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Council member says borough bought old Bridgeport train station for about $2 million to preserve it and explore restaurant, small-business uses
Summary
Residents asked why the borough purchased the old train station. A council member said the owner offered the property, an appraisal set fair-market value and the borough bought it for about $2 million to preserve the historic facade and pursue community uses such as a restaurant or small-business incubator.
The borough purchased the old Bridgeport train station for about $2 million, a council member said after a resident asked why the borough acquired the property rather than allowing a private owner to redevelop it.
Joseph Gallio, a resident who said he owns nearby property, asked the council what purpose the borough had for buying the station and whether the former owner had sought to build a restaurant there. The council member replied that the property owner had approached the borough about selling last year and the borough had a fair-market appraisal performed. "The fair market value for that property came in right around the range that we ultimately bought it for, which was $2 million," the council member said.
The council member said elected officials saw an opportunity to preserve what they described as an architecturally or historically significant building and to pursue community uses. The official said the borough is considering options such as preserving the facade, creating an open market or a restaurant, and using the space as an incubator for small local businesses rather than recruiting national chains. The council member noted that architect Miss Gamble, who serves on the board, is involved in planning.
A resident who had discussed a private redevelopment proposal told the council he had previously been approached by the property owner about a potential restaurant. The council member did not commit to any specific tenant or timeline and said follow-up conversations would occur as planning advances.
The council member described the acquisition as voluntary, saying appraisals are used as the baseline for negotiations whether a purchase is voluntary or pursued via eminent domain, and reiterated that the borough has no plans to use eminent domain to obtain property.
Next steps: the council member said officials will follow up with residents and that future public notices will describe project details as they are developed.
