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The What

The What: Stamford’s West Main Street Bridge, Walk Bridge Updates, Budget Hearings, and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of April 7.

The What: Stamford’s West Main Street Bridge, Walk Bridge Updates, Budget Hearings, and more
Happy April! Hope your first full week is off to a good start. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, April 7

Happy Monday, the first one in April. It’s a busy week around southwest Connecticut, so let’s see what’s happening.. 

Highlights 

This section gives a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

The West Main Street Bridge sits in the center of the city of Stamford. It’s also been at the heart of political disagreements, community disputes, and competing visions for the future of the city.

The historic bridge, which crosses the Rippowam River and connects the West Side neighborhood to downtown, has been closed to vehicular traffic since 2002 and to pedestrians within the past few years as its condition has deteriorated. The structure was built in 1888 and in the 1980s was erroneously painted purple, leading to its nickname, “The Purple Bridge.” 

The future of the bridge awaits a decision from the Board of Representatives. The board is scheduled to vote on April 7 on a resolution that would order the city to rehabilitate the structure to accommodate both cars and pedestrians. The repairs necessary to reopen the bridge are estimated to cost at least $6.7 million, according to a report from consultant BL Companies.

Since its closure, now more than 20 years ago, the area around the bridge has changed dramatically. Mill River Park was created and opened to the public. There’s been a massive amount of development in the area, leading to new residents and businesses. 

But for many the deteriorating structure is a sign of how the city has neglected both its infrastructure and some of its neighborhoods. Residents of the West Side say they’ve been ignored for years as they fought to save and revitalize the structure.  

The Operations Committee conducted a public hearing in March and received a great amount of divided feedback. More than 20 residents spoke in-person and over 100 sent emails. Though the public did not have a consensus, the committee ultimately voted 6-2 to advance a resolution supporting rehabilitation. 

As the board prepares to vote, residents remain divided over how the bridge should be reopened and what that means for the areas around it. 

Explore our piece highlighting the bridge at the heart of Stamford and keep an eye out for our updated piece, coming after the board votes on April 7.

This Week at a Glance

This section aims to highlight the most important meetings and news taking place each week.

  • In Bridgeport, the Education and Social Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 9 at 6 p.m. to hear from Royce Avery, acting interim superintendent of schools to discuss outcomes for Bridgeport students; the number of students sent out of district for special education; and how many teachers reside in Bridgeport vs. out of Bridgeport.
  • Also in Bridgeport, there will be a public hearing on the proposed revisions to the city’s charter at the Charter Revision Commission on Wednesday, April 9 at 6 p.m. 
  • In Stamford, the Board of Representatives will vote on a resolution selecting the replacement alternative for the West Main Street Bridge on Monday, April 7 at 8 p.m.
  • Also in Stamford, there will be a Joint Board of Finance/Board of Representatives Fiscal Committee public hearing on the budget on Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. 
  • In Norwalk, as mentioned, the Common Council will receive an update on the Walk Bridge construction project at its meeting on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. 
  • Also in Norwalk, the Board of Estimate & Taxation will meet on Monday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. to vote on adopting the budget. 
  • In Fairfield, there will be Representative Town Meeting Budget Hearings on Monday, April 7, Wednesday, April 9, and Thursday, April 10, all at 7 p.m.
  • In Greenwich, the Board of Selectmen will receive an update from Eversource about its proposed work on Greenwich Avenue to install a duct bank to improve power reliability in the downtown area.
  • In Darien, the Board of Finance will meet on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. to vote on the proposed budget.
  • In Westport, the Hamlet at Saugatuck proposal, which is a new commercial center that includes 57 residential units, retail, restaurants, a hotel, and a rehabilitated office building, is in front of the Planning & Zoning Commission on Monday, April 7 at 6 p.m. and the Architectural Review Board on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m.
  • Also in Westport, the Planning & Zoning Commission will host a special meeting on Thursday, April 10 at 6 p.m. to discuss the proposed Long Lots Elementary School plans submitted by the Long Lots School Building Committee to receive feedback on site design at 13 Hyde Lane. 

Plan Your Week

This section includes a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.

Bridgeport

Stamford

Norwalk

Fairfield

Greenwich

  • Monday, April 7: RTM Committees: Finance Committee at 7 p.m. | Education Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Land Use Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Legislative & Rules Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Public Works Committee at 7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, April 8: First Selectman's Diversity Advisory Committee at 12 p.m. | First Selectman’s Youth Commission Board at 7 p.m. | Planning & Zoning Commission at 4 p.m. | RTM Committees: Health & Human Services Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Parks & Recreation Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Town Services Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Transportation Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Shellfish Commission at 5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 9: FS Operations Planning Committee at 11 a.m.
  • Thursday, April 10: Board of Selectmen at 10 a.m.

Darien

Westport

Stay in touch!

As we continue to grow and evolve, please join us! You can do that by:

Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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