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BRIDGEPORT, CT-Dirt has been turned on a new condominium/retailproject at 323 Fairfield Ave. in the heart of the downtown districthere. Officials with Bijou Square LLC, the developer of theventure, report the development will bring 84 luxury condominiumspriced between $225,000 to $350,000 to the city by the end of2008.

The project also calls for seven commercial/retail opportunitiestotaling approximately 10,000 sf in a five-story building on anearly one-acre site. The development is being built on the site ofa former private "pocket" park and when all is said in done willinvolve a private investment of approximately $28 million. Theproperty was purchased by Bijou Square LLC from Lafayette SquareAssociates in April of this year. Bijou Square Associates is a realestate development firm that represents an equal partnershipbetween the Bridgeport-based Kuchma Family Co. and Kurt Hersher ofEaston, CT-based K.B. Hersher Holdings.