During World War I Bridgeport was known as the Arsenal of Democracy of the industrial world and the Remington Arms plant on Boston Avenue was the primary reason. The Browning machine gun and Colt automatic pistol were manufactured in this plant that once employed 20,000 workers. By the end of 2012 the plant, comprised of 13 interconnected, five-story buildings, is expected to be cleared. Who’s getting the work for that?
The building teardown is expected to begin in a few weeks. General Electric has set up a website www.gebridgeportproject.com/ “as an information resource for current work schedules, construction progress and next steps in the property’s redevelopment.”
GE is considering several options for the 77 acres. Mayor Bill Finch says he’s looking forward to a new development opportunity in a city that is land poor. “We support GE’s plan to deconstruct the 13 buildings and powerhouse located on Boston Avenue so that redevelopment of the 76-acre parcel can proceed–creating one of the City’s greatest economic development opportunities in many years. It is our hope that residents, and other interested parties, can continue to listen to the company’s plans with an open mind. GE’s decision to demolish a long obsolete structure to make way for a new chapter in the City’s development will mean new job opportunities for City residents and a place for new businesses to grow in the future.”
Let’s hope Bridgeport’s Economic Development team is on the ball and speaking directly to GE. I understand GE is looking to develop a Green Energy Company somewhere in the US. Let’s pull out all the stops and get that business here.
“GE is open to working with the city on various proposals, including a plan to extend Seaview Avenue to the north to establish access to the DuPont-owned Remington Woods”
I hear Ash Wednesday will be falling on Tuesday next year.
Memo to Finch and Timpanelli: Give it up!
Paul Timpanelli will undoubtedly have a job for Bill Finch come January …
Thoughts for redevelopment of this section of the city have been discussed for more than 20 years.
The hassles are worth dealing with–including essentially a transportation wall at Seaview Avenue and the railroad. This area is perfect for modern commercial development.
Interesting coincidence that this is being hawked during an election year. Could it be due to Bill Finch’s connections with the BRBC?
Jim–Key words here are, “Thoughts for redevelopment of this section of the city have been discussed for more than 20 years.” Steal Point has been discussed for almost 30 years back to Paoletta. Intermodal has been ballyhooed for 20 years and this is another 20-year heralding.
Up yours, up on.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Steal point became Steel Point which became Steel Pointe which became Stale Pointe. So how is that for progress???
BTW, what the f is your point?
And in case you didn’t get the memo or e-mail, the Inter-modal became an outer-modal which became a second train station that became a vehicle to bail Sal out with. So what? And don’t forget how we were going to buy Ernie’s garage, to lead from the train station to the MF building a.k.a. Little Grand Station and build it in such a way that we could built an office complex on top of that until we realized once we voided the contract with Ernie he upped what he wanted via eminent domain. So just think of the hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars we saved by doing nothing. That’s right. The Finch administration has saved hundreds of millions of dollars by doing nothing.
And you treat it like some kind of a joke, well I guess the joke’s on you … Ha Ha LOL.
A cynical view of the whole thing, but what the hey, it’s warranted. The Finch administration doesn’t like to spend city money on anything. Well, hiring fellow “mariocrats” (which is the same as hiring your wife’s sister-in-law’s retarded son Harvey).
Nada! Zilch!! Nothing!!! Bill is a real Trail Blazer with his rail raisers. How did that DEDCO Project ever work out on Williston Street?
Grin,
Mayor Finch could use that during his reelection campaign. I can see it now. “I saved the city of BPT MILLIONS of dollars by doing nothing as your Mayor. VOTE FOR ME!”
How were the contracts handed out, by the way? I know this isn’t a municipal project but it would still be nice to know which local firms are going to benefit from this.