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marks. You're either in compliance with the plan or you're outside of plan. So, the questions that
<br />we ask an outside consultant, I think, really should go into that level of specificity of the
<br />questions of height. So, that's one (1) point.
<br />Committeemember Broden continued, stating, And of course we could always trust the gut
<br />reaction of the developer, or we can always trust the track record of the developer. Generally,
<br />people are really good on those marks, but I think, with regards to our responsibility, that I want
<br />to get to the point where it's not based on trust. It's a very central part of the district. It's situated
<br />between —I would arguably say —some of the most beautiful parts of our city, in terms of its
<br />proximity to the river and to the East Bank. The neighborhood is on the cusp —or actually in the
<br />throes —of development, when you look at what's going on in Howard Park and you look at
<br />what's going on north of the University of Notre Dame. This is the area where there's a lot of
<br />activity. Obviously, there's plenty of questions with regards to this project. We need a marketing
<br />analysis— feasibility; getting that back —but specifically, at the sixty (60), the ninety -six (96),
<br />and the one - seventy -five (175). The other piece that I would like to request as part of that is a
<br />traffic impact analysis. We have not had that. Again, sort of similarly, if this is a sixty (60) foot
<br />building, if it's limited to sixty (60) feet, what would that impact be with regards to people
<br />coming to and from the market, with residential individuals coming and going and that kind of
<br />thing. I would assume that that could be extended out to a parking analysis, as well. I'm not
<br />asking these things because I want to throw wrenches at stuff. I want data versus gut feeling. If
<br />we are given a project of this magnitude— whether it's State dollars, whether it's tax abatements
<br />that we'll be considering on this, or the direction that our good decision - making will foster for
<br />future development —I want to get the data down here. This plan could potentially be a game -
<br />changer for this neighborhood, when we talk about this height and what's before us as an active
<br />petition.
<br />Committeemember Broden continued, stating, The other piece is when I know the parking
<br />garage is a big driver on expense and the developer himself has said, "This is a pretty big apple
<br />to bite out of." But again, he's not asking for public dollars. I do think being able to substantiate
<br />and confirm those construction numbers is important, whether it be related to the building or the
<br />parking structure. Being able to get at that and to verify the matter. I think that while that might
<br />be looked at as something onerous on our part to ask, I do think it is responsible to ask and I
<br />think it is something that, whether it's a construction management firm or architecture firm,
<br />some of them can stand and cover those sorts of number crunching things. But if we verify that,
<br />that is only going to strengthen this particular individual's application for funding or financing
<br />going forward. Sufficient parking in the Central Business District is a key consideration and it's
<br />impacting, as the developer said, the height of this given building. So, I think that the things
<br />writing out here would be common asks. I'm glad we're willing to offset the cost of those with
<br />our own manpower to match it within the City. I think these are worthwhile things that would, I
<br />think, bring along the community, which is important in this decision. It would bring along
<br />future development —let them know that we are making fact -based decisions, that we're not just
<br />trusting an outside developer's gut feelings that this can work and it can only work at these
<br />numbers, and it can only work at these marks. I would refer everyone to the original Regional
<br />Cities application of this. There are very specific marks that need to be hit, with regard to that.
<br />Everybody around this table, everybody in the community they have talked to are looking to get
<br />the elements of this development within our city, but it's how we do it and the smart way to do it,
<br />and I do believe that's going to be based on facts and data. So, I would encourage that against the
<br />variations of what has been proposed.
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