Neighborhood Revitalization & Anti-Blight (Phase 2)
A division of the Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) 

Thomas K. Coble,
Director of Neighborhood Revitalization/Anti-Blight
45 Lyon Terrace
Room 212
Bridgeport, CT 06604

Tel   (203) 576-3931
Fax  (203) 332-5568

Email:  Neighborhood Revitalization            

Directions

Neighborhood Revitalization / Anti-Blight - Phase 2 is one of 8 divisions under the auspices of OPED.  Like Community Development and the Department of Housing, our programs are paid with federal and state money.  As part of the Mayor's Initiatives to Develop a Healthy Housing Market and to Maintain a Clean and Safe City, Neighborhood Revitalization oversees the Anti-Blight Initiative ("Stop Trashing Bridgeport!") as well as provides technical assistance for residents who organize Neighborhood Revitialization Zones.

Bridgeport has begun organizing Neighborhood Revitialization Zones in order to expand or improve business and housing in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods or areas within neighborhoods.  With technical assistance from the City and outside consultants, neighborhood residents, non-profits, and faith-based organizations meet and form "Stakeholder" groups.  These "Stakeholder" groups identify the priorities and needs of the neighborhoods and can request City Council approval to become Neighborhood Revitalization Zones (NRZs).  These NRZs then become eligible to borrow state money to purchase blighted properties or offer low-interest loans to qualifying businesses for facade improvements.

Bridgeport has several NRZs in process or underway:

• Hollow  - Plan accepted by City Council
• East End - Plan is currently before City Council
• East Side - in Planning progess
• South End - in Planning process
• West Side/West End - in Dialogue stage
• Black Rock - in Dialogue stage

The steps to form an NRZ include:

1. In the Dialogue Stage, residents, non-profit organizations, and faith-based groups identify issues in their neighborhoods (blight, lack of services, need for safe housing).
2. They request technical assistance from the City's Neighborhood Revitalization program.
3. The City helps to organize and publicize a Planning Meeting.
4. At the meeting, a Stakeholders Group, with subcommittees, is formed.
5. City staff and consultants then assist the Stakeholder Group to prepare a draft Plan of the Neighborhood's issues.
6. The entire neighborhood is invited to hear the Plan.
7. The Plan is presented to the City Council for approval.  Once approved, it becomes part of the City's Master Plan.  
8. The NRZ/Stakeholder Group forms Planning Committees and Implementation Committees to carry out their Action Plan.

Meeting Schedules

Stakeholder Groups

Planning Committees

Implementation Committee

Projects & Updates