SM 05-09-75 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

9. DOW TOWN UR DEVELOPMENT`(Cont'd) At he same time, the Commission-should encourage and consider other qualified redevelopers who present serious and significant developments for that Block 4, and the same is true for Block 6. I think you should encourage al`1`comers -- anyone who has a serious development project'. Again, there has been no option; Associates has had no option in the past, and 'I. don't be1i`eve the joint venturer shotild be given an option now. I believe the Commission has', in the past, listened to prospective developers in all of the: various renewal projects. There has been no discouragement in any respect of prospective redevelopers, and I thirik the same attitude should and will carry with respect to the Block 4 and Block 6 proposals. I can't speak, of course, for the River Bend.Development group, but from our conversations with them, I am confident that they'don't want to tie up that property down there. They are not asking to have a limit on com- petition, or to limit input from the public, or to limit other developers to get involved. It was said to us during our discussions that they were sorry - -the dev topers were basically the First Bank. Their people'were sorry that they wer not able to seek specific input form the various interest groups who are inv (lved in this matter, spec;fically the downtown retailers, but they got in- vol ed in discussions with Associates three weeks before the magic May l date- - before that Letter of Credit was to have expired - -and with that they simply, on tehalf of the First Bank, were involved in the discussions and then the negotiations with Associates. They simply did not have the time, but they are goi g to, and I think in this coming week they are beginning their discussions wit the various interested groups in the community. I t ink, in very brief conclusion: Again, we do need a very positive, confident, coo erative atmosphere within the community, and attitude within the community, if we are to get this thing off the ground. Again, criticism, as well as questions, as well as information, from anyone who has it, has to be welcomed- -has been welcomed in the past -- and is welcome now. It is a very difficult and complex matter that the redevelopment of downtown has seer problems all over the country. I personal) *ly am confident that we can get this downtown redevelopment in a very successful manner, whether it is the Fir t Bank, or whether it is some other developer we don't know about now that com s forward. And with respect to Block 6, whether it is from people whom we heard from this mor ing, or some other developer, I think with that type of approach, things are going to continue to happen. We have a problem with the economy now, and we have to recognize that and realize that must mean additional effort and additional cooperation. In conclusion of the above report, Presisent Nimtz thanked the Commission Legal Counsel, Mr. Kevin J. Butler. The President reported that he and Mr. Brownell had "a very friendly meeting with Mr. Schrager and Mr. Herman Glaser, and also a very friendly meeting with Mr. Doyle and Mr. Ray Braden, the Manager of the Odd Fellows Building." The meni hair then called on Mr. Allen E. Schrager, a partner in the City Develop - Company, who reported: - 35 -