Bridgeport Community Revitalization Plan

The City, supported by SCJ, mailed English and Spanish surveys to every resident with COVID-safe drop off locations. Committee members conducted socially-distanced and masked interviews of business owners across the City. The outreach efforts contained significant input, including residents willing to volunteer and donate time and resources. As the planning effort gained community excitement and momentum, a devastating fire hit the community. While the revitalization plan was delayed due to the fires, the community continued to come together in relief efforts before turning its attention back to revitalization efforts. The plan had enough supporters and validity that residents and leaders turned to it in the face of turmoil and tragedy. Below are some resulting plan elements:

• A focus on the downtown core creating a robust mix of land uses and compact downtown design, key transformational projects, and gathering spaces as catalysts Allowing and incentivizing a range of housing opportunities and diversity (86% Hispanic) in the downtown and along the SR-173 corridor 
• Fostering walkability through connections to schools, parks, businesses, neighborhoods, and services 
• Establishing a distinct sense of place 
• Preservation of open space, parks, and natural beauty 
• Fair and equitable decisions, bridging on the culture and heritage of the area