Marriott Residence Inn Breaks Ground in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Marking Waterfront Development Milestone

Developers broke ground today on a 142-room Marriott Residence Inn in Bridgeport, Connecticut, as the latest phase of the ambitious Steelpointe Harbor project, signaling a renewed push for economic revitalization in the state’s largest city.

The six-story hotel, planned by True North Hotel Group and RCI Group, will be built over the next 15 months on Bridgeport’s waterfront. Business leaders gathered at the site alongside ongoing construction of a 420-unit apartment complex. “Bringing a brand like Marriott is fitting. Only the best for Bridgeport,” said Bobby Christoph Jr., chief developer of Steelpointe Harbor and president of RCI Group. The project aims to transform a previously neglected area into a vibrant mixed-use destination.

Bridgeport has seen a decline in hotel options in recent decades, with the city’s last hotel closing in early 2022 and subsequently being converted into apartments. City officials and business leaders believe the Residence Inn will fare differently, benefiting from its location within the larger Steelpointe Harbor development, which already includes a Bass Pro Shops outlet, Chipotle, Starbucks, and a planned Mobil gas station. “With the harbor and the marina here, it’s a natural fit to have a hotel. The low-hanging fruit for us is that the largest city in Connecticut didn’t have a hotel,” explained Dan Onofrio, president of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. Developers anticipate approximately 30% of guests will be extended-stay visitors, including those connected to nearby hospitals like St. Vincent’s and Fairfield University. You can learn more about the broader economic impact of waterfront developments here.

The Steelpointe Harbor project, which began a decade ago with the opening of Bass Pro Shops, also includes plans for over 1,000 apartments, new restaurants, stores, a marina, and an amphitheater. The first apartments are expected to open in January, with the hotel slated for completion in early 2027. Officials stated they expect the project to continue attracting investment and creating jobs in the region.