Info Meetings on Plans for Y Building, Cinema Initiative, Arts Center

The second and third public information meetings about upcoming downtown projects will be held in early August. This news release from the Westport First Selectman’s Office describes the meetings (the first took place on Monday):

First Selectman Jim Marpe has announced that, as a part of the YOUR DOWNTOWN campaign, the Downtown Steering Committee (DSC) will host a series of three public presentations to inform Westporters about upcoming downtown projects currently in development or being planned. The presentations will take place over the next few weeks, starting next Monday, July 28, and will include time for questions from both the DSC and the public.

All presentations will take place in Room 307/309 at Town Hall. The topics and dates are as follows:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 7:30 p.m. - Presentation by Bedford Square Assoc. on the Bedford Square mixed use development which will be replacing the current Downtown Y. A presentation by Kemper-Gunn LLC on the moving and repurposing of the historic Kemper-Gunn House. MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 7:30 p.m. - Presentations by The Westport Cinema Initiative and The Westport Arts Center on their plans.

Downtown Steering Committee chair Melissa Kane urged the public to attend the presentations explaining, “The presentations are an important part of the next step in the planning process in order to understand projects already in development or in the conceptual stages and how these will fit together and potentially affect Westport’s Downtown in the future. Residents have been hearing about proposed plans for the The Library, The Levitt Pavilion, Bedford Square, The Westport Cinema, and The Westport Arts Center since they each started to percolate.

“Now is an opportunity for the public to learn much more about them. We are happy to be able to offer an opportunity for these organizations to clearly spell out what they envision, and hear the public’s feedback. We hope these meetings, and the following planning charrette sessions scheduled for September, will encourage dialogue and participation by all Westport residents with regard to planning and designing possibilities for Westport’s future Downtown.”

The Downtown Steering Committee (DSC) is providing guidance and technical assistance to the consultant team, led by The RBA Group, in developing the Master Plan. The full membership of the DSC can be found on the project’s website. These presentation meetings will all be recorded and available to view on the Master Plan website: www.downtownwestportct.com.