The document summarizes economic development progress in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 2010. Several adaptive reuse and construction projects were completed, including residential and commercial buildings. Educational and medical institutions also expanded. New businesses opened and existing companies grew, creating hundreds of jobs. Overall the report outlines Bridgeport's efforts to revitalize through real estate development, attraction of new companies, workforce growth, and regional collaboration.
1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS
Selected Projects
2010
Mayor Bill Finch
Donald Eversley, Director
Office of Planning & Economic Development
Paul Timpanelli, President & CEO
Bridgeport Regional Business Council
2. A Connecticut Hub
• Central location in a vibrant region
• Unrivaled transportation connections
• New Master Plan and Zoning Regulations
• B-Green 2020 Plan for sustainable growth, jobs, & energy
3. Housatonic Community College Expansion
• $55 Million expansion completed Dec 2008
• 5,900 students currently enrolled
4. The Lofts 881
• $7 Million adaptive reuse project, completed Summer 2008
• 38 Residential condominium units, 3,000 square feet
of retail space
5. CityTrust Building
• $30 million adaptive re-use project
• 118 residential units, full occupancy
• Citibank, Amici Miei Italian café & wine bar
6. The Arcade & Atrium
• $22 Million adaptive re-use project - 23 residential units, full
occupancy; several dozen renovated retail spaces; historic
atrium restoration
7. Bijou Square
• $32 Million restoration of historic buildings for office & retail
• $24 Million new construction for residential and
retail space
8. Columbia Towers
• $ 9 Million adaptive reuse project,
65 condo units, completed Spring 2009
9. Bridgeport Holiday Inn
$10 million dollar renovation in 2009-10 to include new
front and rear entry ways, the BLUE MARTINI lounge and
appointed all 209 guest rooms with new furniture,
floors, bathrooms, flat screen TVs, etc.
10. Derecktor Shipyards
• Began Bridgeport operations in 2001; established itself as an industry
leader in producing water taxis, high-speed ferries,
mega-yachts and other specialty and luxury craft.
• Employment has grown from 160 to 400
• $30 Million capital expansion plan underway to
capture a growing commercial customer market
11. Inter-modal Transportation Center
• $23 million state-of-the-art bus terminal physically links to the
railroad platforms via a covered walkway.
• 17 bus bays accommodate as many as 17 buses simultaneously.
• Features a 10,000 sq ft passenger terminal.
12. West End Industrial Park
• 4 new buildings totaling 210,000 sf; Dari Farms, AKDO
granite supply, Chaves Bakery, A! Trucking Supply
• Buildings completed in 2000, 2005, 2006, and 2008
• Created revitalization corridor that is also now home
to Cesar Batalla School
13. United Rentals
• United Rentals moved to Bridgeport from Fairfield to a 40k sq ft facility at a
remediated brownfield on Housatonic Ave north of downtown – its largest
site in New England.
• Estimated annual property tax revenue exceeds $300,000
14. Lecoq Cuisine
• Lecoq Cuisine Corporation is a wholesale,
high-end French bakery that distributes
throughout USA
• In 2005, Lecoq relocated from Stamford
with 25 employees to an abandoned
industrial building on Union Ave. They
refurbished the structure into 60,000 sq
ft of state-of the art commercial baking
space.
• In 2010, the company is generating over
$10 million in sales with 86 workers.
• The company is developing plans for an
additional $10 million capital investment
in facilities and machinery that will more
than double their production output and
create many more jobs.
15. Columbia Elevators
• Relocated from Port Chester NY corporate headquarters to Bridgeport in 2009.
Purchased 40,000-sq-ft building at 380 Horace Street in North Bridgeport (formerly the
Conco/Casco plant) – employs over 100
• $2 million in State-bond financing for extensive renovations and remediation. Columbia
is a growing force in the elevator industry with 400% growth between 2001 and 2009.
16. B&E Juices
• In 2009 B&E Juices Fairfield County’s distributor of Snapple beverage
products invested $2.5 million for 4 acres & 30K sf building at the former
Acme United scissor factory. Environmental remediation & conversion
into expanded headquarters warehouse complex.
17. A new 2nd
Bridgeport Price Rite store opened January
2010 at the former National Wholesale Liquidator’s site
located at 4425 Main Street. The 45,000 sq ft store will
generate over a hundred new jobs.
18. Casey Family Services
Relocated January 2010 to a newly renovated
building at 779 Main Street bringing over 40 new
jobs to downtown.
19. Seaview Plaza Development Proposal
150,000 square foot East End retail/commercial
development has been proposed by Simon Konover
Company for the remaining undeveloped portion of
the former Carpenter Steel site on Seaview Avenue.
20. Steel Pointe Harbor
Sept 2009 - restructured plan for 2.8 million
square feet of development: retail, residential,
restaurant, marina and waterfront access
21. School Construction Program
• 5 New pre-K to 8 schools
• 4,580 Students
• 638,000 SF - $247.6 Million
• 3 New Regional Magnet Schools
• $50 million in multi-school repairs are underway
22. Cesar A. Batalla ES
(West End)
Grand Opening January 2007
Swing Space School at UB
(South End)
Barnum & Waltersville ES
(East Side)
North End/Hollow ES
Jettie S. Tisdale Elementary School
(East End )
The Discovery Museum
Discovery Magnet School
Preliminary Sketch
23. MEDICAL SECTOR
As the center for hospital care in Eastern
Fairfield County, Bridgeport’s health care
industry continues to grow, invest in state-of-
the art facilities and generate quality jobs.
24. •More than 2,000 employees
•2009 - invested $140 Million
•Adding parking capacity,
•90,000 sf addition to its
emergency facilities
•Established new cancer center
St. Vincent’s Medical Center
Second Major Expansion
26. The Watermark at 3030 Park
Senior living and assisted living center
•Completed $40 Million expansion and rehabilitation project in 2009
•Previous tax exempt property back on tax roll under
PILOT agreement
30. Collaboration
with the City of
Bridgeport
Created by local
marketing firms
Airing on network
& cable channels
http://surpriseitsbridgeport.com /
Marketing Bridgeport
31. Gail SolisGail Solis
Executive DirectorExecutive Director
ChamberChamber ofof CommerceCommerce
203.335.3800 • www.brbc.org203.335.3800 • www.brbc.org
Jeff BishopJeff Bishop
CenterCenter forfor Business GrowthBusiness Growth
Tim BartlettTim Bartlett
ChairmanChairman
CCreatingreating OOpportunitiespportunities
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