Steelpointe Harbor construction moving ahead
Jordan Grice
A harsh winter created some setbacks, but developers of Steelepointe Harbor are making up ground as they look to complete the first phase of construction on the southern end of the peninsula by fall.
Development of what is being called the Dockmasters building was delayed this year following a series of storms during the winter, but last few months have yielded vertical construction on the site south of Stratford Avenue.
The building has been taking form in recent months with the developers putting the crown on the lighthouse portion of the structure this week.
“When nobody can work for four days out of the week, it hurts,” said Robert Christoph Jr. of RCI Group, which oversees the project.“I’m actually really amazed with how still on schedule they are given how bad the winter season was.”
The 48,000-square-foot building will house office space for a marina along with a restaurant and several retailers. Construction of the building is expected to be completed by October.
Though Christoph declined to name which businesses are coming, he said they will be in place before next summer. Development of the marina is also coming together with plans for new concrete floating docks and roughly 110 slips starting out.
Developers anticipate around 200 boat slips in total.“It’s going to be an exciting session coming up,” he added. “It’s something that Bridgeport will be very proud of.”
Plans also include construction of hundreds of residential units with ground-level retail spaces. Christoph said he and his team are looking to break ground on the first wave of residential units by March 2019.
The first building will be on East Main Street, Pembroke Street, and Stratford Avenue and will feature 25,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor and roughly 200 units above to rent at market rates.“I think the market needs to have market-rate apartments in Bridgeport, and that push needs to move forward,” Christoph said. “That is a positive step for Bridgeport.”
Renderings of the waterfront site include several high-rise structures that Christoph said are a part of future phases of residential properties.
As development of the site moves forward, Christoph said he is looking to be closer to the project. He is currently in the process of moving to Fairfield County from Miami to oversee work on the site.
“I think there is a lot of opportunity here,” he said. “This next session is going to take a lot of time and effort, and I want to make sure I’m here and available to make sure that the priorities of Bridgeport get carried through.”
Stonington to begin Hewitt Road work
Mystic — The Town of Stonington has announced that it will begin an extensive eight-week project to rebuild Hewitt Road at the end of this month.
Hewitt Road is a busy bypass between Mistuxet Avenue and Route 1. The project will consist of drainage improvements as well as new pavement. The announcement called it a “large project in a very difficult location.”
The town said the complex project will be completed in six phases. These include repairing existing drainage structures and installing new ones, grinding the road surface, shimming the road with an asphalt pavement surface to eliminate low areas and creating an even surface, adjusting sewer manholes, final paving and completing repairs along the edge of the road.
“Each year, we pave streets in poor condition to make them safer, smoother and extend their useful life. Keeping our transportation system in a state of good repair helps lower the cost of future maintenance,” the town stated.
Crews are scheduled to work weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with work extending past 5 p.m. some days to ensure the area remains safe through the night.
During the installation of some of the drainage crossings, portions of the road will be closed and detours will be posted. During grinding and paving, one lane will be closed. Because of this, the town is encouraging drivers to use other roads during construction.