[Neil Watkins]

Anyone know what they're building at the corner of Congress and Main downtown? It was a parking lot used mostly by the police.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Neil Watkins

Anyone know what they're building at the corner of Congress and Main downtown? It was a parking lot used mostly by the police.

That is the site of Primrose’s Park City Ice Palace which is an ice skating rink and training facility. Jay

Ice Rink, Apartments Proposed For Downtown – Only In Bridgeport®

[Neil Watkins]

Originally Posted by JayCT

That is the site of Primrose’s Park City Ice Palace which is an ice skating rink and training facility. Jay

Ice Rink, Apartments Proposed For Downtown – Only In Bridgeport®

Wow. I thought that idea was scrapped. Thanks.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Neil Watkins

Wow. I thought that idea was scrapped. Thanks.

I thought so too but that’s the only thing I could find for that site. I wouldn’t hold me to that though. Jay

[JayCT]

Holy cow! This is unbelievable. Testo’s Restaurant, the headquarters for Bridgeport politics, has been sold and will close at the end of the year. The property will be redeveloped for residential use. Jay

https://patch.com/connecticut/bridge...rtments-report

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Holy cow! This is unbelievable. Testo’s Restaurant, the headquarters for Bridgeport politics, has been sold and will close at the end of the year. The property will be redeveloped for residential use. Jay

https://patch.com/connecticut/bridge...rtments-report

Anyone who lives in the Bridgeport area knows that is a big deal. The owner Mario Testo IS basically Bridgeport politics (for better or worse). I am from Stamford and I really didn't know about Bridgeport politics when I moved to Trumbull but I about know him now.

Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa Sells Restaurant, Magnet For City Politics
Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa Sells Restaurant, Magnet For City Politics – Only In Bridgeport®

[Stepfordct]

Originally Posted by CTartist

Anyone who lives in the Bridgeport area knows that is a big deal. The owner Mario Testo IS basically Bridgeport politics (for better or worse). I am from Stamford and I really didn't know about Bridgeport politics when I moved to Trumbull but I about know him now.

Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa Sells Restaurant, Magnet For City Politics
Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa Sells Restaurant, Magnet For City Politics – Only In Bridgeport®

Worse. Corruption personified

[Bronxdude10472]

So far been here for about 4 years and much has changed in short amount of time…I use to visit family on the east end as a kid and it was really bad back than unfortunately many of the long time residents do not like the change and feel like they will be priced out…I was told testo’s restaurant that is walking distance from my home was the reason Bridgeport been so corrupt and now he will be gone things will get interesting here…So much potential I really feel in 10 years if they can find a way to fix the schools it can rid much of its stigma that is mostly built on the past

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Bronxdude10472

So far been here for about 4 years and much has changed in short amount of time…I use to visit family on the east end as a kid and it was really bad back than unfortunately many of the long time residents do not like the change and feel like they will be priced out…I was told testo’s restaurant that is walking distance from my home was the reason Bridgeport been so corrupt and now he will be gone things will get interesting here…So much potential I really feel in 10 years if they can find a way to fix the schools it can rid much of its stigma that is mostly built on the past

I do not think you can blame Testo’s Restaurant for Bridgeport’s problems. They existed LONG before Testo’s was there. Unfortunately the restaurant closing will not necessarily mean things will change either. It just means the main gathering spot for key Bridgeport politicians will change.

Also note that unfortunately one of the results of improvements (a.k.a. Gentrification) is it prices some people out of the market. Not much you can do about that though. It’s more “do you want improvements or not”. You have to accept the good with the bad. Jay

[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I do not think you can blame Testo’s Restaurant for Bridgeport’s problems. They existed LONG before Testo’s was there. Unfortunately the restaurant closing will not necessarily mean things will change either. It just means the main gathering spot for key Bridgeport politicians will change.

Also note that unfortunately one of the results of improvements (a.k.a. Gentrification) is it prices some people out of the market. Not much you can do about that though. It’s more “do you want improvements or not”. You have to accept the good with the bad. Jay

Not necessarily. An area doesn't always have to gentrify and push people out to improve. I know that's often the case, but it's not inevitable. There's a neighborhood in Chicago's South Side called (coincidentally) Bridgeport, that has experienced a revitalization of sorts without going from one extreme (severe urban decay) to another (over-gentrification). Back in 2014, researchers from U. of IL Chicago reviewed the trends of all 77 Chicago neighborhoods, ranking them into nine categories from "stable upper/middle class" to "severe declines". Of all the neighborhoods, only nine were gentrifying. While not considered one of these areas that was gentrifying, Bridgeport was considered "improving." That is to say, the neighborhood is on the upswing as it is becoming more integrated and desirable, without gouging longtime residents to the point where they can no longer afford to live there. A hard thing to pull off, but it can happen. I'm hoping we can see a similar pattern follow in Bridgeport, Connecticut. We'll see, I guess.