Mayor Bill Finch on Wednesday highlighted what is expected to be the linchpin of his reelection effort, construction at the Steelepointe Harbor redevelopment area of the East Side, as former Mayor Joe Ganim is poised to challenge Finch for his old job. Ganim could make a formal entry into the race as soon as Thursday. This is gonna be one crazy election. Strap in. CT Post reporter Brian Lockhart weighs in here. From city Communications Director Brett Broesder:
Today, Mayor Bill Finch kicked off the construction season at Steelpointe Harbor, which is a waterfront development in the state’s largest city, representing the biggest economic development project in Park City since the Industrial Revolution.
“After decades of broken promises, construction is finally happening at Steel Point,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “Starbucks, Bass Pro Shops, and Chipotle will all open this fall. Once complete, this waterfront development will be home to apartments, retail, hotels, a grocery store, and more. It will create thousands of jobs and add tens of millions of dollars to our tax rolls. This is yet another great example of how Bridgeport is getting better every day.”
Regarding the history of developing Steelpointe Harbor, the Wall Street Journal reported (SOURCE: Wall Street Journal. “Bridgeport’s Steel Point Redevelopment Nears Launch.” April 7, 2014. By Joseph de Avila.):
Former Mayor Leonard Paoletta was the first to try to remake Steel Point in the early 1980s, though the project failed to advance for years. One of the biggest setbacks was a scandal involving former Mayor Joseph Ganim, who was convicted in 2003 on 16 charges that included receiving about $500,000 in bribes and kickbacks.
According to federal prosecutors, a group of developers promised to raise $500,000 for Mr. Ganim’s anticipated gubernatorial campaign in exchange for allowing them to develop Steel Point. But that deal fell apart when the developers came under the scrutiny of federal law enforcement, and no money ever changed hands.
People lost their sense of trust in the political community,” said Paul Timpanelli, chief executive of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. Getting the project started will help change the perception that nothing ever happens in Bridgeport, Mr. Timpanelli added.
But because of the leadership of Mayor Bill Finch, things have changed. The Bass Pro Shops currently being constructed at Steelpointe Harbor will be the only Bass Pro in the entire state. And, the Starbucks and Chipotle represent firsts in the state’s largest city.
Once complete, Steelpointe Harbor will serve a 2 million square foot super regional waterfront project located adjacent to I-95 in Bridgeport Connecticut. Spanning 82 acres, the project 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.
Mayor Finch was joined at today’s press conference by City Council members Lydia Martinez, Milta Feliciano, AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia and Melanie Jackson, along with Director of Public Facilities Jorge Garcia and City Engineer Jon Urquidi.
So did Finch tell McCarthy to get lost or is McCarthy voluntarily seeking a lower profile.
Same slugs!
Show us the Money!!! What’s the Dealy-O?
With Nordstrom and Bloomingdales coming to town, Bridgeport is getting better every day.
Oh, they’re going to Norwalk. Never mind.
It will be helpful when all that tax revenue begins rolling in. How many years will it take to pay off bonding first?
I think we should start a pool to guess how many times Finch will announce the SOS on Steel Point. I’ve already lost track but let’s take today as day 1 and pick a date in September. Maybe the day of or after primary day. Winner gets the penthouse on Steele Point or a one-way ticket out … who’s in?
Well, if I were running for Mayor I would be focusing on Economic development projects. Kudos to Finch and company for talking about what I and my neighbors want to talk about. However, that being said and a little jab by Tom White, there had to be an announcement of apartments or a hotel on this site in the next 30 days. I emphasize that as I do not under any circumstances want to hear of a restaurant as mediocre as Chipotle or a Bloomingdales or Nordstroms. I want a major hotel and conference center. I do not want this to be a retail magnet–NOT AT ALL–Milford did an impressive job on the Post Rd with upscale retail–this is FUCKING WATERFRONT AND I would use that on a mailer if I were running opposition. It is just a word but conveys a pent-up emotion of 40 years. Make the announcement!!! I’d suggest the developers read this and get very very busy!!!
Stevie,
GREAT NEWS FOR YOU!!!
I heard today there is a press conference scheduled next Tuesday to announce place for a hotel and conference center sponsored by a joint venture between Red Roof Inn and Motel 6. Better every day!
Bob, don’t forget Nino’s Italian Ice.
Groundbreaking News! Again, Again and Again!!! I remember when Timpanelli was gushing about Quiznos!
They closed, didn’t they? Downtown and the North End. But alas, North Avenue has been getting some fast-food retailers. Popeye’s and Taco Bell, after all these years. OMG.
Wow, Steve.
Fast-food restaurants. If I were Ganim I would be capitalizing on this great sign of economic development.
Maybe Finch and Adam Wood can launch an advertising campaign with Finch portraying Popeye and Adam Brutus. Finch can be eating his spinach and saying “Hi, I’m Popeye and happy to report Bridgeport’s Economic Development is getting stronger every day!”
Thanks, Grin. Put a smile on my face. I had forgot all about that.
Lydia looks pissed.
Well, if I were Lydia I’d be pissed, too.
Holy moly, it’s pretty obvious the only reason for this presser was to bring up Ganim’s corruption scandal, Finch is obsessed with Ganim, almost every other day now Finch brings him up, it’s comical now, imo. And how bad do you think McCarthy wanted to be standing behind the mayor today?, He lives for these things.
I’m sorry, but did Finch actually hold a press conference to announce now that spring is here there are going to be more workers on the site? He gets more pathetic by the minute.
Was this an April Fools prank?
“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
Why in hell does Lydia have a hard hat on? There is nothing to protect, the space between her ears is empty air.