Council Approves Pair of Demolitions as Possibility of Third Demo to Get Started this Week in Bridgeport
By Jeff Toquinto on June 11, 2024
Bridgeport City Council approved two demolitions last night. And it appears a third demolition will get a green light from the city to set the stage for a near $2 million project in the city.
It was all part of a relatively quick Council session Monday.
During one of the new items of business, the city’s governing body approved the recommendation by the Bridgeport Development Authority of a Business Sustainability Incentive for The Hive Entertainment Zone at the Meadowbrook Mall. The recently announced $1.8
million trampoline park at the mall is seeking a tax abatement through program of 90 percent in its first year of operation and 40 percent in years two and three.
million trampoline park at the mall is seeking a tax abatement through program of 90 percent in its first year of operation and 40 percent in years two and three.
Community Development Director Andrea Kerr briefed Council on the request. She also gave a few details on the project.
“(The Hive) is still working with the mall and Cafaro (the Ohio-based company that owns the mall) to finalize things,” said Kerr. “We’re expecting them to begin the demolition soon.”
Kerr said she expects the filing of a demolition permit this week. As for a building permit, she was not certain when that would be filed. No plans have been sent to the city for review as of Monday. However, the ownership of The Hive said they hope to be open for business Dec. 1.
What that means is you see demolition work taking place soon inside the former Elder-Beerman Home Store, which is the site for the
trampoline park. The site covers almost 54,000 square feet.
trampoline park. The site covers almost 54,000 square feet.
You can read about The Hive HERE.
Council also approved a contract with Bear Contracting, LLC for $288,985.20 and a 10 percent contingency of $28,898 (total of $317,883.20). You can read about the project and the roads set to be paved HERE.
A second contract also got the green light from Council. It involved the aforementioned demolitions and involved a contract with Enviroclean, LLC for $28,293.35 and a 10 percent contingency of $2,829 (total of $31,122.35) to demolish the former Mike Kelley Appliance building on the corner of West Main Street and Virginia Avenue and a residential property on Water Street. Both properties are owned by the city.
You can read about the demolition of the buildings HERE.
There was another item Council signed off on involving the Development Authority. The BDA recommended that Peak Wealth Management, LLC of 205 Orchard Avenue – its new location – receive an Exterior Improvement Incentive. If completed and the estimated $10,000 worth of work is done, the business will be reimbursed $2,500. Council okayed the recommendation.
While not on the agenda, the largest part of the meeting involved public comments by Maple Lake resident Greg Harrison, a long-time musician. Harrison has been staunchly opposed to Bridgeport requiring musicians to file a business fee and the accompanying filing of 
financial reports that would come with it.
financial reports that would come with it.
Harrison mentioned items he had talked about during his previous times addressing the city’s governing body. He also said Council “owed an apology to” a 10-year-old he said was required to get a business license as a deejay for the most recent Summer Kickoff and Food Truck Festival on Main Street. Harrison said the father of the boy opted to pull his son from the event based on the business license requirement.
One of the biggest issues he spoke about Monday was in reference to Mayor Andy Lang’s prepared statement at the May 28 meeting. In that statement Lang referenced the city only getting between $11,000 and $12,000 in amusement B&O tax with the largest portion coming from Cinemark.
Harrison said he was told that Cinemark amount was roughly $9,000. Although that was not confirmed by Council during his comments and city officials do not reveal what individual businesses pay in taxes, Harrison said if that was the case it made the situation to continue to make musicians pay worse if the annual take was in the range of $2,000.
Near the end his comments he said it was about “money, power, and greed.”
Although there were no comments by Council during the public comments by Harrison, there were brief statements at the end of the meeting during the “Council comments” portion of the agenda. Several members thanked Harrison for attending and speaking on the
matter.
matter.
One of those Council members was Clayton Rice. Rice said the matter is “still being discussed internally.” No further comments on those discussions were made.
Under the awards and presentations near the beginning of the regular session, William Hamric Jr., was recognized with an employee service award for 15 years of service to the city. Interim City Manager Mark Rogers read off the proclamation for Hamric, who was not in attendance.
Council quickly approved a pair of appointments involving municipal boards. Ken Curry was reappointed to the Bridgeport Utility Board for a five-year term through June 30, 2029. Jamie Parker was appointed to the Bridgeport Planning Commission through August 21, 2025.
Prior to the regular meeting, Council began a work session in executive session at 5:30 p.m. to talk about advanced construction planning. It is part of a meeting with BRS Consultants for the next phase of the master plan for The Bridge. There was no information regarding what was discussed during the regular session.
The final two items on the agenda were also discussed in executive session. There was no action taken.
One of those items involved continued talk on finding a new city manager. The position has been vacant since Brian Newton resigned from the post on July 31, 2023, and the personnel matter discussion will be behind closed doors this evening.
Whoever fills the position will be the fifth manager in Bridgeport’s history. Newton replaced Randy Wetmore, who began his duties as city manager on August 19, 2019, and retired April 25, 2022. Wetmore replaced Kim Haws, the current city manager of Morgantown, who had served for nearly 20 years after starting in the late-1990s. Haws replaced the city’s first manager Harold Weiler, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 69.
City Record Dr. Harry M. “Hank” Murray knew Weiler, “an Air Force veteran who was a straight shooter and easy to get along with” and
was on the search committee that recommended Haws. He ended up working with Haws for many years during his 20-plus years on Council and as expected, is a proponent of the city manager style of government. Because of that, he said he will not rush for a decision to be made.
was on the search committee that recommended Haws. He ended up working with Haws for many years during his 20-plus years on Council and as expected, is a proponent of the city manager style of government. Because of that, he said he will not rush for a decision to be made.
“We want this to be the right person who wants to be here and work with Council and the community,” said Murray. “You can’t be cavalier with this decision so however much time it takes, we’ll take that time.”
Murray said the ability to go slow is possible due to city staff, department heads and Rogers. He called their efforts “outstanding.”
The other item discussed in executive session was advance construction planning for the new Bridgeport Police Department. While land is secured – at the former Towne House East on West Main Street – and planning has begun, Lang said has said this, too, will not be rushed.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Council member John Wilson asking Community Development Director Andrea Kerr about The Hive project, while Kerr is shown in the second photo. Maple Lake resident Greg Harrison addresses Council during the public comments portion of the meeting, while Council member Clayton Rice talks briefly about Harrison's concerns near the conclusion of the open session of the meeting. Bottom photo shows City Recorder Dr. Harry M. "Hank" Murray who talked prior to go into executive session on the city manager's position.
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