CT Post scribe Keila Torres Ocasio provides an update on Downtown development:
Known as downtown north, the six blocks of Bridgeport’s Main Street to the north of Fairfield Avenue have been vacant and covered in graffiti for years.
But in 2012, Mayor Bill Finch’s administration split the city-owned acreage into four different projects and chose several developers to convert the dilapidated historic buildings into hundreds of units of housing and several thousand square feet of retail and commercial space.And in just the past year, those projects have grown into six proposals involving eight different companies.
Full story here.
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Stupid is as stupid does. The mechanicals under Main Street from State Street all the way to Bulls Head need to be completely remediated. You can include the mechanicals under Middle Street also.
There are as follows: 100+-year-old sewer and water lines that have been rupturing off and on for the last 35+ years. There are nearby electrical and gas conduits that have failed off and on for the last 35+ years. The buildings in this area have no historic significance with the probable exception of the two theaters, which are structurally unsound and need to be demolished (at least the facades can be kept for cosmetic purposes). Any serious developer should travel 40 miles down I-95 and see what was done for New Rochelle NY and the removal of the shopping mall and its replacement called “New Roc City.” That should be the model for any development in downtown Bridgeport. Anything else would be a waste of money. By the way, the developer of New Roc City also developed the Brass Mall in Waterbury.
I would hold off on passing judgement until actually reviewing the development proposals. It would be great to see some progress on this.
The city has been holding off for over 35 years. At that rate you’ll be long gone and Bridgeport will still be in the dumpster.
I’d Focus on housing to the tune of 1500 units with balconies. Parking like Hartford. Finally build more retail and commercial space. Now, we have too many retail spaces that will become obsolete before they get tenants. We need housing with tenants that can help support downtown businesses. We cannot afford to have grocery stores and restaurants come and go. Parking and housing should be the focus. To assume tenants want to use public transportation and be stranded in a lifeless downtown is absurd. It is a dream to believe downtown will become a housing community for Norwalk and Stamford. We need to create a vibrant and exciting downtown with energy. We need a home run downtown. Base hits make businesses fail.
On a sidebar: People should be aware downtown has one of the best Turkish Restaurants in the area. The Star of Istanbul has a great menu and environment. Second only to my neighborhood Turkish Restaurant on North Main Street, Bereket Deli not to be confused with Bereket in Fairfield. Also this past week I spent time in little Asia. Pho Hong Thom has the best Vietnamese food I just discovered next to my other favorite, Pho Saigon. Bridgeport has some great ethnic restaurants and it is so rare to run into any bloggers or politicians there. It took a man from Westport to recommend RuuThai Kitchen on Beechwood Avenue, the best authentic Thai cuisine I have had since I visited Thailand years ago. I know Pho Hong Thom are fans of Mayor Finch and and Senator Ayala as they have their photos on the wall. The Vietnamese and Thai community are growing, vibrant communities and they vote!
Don’t drink the kool-aid folks, Finch’s PR folks put these kind of articles out there every other month or so, all touting new developments or “investors are interested in a property …” Guess what, nothing ever happens, what developer in their right mind would want to invest in downtown Bpt, it’s a war zone. Businesses move in, then move out in a few months. Check back in two years, those buildings will still be empty.
Retail? Anyone around here ever heard of the Internet?
I would like to see a candy store on the corner of Main and Congress, and maybe a palace with pinball machines.
Park City pool hall, Arthur’s Round Table and The Ocean Sea Grill.
I miss the Ocean Sea Grill. I remember when it was thriving. Just like big-box retailers, the malls have taken over, except the Hi Ho mall that never really could make it. Downtown needs a major magnet. Like a huge Mongolian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese Hibachi Buffet with outrageously reasonable prices so it would be a destination. A legit Korean spa like Spa castle in Queens. It is a shame the only one attempting to drag business downtown is Phil Kuchma. How abut a 24-hour fitness center with floor-to-ceiling windows on three floors showing life. I want housing with terraces like New York. I was born and bred in Brooklyn. How about the Merritt Canteen opening a corner shop? My favorite place since we moved here. I have to have a hot dog and fries from them once a week. Apparently so does every student from Sacred Heart. There are so many potential magnets but it seems the City is still waiting for business to knock on their doors. Note to Mr. Kooris,, don’t hold your breath. What happened to DSSD? Hint, nothing. The reasons are obvious. None of these individuals live in Bridgeport. A little creativity couldn’t hurt. The old Roberto’s should have been Capital Grill. Joseph’s would not suffer. Competition is a good thing. A huge sports bar. There are so many opportunities. The planning for downtown development is almost like listening to the GOP getting ready to pick a candidate. A lot of fanfare and noise and then nothing. I believe in downtown. All these projects had better be underway with more in the queue before the next election. Bridgeport’s worst habit time and time again is dragging its ass. Finding developers without money dependent on the City and state. By the time a shovel gets in the ground the economy goes south. The time is now. Interest rates just dropped.
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Gee Steve,
That sound a lot like RCI Marine. They’re not going to do anything unless its OPM; Other People’s Money.
Drove by there the other day. No footings but looks like an impressive dirt farm.
Also, while we’re on the subject, STILL no official word from Bass Pro Shops that they are opening a store here. Generally they announce plans to open a store at least a year beforehand on their website. Still nothing, yet Finch claims construction of the physical building will start this summer, someone ought to tell BPS …
Harvey, the next Finch groundbreaking date for Bass Pro will be November 4th 2015. Do you want me to save you a seat?
Why is it I never read of adequate, close, accessible to the retail stores, parking. Driving down State St. is a tour of junk car derby, with hope of arriving downtown safely along with splendid views of the homeless setting up camp near the YMCA and in particular that church on the corner of Park Ave. popular with the sleeping-bag set.
Then there is the Park City, don’t forget to feed the meters and meet the “hey bro, got any change?” best friend or mugger. Now you have arrived and decided “this place ain’t for me, pal.” I’ll prefer to see The Park City revival in my rear-view mirror.
Your article here is bullshit, pure and simple. You are one of those elitists from Black Rock who when asked where do you live you say Black Rock and not Bridgeport. You have written mostly bullshit and nothing else. What’s the matter, no new Mercedes parked on State St so the older cars qualify as junk? Never been approached by anyone asking for change and I spend a lot of time downtown. You make this shit up from your comfy home in Black Rock without any proof at all. Do us all a favor, STAY in Black Rock.
Andy Fardy, it’s all true. As for the change beggars, dress a little better and they might realize you weren’t one of them and regarding the car, although it would probably break your heart, let go of some of that coin you have buried in your backyard and realize your Nash Rambler isn’t really your car of the future.
Your reply was expected. Why think an idiot can change?
My 86-year-old mother picks up tickets at the Arena, dines at Metric Restaurant behind the courthouse and enjoys Pierre’s cooking. She enjoys El Pueblito on Wall St. and Ralph ‘n’ Richies. There was a time she would not venture downtown and now it is not foreign to her and her friends. The other day she mentioned going to see Dirty Dancing at the Bijou and checking out the new Trattoria across the street. Never once has she mentioned fear. So like Andy, I agree, Black Rockin thinks he is special and is part of the group that puts Black Rock on his mailing address even though he is part of Bridgeport, the good, the bad and the ugly. 🙂
Anyone can use Black Rock as their mailing address but when seeking notoriety, it’s better to get one of these:
www .BlackRockCTUSA.com
Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no reason to go to Bridgeport. Retail of substance has long gone. There are no doctors, no dentists, no lawyers, no CPAs with an office downtown. You can hype the restaurants all you want. The arena and ballpark are destinations only. The only thing that will bring about serious development is what I posted above. None of the flies or leeches who work (and I use the term only because they are paid to be there) have any clue how to generate positive revenues to run this once-great city. They are truly only interested in getting paid, having benefits and perquisites; and milking Bridgeport dry. Try to name one of these flies or leeches who has done anything and you’d be hard pressed to do so.
I might be a fly, a leech, a mooch and a maggot but I add value to Bridgeport/Black Rock while others subtract it!
And how does that translate into the rebuilding of downtown?
Bob, I’m tough on people who challenge me. Do it again and I’ll hire an interpreter to help with the translation.
Have I challenged you? Or don’t you understand what a former downtown retailer whose family owned the building the city of Bridgeport under Joe Ganim stole the property for development under eminent domain. That was about 20 years ago. Any master plan Bridgeport has is sophomoric and unrealistic. I offered the rehabilitation of New Rochelle as a prime example of how to upgrade a failing municipality.