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Bridgeport Factory Demolition Could Sprout Homes

By Casey Cora | April 8, 2014 6:37am
 A wrecking crew at work in the 3100 block of South Shields Ave, the site of an industrial factory.
A wrecking crew at work in the 3100 block of South Shields Ave, the site of an industrial factory.
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DNAinfo/Casey Cora

ARMOUR SQUARE — Wrecking crews are working to demolish an old factory, a move that will pave the way for the construction of new homes.

The demolition work in the 3100 block of South Shields Avenue, the site of an industrial laundry business, began earlier this month.

The site is now zoned R4, suitable for three-flats or townhouses.

Reached by phone, a man who identified himself as the land owner said plans "are still up in the air" about when construction would begin or what type of structures would be built there. He declined to provide his name.

The building getting torn down was once the Standard Rewashed Wiper Company. Founded by Fred Semmer in the early 1930s, the company employed more than 100 people and supplied shop towels, wiping cloths and uniform services to businesses through Chicago.

The enterprise was sold to Bridgeport businessman George Bonomo in the mid-1970s, according to one of Semmer's relatives.

Today, it operates from 2601 S. Archer Ave. as The Standard Companies, corporate parent company to several smaller janitorial and industrial textile and paper businesses.

Bonomo did not return messages seeking comment.