“I can see where people would really want to live here,” Wyman told BMT CEO Liz Torres and her staff. “You all should be proud.”
Wyman’s tour on Monday was hosted by Torres and BMT Board of Directors President Terry Floyd. It included stops in the offices and conference rooms, as well as an apartment and residential community room. Besides the corporate offices, the building known as The Gateway also includes 30 apartments. All are single-bedroom apartments.
BNT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of families with modest means by creating safe, affordable, healthy homes for families in the Grater Bridgeport area. The organization was established in 1986 but has only been located at The Gateway since May.
“We got the certificate of occupancy on May 5, moved are offices on May 9 and we were totally in here with the building finished by June 30,” said Torres.
Wyman recalled that she had recently toured upscale apartments in downtown Hartford that were going for as much as $3,000 a month and said there was no comparison.
“These Bridgeport apartments are much, much nicer,” Wyman said. “They are bigger, offer more to whoever is living here: they are absolutely beautiful.”
The BNT’s latest project is touted as a tremendous economic boost for the city’s East End neighborhood. Funded by an $8.7 million state grant, the nonprofit is planning to build three properties on what is now a vacant lot on Stratford Avenue.
Torres said they will be mixing in a preschool and retail into the project, including, hopefully, a grocery store.
With the gubernatorial election in a few weeks, some politics were injected at the event’s conclusion.
“You and Governor (Dannel) Malloy have to win,” Floyd told Wyman.
Wyman replied, “That’s nice to hear. Especially for my husband. He’s terrified that I’ll be home every day.”
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