After Soccer Stadium Rejection, A New Proposal For East Side Property

Development and Zoning10 Comments

From Brian Lockhart, CT Post:

Now, the property owners are pitching a new proposal to state officials for a multi-use sports complex, with the aim of repurposing $12 million in environmental remediation grants awarded to prepare the contaminated acreage for the soccer venue.

“I think it’s moving in the right direction,” Edward Lavernoich said, speaking about the negotiations with Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration.

Lavernoich runs the Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO). That quasi-public nonprofit had originally secured the state dollars — $8 million from the Community Investment Fund, $4 million from a brownfields program — to assist Connecticut Sports Group.

…Shortly after the Lamont administration’s decision, the owner of the old Shoreline Star 255 Kossuth LLC, revealed it had a Plan B in the works: a for-profit community sports facility with multi-purpose courts and fields for training, tournaments and other athletic events.

And Lavernoich recently confirmed that is the vision now being circulated at the state level.

“Rental fields. Rental facilities,” he said. “And a pretty dense apartment development. Some mixed-use around it. Commercial. A potential restaurant. Maybe a hotel.”

Full story here

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10 comments

  1. Bridgeport investors have found that neither an ice rink downtown nor a baseball diamond finds adequate support to remain in operation. So change occurs. With public funds providing support and likely enough to see the projects through.
    Isn’t it about time for public sharing sessions where thoughts that are running among minds that are compensated for activity can join with interested members of the public, early in the formation of opinions, and sharing in research results about remediation, zoning or space limitations, etc.? Or perhaps the NRZ meetings in many parts of the City can function as a sharing/listening mechanism. Finally what do just plain folks have questions about or thoughts and opinions they wish heard? Perhaps a CASUAL CIVICS CONVERSATION, is a place to study what funds have been set in motion and how they have been spent? Time will tell.

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  2. Interesting, a sports rental field facility. Perhaps a membership multi fitness/gym/ sports, wellness facility.

    IKD, John, the problem is considering the dynamics of America’s political thoughts and mindset of the democratic party, and the growing Democratic Socialism mindset. Perhaps a state-run grocery store. 🙂

    That being said, I believe the verdict is out. I mean, don’t we have a housing/affordablityu crises? Or does that only play out in the public square when a homeless person freezes to death?

    “A pretty dense apartment development. Some mixed-use around it.”

    Pretty dense? That sounds like “chaos,” John 🤣

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  4. I truly feel a sports venue will not work…………lost baseball and hockey. 2 sports that are more popular then soccer. That land should and needs to be developed but probably looking at another 10-15 years. HUMMM THE THEATERS HAVE BEEN CLOSED AND UNDEVELOPED FOR WHAT OVER 50 YEARS? THE BRIDGE HASNT BEEN REPLACED IN WHATTTT 20-25………WILL THEY JUST KNICK THOSE DAMN THEATERS DOWN ALREADY …..,MOVE ON ….STOP LIVING IN THE PAST…………CHEAPER TO KNOCK DOWN AND REPLACED PUT THE POLICE DEPT ON THAT LAND

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    1. Well, it would remain to be seen if an MSL would thrive in the Port. I think it would have a much better chance at the old power plant, waterfront, and comprehensive sporting/entertainment destination.

      This sounds like it will subsidize it via training/practice facilities. So there might be hope for MLS.

      As for your “statement,” Baseball is a much more boring sport to watch, even live, on a major league game, let alone a minor.

      The Hockey seems to hold its own, well, with the benefit of the taxpayer footing the bill for the venue. 🙂

      It would still be there, I think, but perhaps better, more entertaining things that will highlight the Port as an entertainment destination. TWT

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