WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Dorm dispute heats up (Bridgeport-WTNH) _ A dorm dispute is getting ugly, and even the mayor of Bridgeport is jumping into the fray. At issue is a 10 story dormitory being built by Sacred Heart University on Park Avenue in Bridgeport. The Catholic university is right across the street in Fairfield. And neighbors are not happy about the intrusion. News Channel 8's Judy Chong has the story. Neighbors have nicknamed it "the disaster dorm" -- a hulking monstrosity being built smack dab in the middle of a quiet Bridgeport neighborhood of single family homes. Jack Corrigan, Neighbor: "I walk out in the morning and I look at it say 'my God I'm at the Mohegan Sun'. It looks like one of their casino buildings." Neighbors got together and filed a lawsuit against Sacred Heart University, but lost, so now this 10 story dorm is expected to be completed at the end of this summer, just in time for 375 new students. Ed Nowitz, Neighbor: "Where are they going to put the cars? What about the noise? "They're having a toughtime with the kids out at Fairfield beach, I can imagine the problems here." City officials and residents say Sacred Heart University exploited a 54 year old loophole in zoning laws to build this dorm in the middle of a quiet neighborhood of single family homes. Elinor Briggs, Sacred Heart Univ.: "Sacred Heart University has built that dormitory within the legal existing zoning regulations at the time we applied for the zoning permit. We do not consider it a loophole." City officials are now trying to block the project by denying the school a permit to put up a traffic signal and underground cables to connect with emergency services. But still, some neighbors are doubtful those maneuvers will work against a university with a lot a muscle. "I just think they feel they could do anything they want and the hell with the little guy." Sacred Heart says its trying to protect the interests of students who will have no place to live if this dorm is not built. So far, the courts have sided with the university. There are plans for a second dorm in the area. There are legal battles over that one as well. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Dorm dispute heats up
(Bridgeport-WTNH) _ A dorm dispute is getting ugly, and even the mayor of Bridgeport is jumping into the fray. At issue is a 10 story dormitory being built by Sacred Heart University on Park Avenue in Bridgeport. The Catholic university is right across the street in Fairfield. And neighbors are not happy about the intrusion.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong has the story.

Dorm under construction Neighbors have nicknamed it "the disaster dorm" -- a hulking monstrosity being built smack dab in the middle of a quiet Bridgeport neighborhood of single family homes.

Jack Corrigan, Neighbor: "I walk out in the morning and I look at it say 'my God I'm at the Mohegan Sun'. It looks like one of their casino buildings."

Neighbors got together and filed a lawsuit against Sacred Heart University, but lost, so now this 10 story dorm is expected to be completed at the end of this summer, just in time for 375 new students.

Ed Nowitz, Neighbor: "Where are they going to put the cars? What about the noise?
"They're having a toughtime with the kids out at Fairfield beach, I can imagine the problems here."

City officials and residents say Sacred Heart University exploited a 54 year old loophole in zoning laws to build this dorm in the middle of a quiet neighborhood of single family homes.

Elinor Briggs, Sacred Heart Univ.: "Sacred Heart University has built that dormitory within the legal existing zoning regulations at the time we applied for the zoning permit. We do not consider it a loophole."

City officials are now trying to block the project by denying the school a permit to put up a traffic signal and underground cables to connect with emergency services. But still, some neighbors are doubtful those maneuvers will work against a university with a lot a muscle.

"I just think they feel they could do anything they want and the hell with the little guy."

Sacred Heart says its trying to protect the interests of students who will have no place to live if this dorm is not built. So far, the courts have sided with the university. There are plans for a second dorm in the area. There are legal battles over that one as well.

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