STAMFORD, Conn. The following letter was submitted by Stamford resident Jeff Curtis, who has filed paperwork to form an exploratory committee for a mayoral run in 2013. The Stamford Daily Voice accepts all original letters from readers. They can be submitted by emailing reporter Anthony Buzzeo at [email protected].
To the Editor,
At first blush, the announced move to Stamford by Bridgewater Associates sounds like it is heaven-sent, with 1,000 new jobs (over 10 years) promised on top of the existing 1,225 Bridgewater jobs coming from Westport, but one need read no further than the headline to fully understand that the property in question is the former Brewers Yacht Haven property.
Now everyone should clearly understand why BLT failed to meet the Zoning Board deadline of providing a new full service boatyard/marina plan. BLT had no intention whatsoever of replacing the old site with a new facility. This negotiation between the State of Connecticut and Bridgewater and the City of Stamford didnt magically happen overnight. It was months in the making, and the Pavia Administration has been in the loop from the start.
Dont get me wrong, I am not against Bridgewater Associates coming to Stamford, but did they look at the old Telephone Company property and the current Hole in the Ground near the mall? Maybe their new 750,000 sq. foot headquarters could be built there. Or perhaps if the Post office distribution facility on West Avenue is closed, they could buy it and build there.
In May of this year, [in] his most recent State of the City Address Mayor Pavia stated that his favorite item that his administration was working on was bringing a high speed ferry link service to Stamford. This ferry proposal is not a new idea, it was first visited years ago under then Mayor Malloy. One major roadblock to the ferry coming to Stamford was finding the right location for a ferry terminal and adequate parking to make this a viable venture. So what has changed?
Now the South End has become Harbor Point and BLT has eliminated our major full service Marina/ Boatyard, and is basically usurping the prime waterfront property that could have been used as a High Speed Ferry Terminal and Full service marina, not to mention a location to have stationed Stamford Police and Fire Boats, for this new Bridgewater Associates project. So Mayor Pavia, where do you see the city locating this High Speed Ferry Link, or a full service Marina?
I urge the Land Use Boards to look beyond the smoke and mirrors and do their due diligence on this issue.
Respectfully,
Jeff Curtis 42 Deacon Hill Road Stamford, CT 06905203-968-1234
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