Westport's Downtown 2020 Committee began interviewing the candidates for the redevelopment of the town's central area at a Town Hall meeting Monday.
There are three design firms in the running for the project, which involves creating a plan to coordinate the development of capital projects downtown, according to a press release.
The committee interviewed the first of the three firms, Peter J. Smith & Co. of Buffalo, N.Y., at the Monday meeting. The firm's plan would cost nearly $169,000. Representatives for the firm said the town already has high-end stores and nearby resources like the Saugatuck River, so it just needs a gentle shove to get on track, according to a Westport News article.
Westport was awarded a $497,595 state grant for improving the town's downtown commercial infrastructure at the beginning of July.
The other two firms being considered are RBA Group of Connecticut, LLC, which has an office in Norwalk and a plan that would cost $178,500, and Milone & MacBroom, based in Chesire, with a plan that would cost $185,000. They are scheduled to appear at Town Hall meetings open to the public Wednesday at 7 p.m. and July 31 at 7 p.m., respectively, according to the press release and the article.
The three are the finalists out of seven deign firms that expressed interest in the committee's request for proposals. When a final firm is chosen, its plan will then need to be approved by several town boards and commissions, according to the article.
The Downtown 2020 Committee was appointed by First Selectman Gordon Joseloff in March 2012, according to the press release.
To read the firms' proposals, click here.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
