Several subcontractors working on the upscale Steelpointe Harbor apartment project in Bridgeport have been penalized by the Connecticut Department of Labor for violating state labor laws. The violations led to $160,500 in fines and stop-work orders.

Juliet Manalan, spokesperson for the state labor department, confirmed that the stop-work orders for four subcontractors have recently been lifted after they provided proof of compliance or took steps to resolve the violations and paid their fines.

The apartment complex, named The August, is part of the Steelpointe redevelopment in Bridgeport’s lower East End, situated between Interstate 95 and the waterfront. Currently under construction, The August will offer 420 luxury housing units and represents the first phase of a larger plan to build 1,500 residential units. The development is partially supported by public funding, including a 12-year municipal tax break.

In addition, the state contributed a $20 million low-interest loan, designating 160 of the 420 units as affordable “workforce housing.” Nearly $1 million was also allocated for environmental cleanup of the site, which posed challenges to redevelopment efforts.

This high-profile project highlights the need for strict adherence to labor laws in publicly subsidized construction projects. The Connecticut Department of Labor emphasized its commitment to enforcing compliance and ensuring fair workplace practices on large-scale developments like Steelpointe Harbor.