About the Plan

Bridgeport has 24 miles of coastline. That’s a lot of waterfront!

What could the future bring? How can the City of Bridgeport plan and act to create a vibrant, accessible waterfront that offers recreation, housing, and jobs? What can we do now to plan for that future, and what simple steps can we take to see change sooner rather than later?

These are the three key questions of the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan project, which is just getting underway. The City of Bridgeport's Office of Planning and Economic Development, Planning Department selected CivicMoxie, a Boston-based planning and urban design team specializing in moving from thinking to doing, to lead the project along with a host of national and local professionals, including Groundwork Bridgeport’s very own Green Team youth.

What You Can Do

Whether you live, work, or own a business in the city, we know you are stretched for time by work, school, and family. That’s why we’ve created lots of ways for you to get information about the planning process, to offer input, and to share thoughts on how you can help us move from planning to action in the next year. We’ll be using this website along with public meetings, activities in the waterfront neighborhoods, interviews, social media, and other forms of outreach to learn, hear your ideas, and give you updates on the plan.

Please stop by often to see what’s new—and click “Follow” above to get updates!

FAQs

Q: Is this the same thing as the Resilient Bridgeport project?

A: No, that’s a separate project—though we’re collaborating with that project’s team where our tasks and goals overlap with theirs! Resilient Bridgeport—which grew out of the 2012 Rebuild by Design HUD competition after Hurricane Sandy—received $10M for the identification and implementation of specific projects that protect the city’s coast from flood surges and other climate change-related dangers. Our plan goes beyond that, to the entire waterfront and the neighborhoods that touch it; we’ll be looking at economic development (increasing job opportunities and growing the City’s tax base), housing for a diverse range of residents, water recreation, repurposing brownfields (land contaminated by industrial uses), and open space, as well as environmental resiliency.

Q: Why do we need a waterfront plan, anyway?

A: Bridgeport’s greatest asset is its 24 miles of waterfront. There are approximately 850 acres of waterfront property, about half (430 acres) of which is publicly owned. The Waterfront Plan will provide a framework to guide land use along the city’s entire waterfront in a way that balances the needs of environmentally sensitive areas with economic development opportunities and provides openings for public access and open space. It will promote a bold rethinking of the city’s water’s edge.

Q: Are you developers?

A: No, we’re urban planners, real estate and economic development experts, community organizers, landscape architects, and more. We think that thoughtful, well-planned development is a good thing but we aren’t going to develop any land or construct any buildings ourselves. Our goal is to gather data, combine it with public input and ideas (including ideas from this website!), and match it with what we know about trends and the market. That will allow us to look at what could be realistically implemented, and from all that come up with a vision for the Bridgeport waterfront that can inspire and shape positive change—including possible development and public realm improvements to benefit all.

You can find out more about us by scrolling down to "Our Team" .

Q: When will the plan be finished?

A: The planning process has been extended slightly to allow for more community engagement and setup for implementation, and will be completed in early 2017. Check out the Timeline for more information.

Q: Sounds interesting! How can I get involved?

A: Easy! Just click “Follow” to get updates on the Waterfront Plan from this website. Next, post your own ideas and comments on the map, check out what other people have said, support ideas you like, and share it via Twitter or Facebook! We also invite you to join us at one of our public meetings—bring your family and friends, and your ideas!

And be on the lookout for the Groundwork Bridgeport Green Team in waterfront neighborhoods on weekends. They will be hosting info tables at local spots like libraries, talking to folks in parks, and canvassing neighborhoods to gather information and share flyers about the planning process.

Q: What if I couldn't make it to a public meeting?

That's okay! Slides from all our public meetings can be downloaded at the bottom of this page or on the Updates tab. You can also download and print a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Meeting Kit (or pick one up from a library branch or community center) and run your own meeting with friends, neighbors, and family, mailing the completed meeting materials back to CivicMoxie.

Q: I still have questions about the plan. Who can I contact?

A: You can email Dean Mack, Planner at the City of Bridgeport’s OPED, Planning Department , at Dean.Mack@BridgeportCT.gov with additional questions. Thanks!

OUR TEAM

Led by CivicMoxie, our collaborative team of planners, development experts, landscape architects, community organizers, and urban designers combine an innovative spirit and on-the-ground know-how to ensure plans on paper and community input (online and in person) translate to a vibrant reality with positive outcomes.

Susan Silberberg

Founder and Managing Director, CivicMoxie

Susan is an internationally known city planner, urban designer, architect, author, and educator. Her planning approach centers on people, authentic place-making, and implementation through collaboration. Susan taught in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning for 13 years and loves working with communities to translate plans to action.

Lee Dwyer

Project Manager, CivicMoxie

Lee has seven years of diverse experience in project management, community engagement, and urban planning. Working in diverse communities in Boston, Somerville, Chicago, Providence, and New York, he has coordinated numerous public projects and events and led community outreach efforts.

JD Reeves

Principal and Design Director, Reeves Studio

JD is a landscape architect and project manager with over 13 years of experience in complex urban and waterfront design and landscape architecture projects. He has worked throughout the world, emphasizing sustainable design and elegant, practical, site-specific solutions.

Valarie Ferro

Senior Technical Director, Weston & Sampson

Val is an AICP-certified planner with over 25 years of experience in municipal planning, site feasibility and impact analysis, brownfields redevelopment, and regulatory compliance. At Weston & Sampson she has worked on brownfield site assessments and remediation projects, including coastal sites in CT.

Alexandra Stroud

Principal of Urban Focus

Sandi has over twenty years of experience as a real estate professional specializing in community engagement, project feasibility and development, and financial analysis. She has worked in commercial, mixed use development and multi-family housing in Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland, Florida, New York, New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast region.

Karl Seidman

Principal, Karl F. Seidman Consulting Services

Karl leads an economic development consulting firm and is a Senior Lecturer at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning. His experience in planning, analyzing, and evaluating economic development strategies and real estate financing includes serving as Deputy Director for the state redevelopment agency, MassDevelopment.

Thomas Corso

President, AMS Consulting

Tom is a local guy and has 30 years of experience in all phases of private and public sector redevelopment. He is a recognized expert in the field of urban development and strategic planning with emphasis upon multifaceted initiatives, which maximize public and private partnerships.

Tanner Burgdorf

Youth Coordinator, Groundwork Bridgeport

Tanner has a range of experience in environmental advocacy, youth organizing, urban agriculture, and landscape design. He manages the Green Team youth at Groundwork Bridgeport, a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable brownfield revitalization, environmental education, and community empowerment.

Regina Winters

Principal and Owner, Zared Enterprises

Regina, who sadly left us in April 2016, was a leading green architect and community planner with over 20 years of extensive experience in urban neighborhoods, including in Bridgeport and New Haven. She worked on the team offering services in public engagement, urban design, and neighborhood revitalization that is sensitive to both the environment and the community.