annual meeting notice

The Board of Commissioners of the Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District (DSSD) hereby fix and call the Annual Meeting of Holders of Record Taxable Interests in Property in the DSSD. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Ursa, located at 245 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604. The meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m. All Holders of Record of Taxable Interest in Property in the Bridgeport DSSD are invited and required to attend. The meeting is open to the public, and all community members are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

REGISTER FOR THE MEETING HERE

 

ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS
Under the Bylaws of the Bridgeport DSSD, the District is managed by a thirteen-member Board of Commissioners, nine of whom are property owners and four of whom are leaseholders, in addition to an ex-officio member who is the Mayor of Bridgeport. For a complete list of the Bridgeport DSSD’s current Board of Commissioners, visit colorfulbridgeport.com/who-we-are. Each year, a slate of property owners and leaseholders are voted in for a three-year term on the Board of Commissioners.

WHO VOTES
Only Holders of Record of Taxable Interest in Property within the District are eligible to vote. A list of the names and addresses of record holders within the District is accessible on our website: colorfulbridgeport.com/what-we-do under Our District and Services.

THE BALLOT
At the coming election, three (3) property owner Commissioners and one (1) leaseholder Commissioner are to be elected. Enclosed in this mailing is a single ballot on which you may vote for both property owner and leaseholder candidates.

An online nomination form was open from February 2 to April 3, 2026, for all prospective property owner and leaseholder candidates to indicate their interest in serving on the Bridgeport DSSD Board of Commissioners. All of the verified candidates included on the ballot and in the candidate guide below provided proof of ownership or their written lease within the DSSD service area.

In addition to the candidates on the enclosed ballot, an owner may nominate someone for a position on the Board of Commissioners by being present at the Annual Meeting and nominating your nominee at such time. In order for the floor nomination to be accepted, the candidate must provide proof of either property ownership or a written lease within the DSSD boundaries.

WHEN TO VOTE
At the Annual Meeting, an election will be conducted. You may mail or email your ballot in advance of the meeting, vote in person at the meeting, or you may give your proxy to any third party to vote on your behalf for any nominee or any other matter that may come before the meeting.

Holders of Record of Taxable Interest in Property in the District are strongly encouraged to mail or email in their ballots in advance of the Annual Meeting, so that a quorum may be established. The required quorum consists of a majority of the Holders of Record of Taxable Interest in Property within the District.

If you have any questions about the meeting or the voting process, please contact Bridgeport DSSD President and CEO Lauren Coakley Vincent at 203.908.3622 or by email: lauren.dssd@colorfulbridgeport.com.

candidate guide

PROPERTY OWNER CANDIDATES

There are three (3) seats available for property owners within the District. Below is a snapshot of each candidate’s background, connection to Downtown Bridgeport, interest in serving the neighborhood, and properties they represent in the District.

Abraham Gottesman

Property Owner of 350-388 Fairfield Avenue and 855 Main Street

Abraham Gottesman’s initial investment in Downtown Bridgeport was the transformation of 855 Main Street from drab, outdated office space into the most desirable rental residential property in the neighborhood. He has since invested in three other properties in the DSSD service area on Fairfield Avenue, as well as other neighborhoods in Bridgeport. Abraham is a property owner with a big passion for Bridgeport and its future. He is deeply committed to the success of the local economy and community.

Jeremy Goun

Property Owner of 78-80 Elm Street

Originally from Long Island, Jeremy Goun has lived in Connecticut for 22 years, including in four different Bridgeport neighborhoods. Jeremy is a proud Stony Brook and Sacred Heart alum who now works as a commercial real estate broker specializing in Bridgeport so that he can be a part of its revitalization. As the head of leasing at Soundview, Jeremy has helped bring over 150 residents to Downtown Bridgeport. He has contributed instruments to the Salvation Army’s youth music program and previously ran a free youth fencing program in the Read’s Artspace building.

Watching Downtown Bridgeport grow since he moved here at 18 has been one of the most fascinating and exciting experiences of Jeremy’s life. His firsthand experience shows that while Downtown continues to add housing and attract new residents, many still leave the city for leisure. A thriving city is built on three pillars: business, housing, and culture, and Bridgeport’s greatest opportunity right now is strengthening its cultural identity–through restaurants, arts, youth programs, and community experiences. He is interested in shaping an active, lifestyle-driven community that reflects a vibrant, engaging destination where people not only live and work, but choose to spend their time.

Callie Heilmann

Property Owner of 49-55 Cannon Street

Callie Heilmann is the founder and Co-Director of Bridgeport Generation Now, the civic engagement organization dedicated to strengthening democracy in our city. Callie moved to Bridgeport with her family in 2013 and in addition to her work at Gen Now, has served in volunteer leadership roles with the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, PT Partners, the Bridgeport DSSD, and more. Her three sons all attend Bridgeport Public Schools. In the fall of 2027, Callie, along with her husband Niels, will open a 36-room boutique hotel in downtown Bridgeport at 49 Cannon Street.

Callie believes deeply in the power of organized people to move the places we love and live towards positive social change. Since first being elected to the Bridgeport DSSD in 2022, through her role as Chair of the Elections Committee, she helped co-lead a process of board expansion to create new “leaseholder” seats on the Commission. She also helped to design and implement an elections process and policy that is focused on transparency and inclusivity. Callie believes these contributions have resulted in positive outcomes for the organization and she looks forward to serving for another three years. During her next term, she would like to focus on strategies that will grow the Bridgeport DSSD’s budget and staff, so that the DSSD can be offering more services to the Downtown and be a part of its growth!

Tony Sherwood

Property owner of 190-192 Fairfield Avenue

Tony Sherwood a local commercial property owner, who has been involved in Downtown Bridgeport for the last decade. When Tony first arrived in Bridgeport, especially Downtown, he saw the potential for a city that could come to life. There were issues, sure, but with the right people concerned and involved he was confident that there could be a turn around. Tony wanted to be a part of that change. Through both his service on the Bridgeport DSSD Board of Commissioners and through the tenants he has attracted to his commercial properties, Tony has been an active part in bringing life back to the neighborhood. This city is getting better and better. The DSSD has been a boon for this town, and Tony wants to continue to help and be a part of its success!

Constance Vickers

Property Owner of 881 Lafayette Blvd, Unit 1B

Constance Vickers has lived in Bridgeport for 16 years, with a cumulative eight years living Downtown, including five years as an owner of a condo at 881 Lafayette Blvd. Constance currently serves as the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Bridgeport, overseeing economic development, housing, health and social services, the city budget, as well as intergovernmental and state legislative affairs. She lives and breathes Bridgeport, loves our community, our resilience, and our knack for moving in a positive direction despite a million roadblocks and constant negativity. One of our gems is Downtown, and it has been a privilege to see the transformation of this neighborhood and economic center since she moved here in 2008.

Constance believes we can do so much more for Downtown businesses, residents, and tourism – and Bridgeport DSSD has been a cornerstone of these improvements. She comes armed with a robust network of government, private sector, nonprofit, and higher education connections. If elected to serve the Bridgeport DSSD as a Commissioner, she will bring those resources to the table to help shepherd the organization into a new phase of growth and expansion of services. Regardless of the outcome of the election, Constance looks forward to sharing connections, as her goal is for the advancement of the Downtown and the betterment of the community she is lucky to call home. She believes that her voice will be a unique addition, one that brings personal experience as a resident of Downtown and also as someone who works here as well.

candidate guide

LEASEHOLDER CANDIDATES

There is one (1) seat available for leaseholders of any kind within the District. Below is a snapshot of the candidates’ background, connection to Downtown Bridgeport, interest in serving the neighborhood, what type of leaseholder they are, and in what Downtown property.

TJ Elgin

Commercial Leaseholder at 245 Fairfield Avenue (Ursa Roastery & Gallery)

TJ “Wolfy” Elgin is the owner of Full Moon Brewing LLC and a hands-on operator focused on activating spaces and building community-driven experiences in Bridgeport. TJ’s background is in brewing, logistics, and event operations, with experience supporting both large-scale events and local business growth. He partners with Downtown Bridgeport venues, creating beverage programs, events, and collaborative initiatives that bring consistent foot traffic into the district. TJ also serves as a board member for the Friends of the Bridgeport Public Library, where he supports fundraising, programming, and community engagement efforts across the city.

TJ’s connection to Downtown Bridgeport is rooted in real, ongoing work building relationships, creating opportunities for businesses, and contributing to the energy and visibility of the district. He believes in the long-term potential of Downtown Bridgeport and is focused on creating consistent activation not just one-time events, but ongoing programming that brings people into Downtown spaces, supports local businesses, and builds momentum over time. If elected, TJ would bring a collaborative and solutions-driven approach, with a focus on strengthening partnerships, increasing visibility, and helping create a downtown that is active, welcoming, and economically sustainable.

Hugh Hallinan

Commercial Leaseholder at 263 Golden Hill Street (Downtown Cabaret Theatre)

Hugh Hallinan has been a part of Downtown Bridgeport’s arts and culture scene for over four decades. Hugh started working at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in 1980 and became Executive Producer and Executive Director in 2006. Since then, he has worked to uphold the theatre’s legacy as a beloved, family-friendly venue known for its award-winning productions, popular concert series, and unique cabaret-style, bring-your-own-food-and-drink format.

Over the past year serving on the DSSD Board of Commissioners, Hugh has gained a clearer understanding of both the challenges and the opportunities facing Downtown Bridgeport. He is committed to building on that work—bringing practical ideas, a business owner’s perspective, and a focus on real, visible improvements that make downtown safer, stronger, and more welcoming for everyone.