaced. There is enough scandal going on there. Why would you build more cluster housing that squeezes in people just like Marina? You are putting them in a flood zone and why are you putting them in an area with respiratory problems? I can tell you why, it’s because you don’t give a shit and someone is getting paid off.
I have a news flash for the alleged preacher McCluster and Denese Taylor-Moye, neither of you own the South End. You two talk like you own the South End and people are there to do as you say. I say bullshit. These buildings should not be built. Another sign they should not be built there is Adam Wood and the administration are in favor of it.