Mayor Bill Finch on Thursday broke ground for a waterfront park on the 52-acre peninsula at the Steelpointe Harbor redevelopment of the East Side that will include Bass Pro Shops as the anchor tenant.
City Communications Director Brett Broesder has more:
The Harbor Walk will be the largest waterfront park project in Bridgeport’s history, creating public access to the waterfront for residents, spurring job creation and economic development, and providing residents with another park in the Park City.
“The people of Bridgeport can now get access to the waterfront that they have been long denied,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “And in the process we’re creating thousands of new jobs in the city.”
The groundbreaking on the Harbor Walk also triggers the start of demolition of the final two buildings that still exist from the old Steel Point era.
And, it also marks the beginning of new bulkheads–sea walls that serving as the greatest protection against storms and flooding–being installed along the coastline.
In addition, work will now start on raising land along the coastline from its current 6 feet up to 14 feet, which will further protect the peninsula from hurricanes and flooding.
“This is a monumental milestone in the future of Steelpointe,” said Economic Development Director David Kooris. “Taking a peninsula that has been cut off from the East Side and from residents of the city for generations and turning it back to the public. Reopening it for walking, for boating, and for recreation. But, most importantly, laying the foundation for the jobs, the investment, and the economic activity that will be built on that waterfront.”
The Harbor Walk and bulkhead at Steelpointe Harbor are beginning in part because of a recent investment of $9 million from the state.
Once complete, Steelpointe Harbor will be a 2-million-square-foot superregional waterfront destination.
It will feature more than 750,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and entertainment, a 12-screen premium theater, two hotels, 1,100 mid-and-high rise residential units, 30,000 square feet of office and a 200-slip, full service, deep water marina.
Steelpointe Harbor also is the only mixed-use development in the state of Connecticut that includes Long Island in its trade area. That is achieved thanks to the presence of the Bridgeport-Long Island Ferry, a year-round ferry service operated by the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company.
The ferry, which provides 10-20 daily round-trip runs for vehicles, passengers and freight across Long Island Sound between Bridgeport and Port Jefferson, services 800,000 passengers annually.
The company will soon be relocating its Connecticut terminal to a site immediately adjacent to the eastern edge of the project, which is expected to increase its ridership to more than 1.4 million passengers annually in the next few years.
Here we go again! The silver-haired S.O.B. and his plan to make Bridgeport a nice place to live. When will this end?
Bridgeport Rising,
I walked into the Annex this morning to secure the forms from the Registrar’s office for Tyisha Toms and me to appear on the Primary ballot in September. From parking my car I walked on a pathway in “Annex Park” that is the front lawn of Margaret Morton Government Center, a/k/a the Annex.
So today’s announcement while important in the sense work is ongoing leaves me wondering how much is being paid for this ‘linear park,’ similar to the one in Black Rock and known to many as St. Mary’s. Who is footing this bill? And if it is not the developer, then is it from a Capital budget, operating budget or a grant. Why is it so taboo to talk about money when we look at physical change and development in the City? Are we supposed to oooh and ahhh, or understand that nothing happens with $$$ being spent?
Was this a Finch or developer idea or is it in reality a REQUIREMENT for water-based developments in recent years to provide public access? If it is a REQUIREMENT then let’s not blame Bill Finch for giving us another park, for he is right that it has a wonderful view. Rather let’s just accuse him of spinning a story such that he should get all the credit, although he never wants to talk with me about the money. Why is that do you think? Time will tell.
Can’t he just hang out pandering to the minorities promising what he can’t deliver like the other candidates? Doesn’t he know the East End doesn’t want to see these improvements? It hurts the great image they have in their mind when Ganim and Newton ruled the East End. Who wants to see construction and a boardwalk and marina to fish. Couldn’t the Mayor leave the area barren and litter-strewn the way Ganim left it after 10 years in office? Honestly Mayor, who is going to shop there in “that” neighborhood?
Oh yeah, EVERYBODY!
Great jobm Mayor Finch! Seeing is believing and as I have always said. Steelpointe, Steelpointe, Steelpointe!
“The people of Bridgeport can now get access to the waterfront that they have been long denied,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “And in the process we’re creating thousands of new jobs in the city.”
Give me a break, give me a fucking break. He’s losing electoral ground to a felon and all he can do is lie. “Thousands of jobs?” What kind of jobs, picking up litter on the boardwalk? Shining shoes? Selling useless trinkets and pennants to imaginary tourists? At one time there were more skilled machinists in Bridgeport than the rest of the state combined. Bridgeport doesn’t need the service sector jobs paying minimum wage that are going to be created by a movie theater, a pseudo Mexican restaurant and a coffee shop that sells overpriced foamy drinks. How many ushers is the theater going to need? How many baristas will Starbucks need? Most of the people in that ‘hood buy coffee at the corner bodega for a dollar a cup.
We need manufacturing jobs that pay living wages.
Exactly! Why in hell did Bill Finch shut down all those factories?
Move to China!
Yeah, and Finch will break ground on building public housing on Steelpointe next.
Bill Finch only knows how to break wind, period. End of story.
From your lips to Ganim’s ears!
Bpt Kid, you’re absolutely right. At one time, not that long ago either, Bridgeport was the industrial capital of not only Connecticut and New England but the entire east coast. The last remaining industry, Sikorsky’s on South Ave, is leaving without a fight.
Two questions for this “park;” first, who is the contractor/construction company that won the bid? And two, what will the return on investment be?
Quentin, at first I thought you were intelligent. I know, for a Republican. Bridgeport was the arsenal of democracy. People moved here from everywhere. Manufacturing was everywhere and everyone was working. That was in the ’40s, Quentin. It is 2015. If you do not know now manufacturing left the city 35 years ago, nobody can help you. Leaving Bridgeport with nearly 1 million square feet of obsolete manufacturing space. It does get tiresome talking about manufacturing returning to The Unites States, let alone Bridgeport CT. Manufacturing is not going to happen and neither is a Casino. Those two ships have sailed long ago.
Downtown Bridgeport this evening was great. It was so nice to see Bridgeport residents and guests enjoying another packed Thursday evening downtown. It is a shame these concerts do not last until Labor Day. We get to celebrate the best attributes we have. The people were enjoying themselves as well as the politicians doing their thing.
Everyone was getting signatures. Ganim had his army working the crowd on all four corners. Charlie and Carolyn Vermont. It is funny whether you start at Tiagos or end up there. It seems to be in this special vortex that seems to act like a magnet and no matter where you are, you end up there. Those who have supported the Thursday night concerts know what I mean. We have never seen as many people downtown as we have in the past few weeks. This needs to continue. Find the money and make it happen!
The Mechanics & Farmers building looked spectacular all lit up.
So just out of curiosity, I must have spoken to 16 Ganim supporters including Joe Ganim. Not one asked me to sign their petition and I am just curious, did any of them think I wouldn’t? I wasn’t sure if it was an etiquette thing or did they think I’d make a scene.
I would have signed it! Obviously! I may be a staunch Finch supporter but hey, the more the merrier. I signed Mary-Jane’s petition yesterday and I walked into her headquarters to do it and Charlie Coviello’s this evening. No big deal!
So first, here is the disclaimer I promised to John Ricci. He does live in Bridgeport. So I am talking to you and Heather, you both have petitions; what am I, chopped liver? 🙂 John Gomes–what? Joe? 🙂 I guess I am considered an enemy of the Ganim coalition. Not!
Steve, I would ask you to sign my petition, but we don’t live in the same district. Especially now that I finally know who you are. But I do agree with you as to signing petitions. I’ve been doing that for years. It’s the only way an individual, not endorsed, can qualify to run. To me it’s an exercise in democracy.
*** Past and present city admins have been breaking ground and talking jobs at Steel Point for the past 25 years. Talk is real cheap in Bpt so excuse me if I pass on the milk and cookies, too! *** BACK TO BASICS ***
*** Breaking ground at Steel Point, new ghetto parks with water sprinklers, Pleasure Beach opening to the public again for bird watching, higher taxes and increases on city services and permits, new small and large businesses coming and leaving the Park City, rise in violent crime, and more civil suits against the city every day. City budget $ increases and overspending, topped off by a poor public school system! Yeah, I’d say Mayor Finch has plenty to brag about in this election, no? ***
Yes Mojo, he does. Your candidate choice is? Their vision?
Also from the renderings, looks like the plans have changed YET AGAIN!!! To fit 1100 housing units, those two apartment buildings will have to be a whole hell of a lot taller.
When the f are the developers going to start spending money???
That’s the real rip off. They do nothing and will eventually make millions. Hope the Feds are watching this deal and trying to make sense out of it.
Honestly, Bob and Mojo,
How do you guys get up in the morning? How can you live here when you despise this city so much? It is so difficult to see the beauty when you have shit-stained glasses. Do people in your circle want to jump out of windows after listening to your droning on about how miserable you are and you cannot stand the politics? Move! Why torture yourself? Would you be happier some other place?
*** Been trying to leave this shithole for a couple of years now but can’t seem to sell my house in the ghetto. Also, I don’t live in a dream world hoping if I say enough nice things about this Admin. and Mayor, I may get a city job! Oh and just a reminder about you signing candidates’ petitions in general; once you’ve signed “one petition,” you’re not allowed to sign all the other candidates’ petitions too or it will cancel out your name on “all the petitions” you’ve signed! Time to wake up and smell the coffee in the morning there Steve, not the same old BS.*** Back To Basics ***
Mojo, first and most important. You are 100 percent incorrect. My signing Joe Ganim’s petition, Mary-Jane Foster’s petition, Charlie Coviello’s petition does not wipe out the name Steven Auerbach. I had to verify that with Joanne at the Registrar’s office. You are also 100 percent correct, I would love to work for the city of Bridgeport. Not as a favor to a skanky backstabbing politician who wants to put an unmotivated, uneducated, unqualified, anti-Bridgeport person to work, I have supported Ganim twice as well as John Fabrizi. I have never asked for a job. I love when guys like yourself have nothing to say, it comes down to having hands out. Finch is already the Mayor. I’d love to work for his administration. I will be supporting either way. It is so easy to support a candidate you believe in.
Mojo, I am sorry you have allowed your neighborhood to become a ghetto. It must have been spectacular during the Ganim years when there was hope for a brighter future. It is too bad Steelpointe means nothing to you. If I were you, I’d choose a candidate who will continue to bring development to the city. What’s more, you should be grateful that this one-man pro-Bridgeport guy markets the city with every breath. People like you are depressing and do your best to bring the other neighborhoods down to ghetto status. It is people like you who end up with city jobs. You lucky bastard. 🙂
Steve, you’re wrong. If you want to see what Bridgeport could have been just take a look at Shelton. While Finch puts up taxpayer-funded signs, Shelton is paving entire roads. About 20 miles from Old Route 8, through Shelton Center down the River Road. And business and industry, it’s all over the place in Shelton. You’re partially right though about the timeframe industry started to leave Bridgeport, it’s exactly the same time the Democratic machine started its 30-year run. Coincidentally the state and the country started that same manufacturing decline when Democratic policies of taxes, regulations and irresponsible, out-of-control spending began.
Steve, none of us despise this city. That’s why we’re still here and criticizing the current administration. I’ve lived here my entire life, on the same street. I went to school here, church here, worked here, bought my home here. But we’re tired of Bridgeport being a joke. We’re last in every category that’s good and first in every one that’s bad. Parks are pretty but they don’t pay the bills.
Quentin, so you can’t see Bridgeport poised for great things??? We are not Shelton. We are an urban center that supports all neighboring communities with services. We have the lion’s share of social services. Schools, Clinics etc, etc. I think it is lovely you have lived your entire life on the same street, same Church etc. I have lived in Bridgeport for 47 of my 57 years. If ever there’d be a time when Bridgeport were not a joke it would be now. I will not get into the Democratic political history of Bridgeport, I will let Lennie handle that. I will say I have been on every continent in three dozen countries. I have seen great development as well as severe poverty. I have had many opportunities to leave this city. In 47 years this city has not seen as many development projects in the works as today. Bridgeport is not considered a joke other than its political freak shows starring Mario Testa. What’s happening now in the city is bigger than its politics. If as a lifelong resident you do not see these projects as a catalyst for greater things, than what can I say? Comparing Bridgeport to Shelton is just ludicrous. Shelton may have lower taxes until they are required to start building more schools etc. Bridgeport has location and finally the development is beginning during an economic recovery with a Democratic President. The city usually waits for development at the downside and goes bust. Bridgeport is used to one project every few years. Finally they are happening simultaneously with parks to boot. If you do not see momentum, it is sad and you are blind. Being a cheerleader only helps the city. Being negative only reinforces those who have left the city but for some reason, come back for the events. Go figure!
Oh boy! Another waterfront park! Well, I guess we can just slap “for sale” signs on Seaside Park and Pleasure Beach! Who needs those useless burdens on the taxpayer when we will have such a wonderful new waterfront park on such pristine land?
Really now? The vision of Steal Point portrayed above: How? And why? A waterfront park along the bulkhead? TWO hotels? For what–Bass Pro? We aren’t actually expected to believe all this garbage, are we? (I guess we are; just as we were to believe the hype about the DOWNTOWN “multi-modal transportation center.” Well, who needs a DOWNTOWN when you have STEAL POINT?!)
What I actually see on Steal Point is a truck depot and warehouses to service a feeder-barge port that will feed hundreds of tractor-trailer trucks up the Seaview Avenue Connector which will run through the GE property and Remington Woods to the 8-25 Connector. I see truckers stopping at Bass Pro and Chipotle between loads, perhaps staying at the Steal Point Motel 6 adjacent to the Bass Pro and Chipotle (maybe the Motel 6 will even have some hookers for the truckers and Bass Pro shoppers!).
I see exit and entrance ramps from the Seaview Avenue Connecter–for Stamford-bound suburban commuters–leading to and from the new train station parking lot.
Wow! How much manure will David, Brett and Bill shovel at us between now and September 16?
Brett and David should become professional fiction writers after Bill’s September 16 defeat.
Perhaps Bill can find a new career writing children’s fairy tales; his first title can be “Better Every Day!”
What happens or what benefit does a waterpark serve after the four months of warm or hot weather?
Solution or should I ask, Steelution?
Heated waterpark and parks. They shall be indoor facilities to protect the visitors from the wind or elements.
Joel, if you saw the faces of the children at Wilbur Cross yesterday, you would totally get it.
*** Welcome to the Park City where great things are happening every day thanks to the highest taxes in general in the nation! Top city to visit in New England, no? *** Smile ***
Actually Mojo,
Bridgeport is a tourist destination and has more tourist attractions than most in the State. Beardsley Park and Zoo, Discovery Museum, Barnum Museum, Seaside Park, Pleasure Beach, Cabaret, Klein Memorial, Bijou, Port Jefferson Ferry (soon to relocate to Steelpointe) and–Steelepointe, just to name a few. Our city will become a greater destination.
Bill Finch’s vision for Bridgeport is to reimagine it as Anaheim on the Sound.
Largest waterfront park project in Bridgeport history??? Didn’t Mayor Bullfinch’s purple prose writers ever hear of Seaside Park?
A waterfront park. Wow, that’s a great source of employment. Speaking of employment, how many Bridgeport residents are working the construction sites downtown? How many are going to work at Bill Finch’s fabulous development at Harbor Pointe? He’s created jobs, if you count all the friends of friends he’s put on the city payroll. Last time Finch raised taxes he was quoted as saying “Black Rock residents need to learn why they have to pay higher taxes.” We all know why property owners in Black Rock and the North End have to pay higher taxes: so Finch can hire every incompetent who contributed to his campaign.