Bridgeport apartment building ownership wants changes after building hit a third time

People in Bridgeport are demanding changes at an intersection where an apartment building has been damaged not once but three times.

Mark Sudol

Feb 7, 2023, 10:34 PM

Updated 615 days ago

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People in Bridgeport are demanding changes at an intersection where an apartment building has been damaged not once but three times.
The people who live at Gateway Apartments are now concerned for their safety.
"People get really worried that a car's going to go all the way through and they're going to get hurt," said Doris Latorre, CEO of Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust, which manages the apartments.
That's nearly what happened Sunday morning when a car hit the front entrance of Gateway Apartments. No one was hurt but this was the third time in almost three years the building has been hit.
"It really does sound like the world is ending when these cars hit the building," said Latorre.
The first time it happened was 2 1/2 years ago on State Street. Last year, the entrance on West Avenue was hit - the same entrance hit days ago.
Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust says these accidents have made getting in and out of the building a challenge for some residents.
"Our tenants literally have to go into the other side of the building, and those in wheelchairs have to come in through us," said Latorre.
City Council Member Jorge Cruz sent a letter to the city requesting a traffic light at the corner of State Street and West Avenue.
"It just makes a huge difference to have a traffic light there. All you have right now is two stop signs on West," said Latorre.
Josh Morgan with the state Department of Transportation says a request for a traffic light would have to be submitted by the city because State Street is a state road. Then the DOT would do an analysis.
Morgan says it is not up to the state to put up barricades to protect the building. He says that's up to the city.
The owners of the building say it’s going to cost thousands of dollars to make repairs, and they're not sure how long it’s going to take to get it done.
The apartment building has been deemed safe by the city engineer and a private firm hired by Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust.