The qualifications of four finalists from a field of five candidates have been certified by the city and the Bridgeport Housing Authority to submit proposals for the publicly owned, 10-acre property at the edge of downtown. Each has "significant experience" in urban development, officials said.

One of the development teams selected includes the Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund — a partnership between Johnson and Canyon Capital Realty Advisors. As one of the largest private investment firms in the nation, Canyon-Johnson has invested more than $1 billion in housing and retail projects, and plans to invest another $3 billion.

Other prospective developers of the site include:

• Harbor Yard Partners, a group represented by Bridgeport Bluefish founder Jack McGregor and Eric Anderson, who is renovating the Citytrust building and Arcade property on Main Street;
• TDC Development and M Squared Development;
• Opus, the Richman Group and Archstone-Smith.

Mayor John M. Fabrizi said the Pequonnock site represents one of the city's best development opportunities. The project that is eventually built on the site, he said, would feed off the established sports-entertainment theme at Harbor Yard and attract people from around the region to the city's downtown.

"I want it vibrant, nightly," Fabrizi said, hailing the caliber of the teams that responded to the city's request for qualifications. "I'd like to say a 24/7 operation, but things don't stay open 24 hours & but that's what I'm talking about. We're seeking a destination center."

Kevin Nunn, president of the Bridgeport Economic Resource Center, said in a statement issued Wednesday the conceptual plans submitted by the teams during the RFQ process call for transforming the vacant site with residential, hotel, retail, office and entertainment space.

The four teams of developers will now draw up formal proposals for the site, with a winning plan expected to be announced in June.

The property was formerly home to the 256-unit Pequonnock Apartments, a public housing complex leveled in 2000. The site is now used as parking for the baseball stadium and arena at Harbor Yard.

"The site provides for direct access to [Interstate 95] entrance and exit ramps, proximity to the city's intermodal transportation facility, potential views of Long Island Sound and 2 million square feet of development rights," Nunn said.

Officials have said they envision a mixed-use project that will enhance the downtown's skyline, one with a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere at street level and connected parking, along with office and residential towers looming above it. Some have suggested it could emulate the Camden Yards complex developed around the Orioles' baseball stadium in Baltimore.

Noting that the city already has a fixed attraction across lower Main Street from the site, Fabrizi said he wants people to remain in the downtown area after a baseball game or concert.

"Rather than leave, we'd want them to continue to stay in the area and boost the local economy."

The development teams must submit responses to the city's request for proposals by May 2. The city will announce the developer selected for the project on or about June 15.

(The Connecticut Post is a member of the MediaNews Group wire service.)