Developer Phil Kuchma and Mayor Bill Finch today (Friday) will host a ribbon cutting for 1208 Broad Street, a new 12-unit apartment building adjacent to the Broad Street steps Downtown.
“Downtown has become a very attractive neighborhood for young professionals thanks to its proximity to transportation options, affordability, a thriving artist community, and a growing list of cultural and fine dining options,” said Finch in a news release. “The opening of 1208 Broad Street, thanks to the hard work of Phil Kuchma, is another exciting step forward in the growth of this neighborhood.”
Kuchma also developed the Bijou Square district that includes housing, restaurants and revitalized historic Bijou Theatre on Fairfield Avenue a block away from his latest housing venture. The new building, at a construction cost of $1.7 million, opened to tenants on August 1 and is 90-percent occupied. The 600-square foot studio apartments include stainless steel appliances and in-unit washer-dryers.
The ribbon cutting will take place at 2 p.m.
*** Another hit for Kuchma & Co. (Good luck!) ***
Kudos to Mayor Bill Finch as well.
Phil Kuchma has done significant things for the betterment of downtown. He is to be commended for his dedication to the city.
Finch and Kuchma should be proud. The city (that’s US) has been very supportive of Phil Kuchma. He is a visionary. His contribution is more than mortar and bricks. Phil Kuchma supports all of the establishments in his developments. You always see him at the restaurants and the Bijou theater. His continued housing developments will hopefully help support Ripkas Grocery cafe and wine bar that recently opened in the gorgeous Arcade building recently renovated across the street from the Holiday Inn. The readers and writers on this blog should help support these new businesses as well as enjoy and be part of the excitement of downtown’s revitalization. Congrats to Bill Finch. He can add this to his list of positive developments in the City. Phil Kuchma already knows I respect and support all of his downtown businesses. It is important to support and enjoy the new energy moving downtown. Keep it going!
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Kuchma has done great work building residences downtown. We need structures built that will be workplaces. Maybe workplace construction will follow because downtown is taking shape. Right now, the residents don’t work downtown.
Seems we’ve done very well in attracting single adults (no children). We should now dedicate some time and energy to attracting families. Maybe some bigger units and even a school downtown along with some amusement and leisure spaces.
Another great job for Kuchma. However, other than the cultural and dining available downtown the city lacks the major ingredient to make any headway toward a strong City. Look at North Main Street, it remains a vast wasteland of one vacant building after another with no plan to develop one in the near future. Many so-called big-time developers like E. Anderson have failed in the past and this trend just keeps on going. There is no need to go downtown. The M&F building that is in development is years away and has been on the board for many years.
Let’s get real, no retail stores are coming downtown, just take a walk around the center and check out the blight, poor roads, broken sidewalks and the vast majority of limited stores that cater to newsstands, hair salons and music stores.
I have to agree with Mr. MAGOO. Downtown North development needs to get ahead of the curve so development will be complete as the economy rebounds. Economic development needs to learn from Kuchma the importance of aggressively courting business, retail and real estate developers. This not Stamford, not Norwalk, not Milford. We still have to market and romance development. Bridgeport can no longer survive on piecemeal development. One project a decade. We just cannot afford it. Downtown North would benefit from some more upscale housing. That is what will patronize the restaurants and bring people downtown. A corporate magnet couldn’t hurt. A little less conversation and a little more action, please!
What do we owe Trumbull that we allowed them to destroy our downtown, originally when they expanded the Trumbull Mall and Lafayette Plaza was turned into Crossroads Mall. The same was done to New Haven when Milford Mall expanded, but as we all know New Haven will always have Yale.
***Attract people with different venues downtown and with more of what you already have now! Music at McLevy Green, use the Playhouse on the Green, bring more acts and shows to the Webster Arena, more sports at the Bluefish field and more food & wine tasting events downtown. (School of Rock) Music amateur nites at the Green with money prizes and other goodies for the 1st- and 2nd-prize winners, etc. Decorate downtown with lights, school colors, holiday decorations, etc. Gospel singing nights! *** Job fairs at the green or arcade! *** Volunteers Needed To Start! ***
Mojo, great idea, but that’s not going to pay the bills in City Hall. We need a strong movement toward Economic Development for the City.
If you look at the past many years, the City has not produced ONE major downtown project, the last was the Ball Park, Harbor Park and the City Trust building. That’s a long time ago. Boy we need help.
Once Steelepointe breaks ground with at least two major players, there will be a vibe and an interest in being part of Bridgeport’s future. I am talking major billion-dollar developers. Not local heroes. Not people who are asking our council, Mayor and Governor to give away the keys to the kingdom without a plan nor a pot to piss in. Our new development director cannot wait for Steelepointe. He needs to look at Stamford and aggressively compete with Mike Freimuth. I am surprised the heavy hitters of Bridgeport’s past haven’t banded together to aggressively entice business development. What is the BRBC doing? I know you rarely see them patronizing any downtown establishments. What about the Downtown Special Services District? It seems to me a little teamwork could go a long way. Even all of the downtown restaurants could forge some alliances where it is a win-win. The city needs new blood. Having established businesses move from one property to another is not real growth. Bridgeport has it all and it just seems we cannot fight our way out of a plastic bag. I do not think there is any one person to blame. It does seem younger people are beginning to be seen downtown. That is what should be catered to. Empty nesters also. An empty jester is not looking to rent an apt. Here there are derelict apartments on all corners. So much empty retail for the same reasons. There also needs to be a more vibrant nightlife. I have faith Bridgeport can really take off downtown. The question is, is someone focusing on attracting business and investment or is Phil Kuchma the only one working to that end???
City’s got enough parking meters, taxpayers and union givebacks money to help pay “some of the bills” just to get started! Bringing people downtown and having them stay after 6 pm is a good start and much more achievable than new pipe dream economic developments in Bpt which have and continue to fall by the wayside. For every new business that comes and sets up shop in Bpt, two leave shortly after. Got to be realistic and work to build what you already have by promoting it first, so maybe it will stay and also helps bring something new to the Park City. *** HELP NEEDED ***
Btw. The new apartments at 333 state Street are gorgeous. Kudos to the developer and interior designer.
Mojo, you can never have enough taxpayers, keep bringing them in any way you can.
It’s the tax users you have to drop.