The city has issued a request for proposals for redevelopment of several city blocks in the northern tier of downtown that need serious attention. It’s the area that looks like a wasteland approaching downtown traveling south on Main Street. The properties are known as or called the vacant Palace/Majestic Theaters, former Ethical Pharmacy and Boy’s Club/Davidson’s, the site bounded by Middle, Gold and Housatonic, Mr. Forty’s/Dolan’s Corner, Kaye’s/H.L. Green and Fairfield Uniform, according to the RFP.
The RFP states the city “seeks qualified developers to purchase and improve the properties. The city feels these sites are well suited for retail, business, residential or mixed use development …The City makes no representations or warranties as to the physical or environmental condition, building code compliance, zoning, or proposed zoning, or suitability for a particular purpose and proposes to sell the property ‘as is, where it is, with all faults.'”
It appears potential developers can make a play for one or all of the properties. The submission deadline is October 19.
This is timed so Bill Finch can claim he started developing downtown. It’s election season, ya know–and the lies fly!
why weren’t all these properties put up years ago (like 10 or 15 years ago) and have them on the tax rolls?
Maybe Don Eversley took a wrong turn and actually drove down that part of Main Street? Usually he heads east and gets on the train headed back to NY.
Don Eversley was just another poor appointment made by Bill Finch. A lackluster individual who couldn’t excite any developer. Maybe if they took Bridgeport’s assets on the road and spoke to New York developers Bridgeport might get someone with cash to do first-rate development. Maybe if once we had information in New York papers there would be some buzz. Think outside the box. One new development every 5 years will not alleviate the burden on the taxpayer in this City. The theaters are such a great asset but when you have politicians who lack culture and do not attend any of the local cultural events how could you expect any interest in finding top-notch developers? Even Waterbury that has the sister theaters to the Poli/Majestic saw value and refurbished the theaters in their downtown that seems to be flourishing. The newly renovated theaters are spectacular and residents from Bridgeport should take a ride to Waterbury to see how magnificent these theaters could be. It always seems other towns are always ahead of the curve. Maybe when Mary-Jane Foster becomes Mayor she will have a team of aggressive individuals who have a vision for development, a personality for marketing and the ability to think outside the box instead of always trying to fight their way out of a plastic bag.
I used to attend rock and roll concerts at the Waterbury Palace. It was rundown then. I was happy to hear the city fixed it up.
The same can and ought to be done here.
The Majestic has “lots of gold and red, crystal chandeliers, gilded moldings, high arching ceilings and detailed craftsmanship.”
The Savoy has ghosts:
“Martin pointed out the room where on another visit, while doing EVP work, he asked any spirits there to announce their presence. When they played back the audio, he says you can clearly hear the voice of a young girl saying, “Hellooo!” to their request.”
www .damnedct.com/poli-palace-majestic-theater-savoy-hotel-bridgeport/
lisawhite,
I only wish you were right.
This is the fire sale to pay off all of Finch’s unfilled promises.
Uncle Sal wants a few, sure no problem.
David D’Addario wants in on spec, help yourself.
There is the answer to the most often-asked question of Bill Finch, “But Bill, what if you DON’T win???”
I watched these properties deteriorate from the early 1970s to the present. There is more wrong with Main Street than can be observed. My business was next door to HLGreen’s. The mechanicals in Main Street (i.e. electrical, gas and sewer) need to be upgraded immediately from The Sheehan Center all the way to I-95. We’ve already had one major incident in that corridor. The sewer system is higher than Middle Street and cannot handle the pressure it’s been getting from the current rain we’ve received. I’ll bet with all this current rain every basement is flooded.
As to the two movie theaters, they need to be stripped of their icons for future decorations at another venue and then the buildings should be dropped. They are structurally unsound. Two similar theaters in NYC on 96th Street & B’way collapsed in the 1970s (the Riverside and the Riviera). They were of the same vintage as these two movie theaters in Bpt.
None of the other buildings, with the exception of the old Stratfield Hotel, should be kept either. They too need too much structural repair to be economically viable.
Calamarians,
Just how stupid do you think we, the GOOD people of Bridgeport are? For the past four decades you have morally bankrupted this once-great city.
Now, this latest folly is nothing more than a transparent and desperate attempt to make the worst mayor in the history of this city appear to have accomplished something during his REIGN OF ERROR by developing the blight you created by your greedy ineptitude.
Sal DiNardo is the first in line. Are you kidding me???
I know you have a modest chance at winning. This whole election depends on MJF getting the apathetic to the polls to counter calamarian regulars who vote as they are told.
I have always thought that part of town needed development. Selling it at fire-sale rates is criminal and demonstrative that none of you have the intellectual capacity to inspire the real change we have to make before we can start polishing up the gems that will only make the place look nice but will not eradicate the more urgent issues we face such as job creation, public safety, and for God’s sake, education.
MJF will accomplish more in one week than you BASTARDS did in 40 years. Good riddance.
You don’t need to have a crystal ball or remember the Crystal Palace to understand what is going on here.
*** Once again, what business incentives is the city offering with this property to help get a bid; zero! More political B/S during an election year, no? *** HYPE! ***
Does this really surprise anyone? Finch’s re-election chances are growing more remote by the hour, two of the opposition candidates have withdrawn from the race to support Mary-Jane Foster, and his dirty laundry has received a very public airing. First the Fitch report and now this. Mr. Finch and his handlers are in obfuscation mode, pointing to alleged good works because he doesn’t have a record of accomplishment.
Another thing to consider as calamarian influence is waning like the backflow of a tsunami is Finch will still be in charge until December. He can orchestrate all kinds of sweetheart deals for the goombahs right up until the day he leaves office.
The blighted property on Main Street can, one day, become valuable to the right investor. I don’t think that day is this day. If the calamarians sell off the property now to themselves they can sit on it until MJF works her magic and restores the town to an attractive city of prominence and prosperity, then they can sell it to legitimate investors for quite a substantial profit.
The man knows he’s toast. He’s got a few months left to enrich his in crowd at our expense.
There is no sense in turning this Sow’s Ear into a frilly purse because we just don’t have the coins to fill a frilly purse.
*** You Want To Buy This Property? ***
Developers have been saying for 40 years: “NO!”
Selling city buildings? If you want to sell something, one way to promote is illustrating its benefit. In the case of historical buildings, should include its history. And while I believe “Surprise it’s Bridgeport” was a great TV commercial, promoting the city, I also think funding projects which highlight the city’s history deserve attention as well.
Some say the theater should be renovated. I wonder how many people have been inside the building? Those that have say it is very charming, worth saving.
Bridgeport today is not Bridgeport tomorrow.
But the best location to view the Majestic is by standing facing the old Boys ‘n’ Girls building on Middle Street, right at the dead end. You get a good view of all the blight buildings on Middle Street.
To the people of Bridgeport and those who frequent this blog I must say Goodbye.
For the past four years, I have been spending most of my time in the Connecticut Federal Courts mostly in Bridgeport. I have met some truly fine people here and have become vitally interested in your city.
A few months ago, I was admitted to the partnership of my law firm, White and Weld. My newly expanded responsibilities will keep me in New York City from now on.
I have been fascinated by the politics of Bridgeport. In the four years I have spent here, I saw the economic conditions deteriorate rather than improve. A puzzling dilemma for a town with unlimited potential.
Homeowners flee. Unable to sell homes they have owned for fifty years, in some cases, because the tax burden places too much of a burden on inadequate pensions and social security. Plus, the streets are not safe even in daylight. The education system is so bad no one in their right mind would consider relocating here with school-age children. Your local economy is nearly 100% dependent on entitled resources. There’s more. That’s the bad news.
The good news is once you get a municipal management in place that focuses on economic development, the factors that keep you down will disappear. All it takes is one good employer moving into the community. Safe streets, Quality education, and affordable living conditions will be required by that new employer. Then the next one comes to town and the next and the next. Before you know it, Bridgeport becomes the place to come to work, to live, to play and to prosper.
I blame the leadership of the local Democratic party, not just the leadership in city hall for all of your woes.
I have met Mary-Jane Foster and I have met John Gomes. I believe them. I think they can change things here. They want to. Their message is genuine. I hope you can find a way to elect her and she will engage John Gomes in a position of authority. It’s a good combination.
With proper leadership, I see no reason why Bridgeport cannot be restored.
I wish every one of you citizens much fortune and prosperity. Every one of you deserve the best, not what you have endured.
Goodbye and good luck.
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words, Mr. Barrington.
Mr. Barrington, that would make a fine letter to the CT Post.
Let’s brainstorm. What should or could go there? With new municipal leadership in December and a stabilized BOE, there is greater certainty and hope in the city’s future. What ever happened to the planned fuel cell plant in Bridgeport?