MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT - DOWNTOWN NORTH

The City of Bridgeport, through its Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED), is seeking proposals from qualified developers for the acquisition and development of various parcels within “Downtown North,” a redevelopment area comprising approximately one and a half city blocks of Downtown Bridgeport. To facilitate a range of different proposals for this area, the City has chosen to include three different development opportunities within one RFP. Respondents will have the option to apply for any single option or combination of options, which are listed as follows: Site 1 – Davidson Building Site 2 – Davidson Block Site 3 – Main and Middle These three Downtown North sites are immediately adjacent to one another, and located directly across the street from the Bridgeport Intermodal Transportation Center. Taken together or separately, the size, location, and significance of these individual projects provides a rare and transformative opportunity to reshape Downtown Bridgeport. The City is seeking proposals from respondents interested in acquiring and redeveloping one, two or all three of the sites. If more than one site is selected, the respondent must explain the phasing of the project. The City will require the entire Downtown North area be subject to the Master Plan provisions of the City’s zoning code. (See Section 5.1 of Zone Bridgeport ). The City encourages developers to re-imagine the street grid of Downtown North. Consider, for example, that the Davidson Block is inclusive of the dead-end portion of Middle Street, running from Gold to Congress. Developers may find value in closing this portion of Middle Street to create more contiguous, developable land. Alternatively, developers might find value in continuing Middle Street through to Congress and Water to create smaller city blocks. Developers are also encouraged to explore the value in extending Chapel Street across Main Street through to Housatonic Ave. This might break up building massing along Main Street, create more active street frontage, and providing new multi-modal connectivity to the site for residents and visitors alike. In addition to aligning with Bridgeport’s zoning regulations, proposals should support the vision outlined in the City’s Plan of Conservation and Development, Plan Bridgeport . The City seeks dynamic, transit-oriented redevelopment that: Enhances the Downtown neighborhood; Encourages pedestrian and transit accessibility; Maximizes the site’s historic and economic potential; Contributes to a vibrant, mixed-use environment. Developers with a strong track record of transformative projects, and expertise in sustainable, adaptive reuse are encouraged to respond.