Let’s hope the accepted proposal is better than the air ball proposed by former basketball star Tate George who was charged by federal authorities for an unrelated financial scheme last year. News release from Mayor Bill Finch:
The City’s Office of Planning and Economic Development today issued a Request for Proposals for the 17-acre former Carpenter Steel site located off Seaview Avenue. The RFP seeks development proposals that must include a grocery store and pharmacy to service the East End and East Side of the city. Currently, these neighborhoods do not have a full-service grocery store or large-scale retail pharmacy available to residents.
“We are more committed than ever to bring a full-service grocery store and other amenities to the food desert that exists on the East Side and East End,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “Now that the Steel Point development has its first major tenant commitment, the time is right for this project to move along.”
Seaview Plaza, as the site is known, encompasses 17 acres that hug the water along Yellow Mill and the harbor, and is bounded by I-95 and Stratford Avenue.
“This is a prime development site with high-profile visibility to I-95, directly adjacent to the Stratford Avenue interchange, and on an inter-city bus route,” said David Kooris, director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development.
Ted Meekins, chairman of the East End Community Council applauded the City’s efforts to move the project forward. “The East Side and the East End have been without a grocery store for 30 years. This project will help transform the community by providing healthy, fresh food for the residents.”
“This project has been the dream of the East End community–a supermarket and full-service pharmacy within walking distance of many of our families,” said Bishop Ricardo Griffith, chairman of the East End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone. “Moving the Seaview Plaza project forward will help bring fresh food, create jobs and spur economic development in this area of the City.”
The parcel is comprised of three distinct areas–the primary 10-acre site with frontage along Seaview Avenue, which shares a boundary with the Bridgeport Port Authority shipyard site, and two additional adjacent sites that can be considered as part of any proposed redevelopment concepts.
Three possible development options are available to respondents, and include the following: Option A–development of the 10-acre site along Seaview Avenue; Option B–development of the 10-acre site plus 1.2 acres along Stratford Avenue or Option C–development of all three sites totaling approximately 17 acres.
All responses must be filed no later than 4 p.m., October 26, and sent to the Office of Planning and Economic Development, 999 Broad St., Bridgeport CT 06604. All responses and clarifications will be posted on Bidsync, the City’s electronic bidding website.
Please!!! Promises, promises, promises. Let me see, we are going to take waterfront property and put what on it?
*** Must have a bodega and farmacia (1-2 punch) for easy access to beer, loosies, dutch boys, prescription drugs, hair products, hallmark cards and pampers, yo! And if the city could get a KFC too, it would be off the hook! *** BUILD IT AND SOMEBODY MIGHT COME? ***
Only in Bridgeport. Don’t see any grocery stores or pharmacies on the waterfront in Stamford, do you?
You don’t see any Big Box stores on the waterfront in Stamford, do you?
Remember, if you want to be Bridgeport’s Economic Development Director, you have to be appointed by the Mayor. However, if you just want to develop Bridgeport’s economy, nobody’s stopping you, hurry up! Fame and notoriety await.
Another Litany of Ain’ts! Wasn’t the Bridgeport Port Authority the lead agency on the previously awarded bid to the Simon Konover Group over 3 years ago? It’s been over a year since we found out Taint George’s jig was up.
Paging the BPA, Andy NONE and Donald Neversley???
Anyone?
I know I’ve always wanted to shop at a supermarket located next to a sewage treatment plant. It’ll be a dream come true.
Putting aside the snark, this the stupidest idea I’ve heard in a very long time. And also, interestingly, it either indicates the City has no idea what a mixed-use development really is (residential, commercial and retail all in the same location, which means small grocery stores and other services) or they really don’t give a damn about that concept and intend for Steel Point to essentially be a giant block of rental housing (strangely situated next to a Bass Pro Shop and a shipyard) Who’s planning this crap, the Mayor’s barber or do they just throw darts at a poster on the wall down at City Hall?
This is more stupidity from Finch. There are plenty of vacant lots in the East End to build a grocery store. Finch will do nothing for that neighborhood until it is flattened and the current residents replaced by wealthy white yuppies. Finch is GOP all the way regardless of what his party registration says. DON’T believe a word he says. AND VOTE NO ON CHARTER REVISION.
“Who’s planning this crap?”
They just throw it against the wall and see what sticks.
Mayor Moonbeam and Green Jeans should have his Educational Mandel Messiah and Megan Looney, Lone Pine Capital, contact Fairway Supermarket chain. Fairway is getting ready to issue an IPO.
Finch and his caddies probably think the Fairway is located at Fairchild Wheeler where they can share an IPA.
If this post is what you consider to be witticism, you’ve clearly missed the boat.
Thanks for your feedback as you must be on the city feedbag. Speaking of boats, how is that Port Jeff Ferry thing working out?
Have you heard from our old friend “Mary Choen” lately. I always enjoyed your repartee!
Honestly, this RFP and the movement of Bridgeport’s second train station as well as Bass Pro. We have been talking for way too long about every type of development known to man. Kudos to Finch. At least when he leaves office he will leave with positive developments. I cannot believe this blog cannot attract any optimistic people. Are we really upset the Finch administration is making things happen? When the economy rebounds, Bridgeport will finally be ahead of the curve. Finally!!! We usually wait for 10 years into a recovery, start a stupid-ass project and then it goes sour. Give credit where credit is due, for crying out loud!!! This negativity is like cancer.
Hats off to you Mr. Auerbach; I couldn’t have said it better myself. I read these posts once a week or so, and it’s always the same group of haters bantering back and forth with each other and oozing negativity. Contrary to what they think, I spoke with a woman today who lives in that vicinity and she’s elated over the concept of a pharmacy and grocery store. That area has been without either for a very long time and it will be welcomed by the residents. There is seemingly just a handful of people who post here who obviously live to knock every positive step this administration puts forth. Misery loves company and this forum is living proof of that.
Steve, surely you remember Mary Moran proposed a Price Club there over 21 years ago! Still Zilch, Nada and Zero! Should be the name of a Bridgeport law firm.
Bridgeport has been in state of recovery for over 35 years. Igottagotorehab!
That was during a very rough time with the economy. Just prior to Clinton. Looking back, Thank God Price Club never got built. That woukld be one big box Bridgeport did not need. I am optimistic and I do believe that all of these projects being proposed will come into fruition. We the residents need to be optimistic and supportive. We are our own worst enemy. It would be amazing to see cranes and construction , builders and electricians on the Car-tech site and Steele Point. You couldn’t buy that kind of PR. I remember 25 years ago I worked in Stamford for 8 years. Everyday I witnessed the transformation of a city that was no better than Bridgeport. It takes vision and if we do not have it, we will continue to see a lot of nothing. We have finally stopped our loosing streak. Hallalulyea!!!!
*** Why vent over developments that may never get built, never mind open! *** UNPAINTED PICTURES ***