Connecticut’s governor, Ned Lamont, and Bridgeport’s mayor, Joe Ganim, have announced an agreement to transfer the decommissioned PSEG coal plant to Bridgeport Station Development for redevelopment.
The project, expected to take three years, will begin with demolition work on the former coal plant, which has been an eyesore and environmental concern in the city. The state is providing $22.5 million from the Community Investment Fund, marking the fund’s largest award to date.
The demolition is seen as a critical step in revitalizing Bridgeport’s waterfront, a long-awaited transformation that could lead to new economic opportunities, job creation, and housing development.
The plant, operational since the 1950s, closed in 2021, leaving the 33-acre site vacant and contributing to local environmental degradation. It had also served as a barrier to investment in the surrounding neighborhood.
The city, designated as an Environmental Justice Community, stands to benefit from the cleanup and redevelopment, which aims to reconnect nearby neighborhoods to the harbor and improve the area’s overall quality of life.
The site’s redevelopment will include residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, with a strong emphasis on public access, sustainability, and resilience.
Bridgeport Station Development, known for successfully redeveloping similar sites, will lead the project, which is still subject to local and state approvals.
The long-term vision for the site includes making it a vibrant, accessible space that meets the needs of the community.