With the city seeking bids from demolition contractors, time is rapidly running out for Gary Flocco to break ground on the redevelopment of the four blighted structures in question. He anticipates closing on the loans needed to finance construction by mid-September, before Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration can actually move forward with razing 62, 72 and 80 Cherry St. and 1325 Railroad Ave. Situated on the outskirts of downtown between the railroad tracks and Interstate 95, Cherry Street Lofts is a prominent renovation of some old abandoned factory buildings that initially earned Flocco accolades. The complex opened in 2018 and currently boasts a charter school and 158 units of affordable “workforce housing” priced for tenants earning roughly $54,000 to $80,000 annually. But again, nothing happened. So a few weeks ago, the city began advertising for bids from demolition contractors with a submission deadline of Aug. 12. Flocco said he was not given a heads-up, and upon learning of the move, subsequently reached out to the Ganim administration for more time.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/bridgeport-cherry-street-lofts-demolition-20804826.php