Main Street Soon to have New Look as City Officials Set to Approve Demolition of Commercial Property
By Jeff Toquinto on June 03, 2024
Before the end of the summer, downtown Bridgeport will have a fresh look. And a residential area near the Main Street corridor will also see a change.
Bids to demolish the former Mike Kelley Appliance Repair on West Main Street and a residential structure on Water Street, have been 
received by the city. Both properties being demolished are owned by the City of Bridgeport.
received by the city. Both properties being demolished are owned by the City of Bridgeport.
Six companies bid on the project during a recent bid opening with Enviroclean being the low bidder that will be recommended to Bridgeport City Council do both demolitions. Council will take it up for consideration at its June 10 meeting.
Enviroclean won with a low bid of $28,293.35. The bids fluctuated significantly with the highest bid being nearly $80,000 more.
“Based on previous demolitions, we did not anticipate the responsible low bidder to be in this price range, so we’re pleased,” said Bridgeport Community Development Director Andrea Kerr. “It was a great price from a well-known and well-respected company. We are comfortable and satisfied with the low bidder and putting them forth as our recommendation.”
If Council approves the recommendation, historically they accept the recommendations, the demolition of both buildings can begin the next day as long as contracts are signed, and all details finalized. As for the period for completion, that is unknown.
“I anticipate the buildings being able to be demolished quickly,” said Kerr. “
The contract calls for an allowance of 60 days to complete both, but we don’t anticipate it being that long.”
The contract calls for an allowance of 60 days to complete both, but we don’t anticipate it being that long.”
Kerr said the buildings will be removed and the sites will then be graded. She said there have been no plans made for either lot.
The lot that will gain the most attention is the former Mike Kelley building, which has sat on the corner of Main Street and Virginia Avenue for decades. It has housed everything from a gas station to a car lot among a host of others through the years.
Bridgeport purchased the building at 244 West Main Street and the .45-acre lot for roughly $350,000. Past City Councils have discussed acquiring the lot as well as it is a focal point coming into the city. Although access is not great to the lot, it is in a high-traffic area.
As for the other property, it was recently received by the city as a “charitable donation.” It consists of two parcels of land on Water Street, one of which has the residence on it. Recently, Bridgeport Community Development Director Andrea Kerr said the structure on the land is a problem.
That led to the city meeting with the property owner regarding its condition as the house needed to be demolished, she said. During the discussions, an option was presented where the owner agreed to donate the property to the city due to the cost of demolition.
Others bidding on the project included Parrotta Paving Co., Inc., at $54,774; Blue Gold Development, LLC at $61,000; Black Star Trading Company, LLC at $54,357.26; Reclaim Property at $35,382; and Lakecrest Construction, LLC at $106,480.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows the rough look of the former Mike Kelley Appliance building, while Community Development Director Andrea Kerr is shown below.
