When the City of Bridgeport revised its comprehensive plan – the document used to help guide growth – a few years ago, one of the biggest areas of concern involved finding new areas for housing. Simply put, there was a shortage of available land for new residential units in a community that was growing.

 

The shortage just wasn’t on the single-family home front. The shortage was also acute as it related to rental units such as apartments and duplexes. While the issue hasn’t been completely resolved, Bridgeport Community Development Director Randy Spellman said there are a trio of projects either near completion or in the design phase that should remedy some of the housing shortage woes.

 

“We have three projects that should make an impact on residential units here in Bridgeport,” said Spellman. “As our comprehensive plan stated, we’re in dire need of residential building lots and a mix of residential units. These three projects do that and will likely results in tens of millions of dollars in residential development.”

 

The first of those projects involves what Spellman recently told members of the Bridgeport Development Authority are the Stonebridge Condominiums just off of U.S. Route 131. The new complex, which is the near completion, will have 24 units and is situated on Country Meadow Lane.

 

“That project is moving along extremely well. You have drywall work taking place and the exterior finishes being completed,” said Spellman. “It’s coming along nicely.”

 

Recently, Stonebridge has begun advertising their new units. Click HERE for information from their Web site.

 

Another project involves the new apartments on Lodgeville Road on what many consider one of the most visible and prime pieces of real estate in the city. The land, which is situated above the Jenkins Subaru-Hyundai dealership and clearly visible from Interstate 79, consists of nearly 11 acres (10.71) that will eventually house 96 new apartments.

 

The apartments will be done by Lodgeville Estates LLC. Their plan is to have 12 buildings with eight units per building. The buildings, Spellman said, will likely be story buildings.

 

“That project is still in the design stage and I haven’t heard anything since approval was given on the site development plan,” Spellman said. “We’re still waiting review plans for infrastructure and utilities, but everything is still moving forward on that.”

 

While those two projects involve apartment complexes, the third project involves single-family residential units. Spellman said work is set to begin for Crystal Ridge Phase II, which is along U.S. Route 50 East near the entrance to the Benedum Airport Industrial Park.

 

Spellman said a grading permit was acquired to begin preparing the land for lots. The cost of the grading work, according to the permit, is $249,000. Eventually, 65 new residential lots will be created.

 

“This is a little different form the first phase because individuals that buy lots in Phase II can bring in their own builder if that’s what they desire. Having lots in Bridgeport where individuals can bring in their own builder is something that’s been really low,” said Spellman. “This should be a nice addition for those wanting to bring in their own builder.”

 

Spellman said the three projects add more than 100 rental units to the city’s inventory along with the 65 residential lots. He said he hopes to see more in the near future.

 

“When you’re growing as a city you have to have places to build,” said Spellman. “This is a big boost to meeting that need and falling in line with what the comprehensive plan calls for. Last year was a bit slow compared to what we’re used to so it’s nice to see this taking place.”

 

In 2014, 18 new homes were constructed with a total investment of $5,546,438.00.  The breakdown was:

“Last year was down a little bit from the previous years, but that is largely due to the fact that we have very limited residential building sites available in the city.  Before the downturn in 2008, we were averaging 35-plus new homes a year for several years,” said Spellman. “However, during those years we had multiple subdivisions offering a wide range of building lots. Now, even with the building climate improving, the main factor holding our numbers down is site availability. Hopefully, with the second phase of Crystal Ridge opening up 65 building lots, we will see an increase in new home construction.  The need is there, the demand is there, we just need the land to make it happen.” 

 

As far as 2015 to date, the city has had seven new homes permitted totaling $1,893,704.  All of these homes are in Charles Pointe.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows work being done earlier this year on the Stonebridge Condominiums, while equipment was brought in recently to begin the grading work on the next phase at Crystal Ridge.