News release from Mayor’s Office:
Mayor Ganim joins Office of Planning and Economic Development, Park City Community members, JHM Development and site contractors to announce that construction has begun on the Windward Commons Development at the site of the former Marina Village public housing complex.
Redefining the entryway to the City’s South End, this twenty-seven-million-dollar project features a new 7,000 square foot Southwest Community Health Center, as well as 54 units of mixed-income housing. Built to neighborhood scale, the project includes a 4-story mixed-use building at the corner of Park and Railroad Avenue, as well as townhouse style apartments along Johnson Street.
Windward Commons is the first phase of a broader redevelopment plan providing for more private investment in affordable mixed-income housing at the former Marina Village site. It is being built alongside the State of Connecticut’s Resilient Bridgeport project, which will create an adjacent public green space that will be designed to absorb rain run-off and will include a pumping system to provide greater flood protection for the area.
Mayor Ganim stated, “It’s exciting to see this project moving vertical, it’s a sign that things are happening and great news for the residents of Bridgeport’s South End. High quality affordable housing is a priority as is the need for progress even during uncertain times. The development, along with the green resilient infrastructure, will enhance the neighborhood and quality of life.”
54 units of mixed-income housing. Mixed-Income Units! Things that make you go HUUUMMMMM.
Good lord…
Are these rentals?
It seems that the community may know less about this land use project than about COVID and school openings or failures to operate per Charter and statute in the Civil Service or Police Department operations in the City. And where is the disclosure on funding the actual construction and managing the Commons going forward? Numbers and data are a part of any planning venture or any comprehensive news coverage as OPED knows. Why is it absent from this posting?
Where is the action by Ganim2 to revivify the Fair Rent and Fair Housing boards or commissions that were allowed to pass away in silence more than 12 years ago, but are still listed on the City website? When the Mayor ignores such appointments, the safety net of members continuing to serve beyond the expiry of their term fails to serve the public.How about a calendar that automatically sounds six months before a board member expiry so that the Mayor has his eyeballs on giving an attaboy or attagirl, a simple offer to reappoint for a term, or find a new appointee? Oversight or purposeful blindness??
Who has offered a comprehensive view of the use of the land itself; to provide residences for how many when operated under HUD and BHA/PCC management and under current reconstruction; and the financial dynamics in terms of capital funds and debt to put the plans in operation? Into operating the site? Ownership? Restrictions on land use? Etc.
Perhaps at a minimum the folks running for State office on the ballot in November might raise these issues and request attention from the two Council members who represent the constituents who lived there in past elections as well as the new residents? Are they the same? How many Marina Village persons had to move out to make way for the new buildings? What is the process for resettlement? Who actually OWNS the project legally and how much public funding from what source is being used? Just asking questions. Time will tell.
Thank you for your comments, John!
*** The old political, out with the old & in with the new! Like the new P.T was years ago & now its old with plenty of problems.***