Bridgeport Mayor John M. Fabrizi on Tuesday took the wraps off another proposed project for downtown Bridgeport, disclosing that the nationally-known Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund has been chosen to lead the development team for a $221 million reworking of what is known as the "Pequonnock Development Site."

The parcel is directly across from the Stadium and Arena at Harbor Yard in lower downtown and its development holds much promise for a number of solid reasons.

For starters, Canyon-Johnson and its several partners in the project are renowned for their investments in urban areas and development expertise. They are "heavy hitters" in the development ballpark. Second, the city and the Bridgeport Housing Authority jointly own the nearly 11 acres of land, so development can progress swiftly, unlike the proposed Steel Point mega-project across the harbor where the city still does not have complete control of the peninsula after all these years of planning.

Third, as Fabrizi aptly phrased it, the planned development "does not rely on gobs of public subsidy". This should make it easier to obtain the modest tax incremental financing and tax credits that will be sought from the state and federal governments for the development.

What the mayor politely did not point out is that, unlike the city of Hartford, Bridgeport is undertaking a major reclamation of its downtown without a major infusion of state taxpayer-supported funding.

The Pequonnock development essentially calls for the sprouting of a mixed-use community of varied residential options, shops, entertainment venues and at least two retail anchor stores and an 11-story hotel, in addition to some 2,000 parking spaces, at least 400 of which would be dedicated to the stadium and arena.

It's not expected to get under way until 2009, with development extending over a six-year period.

One laudable aspect of the plan is that it will mix in a modest number of public and affordable housing units with the higher-priced condominiums, apartments and townhouses.

Granted, Bridgeport and its residents have viewed far more than their share of architectural drawings and renderings in the past three decades, all designed to revitalize this old industrial city. Most have never gone beyond the drawings.

However, Fabrizi and his City Hall development team deserve plaudits for attracting and guiding the actual bricks and mortar construction now taking place downtown. Witness the old Read's, Citytrust and Arcade buildings. And why not? Bridgeport offers affordability to those being squeezed out of outrageously priced lower Fairfield County and the city's ideally situated at a transportation crossroads, especially for young professionals who prefer to utilize mass transit.

If it comes to fruition — and we believe it will — the planned Pequonnock complex will indeed reinforce the message that Bridgeport's back.

Why? Because the project site, much like the Arena and Stadium at Harbor Yard, abuts Interstate 95, the elevated expressway that effectively cuts off the Harbor Yard area from central downtown.

What's been needed for years — and should be spurred by the possibility of this development — is a brightening and lighting up of the dark and thoroughly foreboding I-95 underpasses through which many people patronizing the arena and ballpark must pass to reach central downtown and its array of restaurants, museums, galleries and businesses.

Yes, we've been harping on this issue in these columns since the early 1990s and so has the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, which has pestered the DOT through the years with solid research on the issue — and even possible designs.

It's all been to little avail. The rebuilding of I-95 through Bridgeport is now complete and there's a bit more illumination of the underpasses, but not much more. If you're walking through them, no matter how many city police officers are about directing traffic, there's still a sense of foreboding at night.

With the Pequonnock project unveiled, we call on the DOT anew to start planning on lighting and dressing up those underpasses. Let's make them hospitable and welcoming, as a city center should be.