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The What

The What: Transformation of Southwest Connecticut’s Waterfront; Inside Manresa Wilds; Budget Hearings; and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of February 23.

The What: Transformation of Southwest Connecticut’s Waterfront; Inside Manresa Wilds; Budget Hearings; and more
Our beaches look a little different this weekend with at least a foot of snow on them. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, February 23

Happy Monday! Hope you are all staying safe with this insane blizzard. The snow was coming down quite hard when I was finalizing this on Sunday night. If you’re trapped inside and looking for something to read, we have you covered with an in-depth feature (and video) on the region’s transforming waterfront. Otherwise stay safe and dry!

(Please note: These agendas were last checked on Sunday night so there might be some updates and cancellations as the week goes on due to weather. We’ll try to update as best as we can.)  

Highlights 

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

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

The waterfronts of southwest Connecticut, from Bridgeport to Norwalk, Norwalk to Stamford used to be filled with industrial uses—and private homes. Barges navigated the Sound, and factories and power plants filled the landscape. Machines whirred, products were built, and often pollutants were thrown into the waters of the Long Island Sound.

In between were pockets of wealth, waterfront estates that belonged to some of America’s wealthiest families, providing private access to beaches and waterfront views. 

But over the past few decades the waterfront has changed. Factories closed. Families sold their properties. Many of these sites have been redeveloped, turning into residential communities, while others are in the middle of being converted into public parks, providing residents new access to the (much cleaner these days) waters of the Long Island Sound. Some projects have moved quickly, while are still in the works. And all of this is occurring while concerns about the effects of climate change to our coasts continue to grow. 

We take you to many of these sites including Stamford’s Harbor Point, Bridgepoint’s Steelpointe Harbor and former PSE&G site, and Manresa Island in Norwalk, among others. And we also explore a few sites where the future is a little more unclear. 

You can read our full piece or check out our video feature on waterfront transformation. 

In addition, we have an inside look at the final plans for Norwalk’s Manresa Island, which will soon be turned into the Manresa Wilds public park. 

This Week at a Glance

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

  • In Bridgeport, the Board of Education will meet on Monday, Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. and take a vote to decommission the old Bassick High School. 
  • In Stamford, the Fiscal Committee will meet on Monday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. and review a request for an additional appropriation for the new Westhill High School. Explore our series on school construction, which outlines the history of this project. 
  • In Norwalk, there will be a Joint Board of Estimate and Taxation and Finance and Claims Committee of the City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m., which will feature a presentation on the city’s debt and bond rating. 
  • Also in Norwalk, the City Council will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and set the budget cap for the year. Dive deeper into the mayor’s proposed budget.
  • In Fairfield, the budget season kicks off on Tuesday, Feb. 24 with the First Selectperson’s budget presentation at the Board of Selectpersons at 10 a.m. There will be two more meetings: one on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. and on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. where the board will continue its review of the proposed budget and take public comment. 
  • In Greenwich, the town’s Board of Estimate and Taxation is continuing its review of the budget with Day 5 planned for Tuesday, Feb. 24 and Day 6 planned for Thursday, Feb. 26. There’s also a tentatively scheduled budget day for Friday, Feb. 27 if needed. 
  • In Darien, the Representative Town Meeting will meet on Monday, Feb. 23 and vote on approving $475,702 for design work for access to Great Island and receive an update on how the town spent its American Rescue Act funds. 
  • In Westport, the Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Monday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. and review an application for 50 Post Road, which calls for converting the existing historic building into 13 residential units and constructing four new townhouses, for a total of 17 new units on the site. 

Plan Your Week

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

Bridgeport

Stamford

Norwalk

Fairfield

Greenwich

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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