Laserfiche WebLink
BUSINESS (Cont'd <br />he walls and everything else,.could have gone toward the stage. I <br />on't approve at all of the fixed stage, but I guess we could compromise. <br />f we had some arrangement whereby the fire engines could still get across. <br />e do need a stage; we do need to have this for people. If you look at <br />obertson's block and down below, you will find °it is much too crowded <br />or people to gather there. You can'.t have these events down there." <br />Ir. Allan C. Bloomquist, First Bank & Trust Company, said "I have <br />othing additional to add. I.think' there is a cost problem. If it is <br />- easonable and feasible within the cost to have a stage, I would cer- <br />ainly say a stage would be desirable. I would also say, I think it is <br />mportant to get some action going as soon as possible." <br />n requesting to speak further, Mrs. Allen asked, "I have one more <br />uestion - -I read in the paper, I believe- -that the Mayor spoke of using <br />he $440,000 that was supposed to be for the finishing of the Mall on <br />ne of these- -Pier Park, Island Park - -or something. Now, if he does <br />hat, where do you get the money to finish the block, and, in the mean - <br />ime, why can't we come up with at least...a month ago, we couldn't come <br />p with $1,000 for paint to renew the supergraphic, and we can't seem to <br />ven get $1,000 for paint. As this could go on for months, the: super - <br />raphics should be renewed and we couldn't even get the money for the <br />aint." Mr. Brownell advised, "The money the Mayor talked about in <br />he South Bend Tribune is money that is supposed to come through under <br />ommunity Development, and has nothing to do with our funds for the <br />laza itself. Actually, it was $450,000 in the applicaton to HUD." <br />rs. Allen asked, "What is to be used to finish the block? What are you <br />oing to use for money to finish the block ?" Mr. Brownell advised, "We <br />till have our bond money for the Plaza. <br />ommissioner Wiggins said he thought this may be, perhaps to some degree, <br />part of what we are talking about. In the original concept of the- <br />fall- -the Plaza - -an area was set up in the block, in front of Baer's, <br />hat was an open area and was supposedly for the assemblage of people <br />hen there were occasions to get a crowd together, that we would have a <br />lace for a crowd. At the point of the original concept here, the <br />dea of a stage never really came into play, or was even discussed. But <br />he idea of having crowds and having a place for them was, and this was <br />hat was proposed in answer to that and was so constructed. The ques- <br />ion was directed to Mr. Wilcox if there have been any occasions when <br />hat area has been used and how has it worked? Mr. Wilcox advised it <br />as been and just Sunday afternoon there was a performance there. A <br />ubstantial number of people cannot congregate there in its present <br />orm as it is a little difficult for people to see that kind of per - <br />ormance. People pressed around the performances at the same level <br />s the people make the performances difficult to see. In this respect, <br />ommissioner Wiggins suggested it would either be necessary to raise <br />he performers or to depress the performers and raise the crowd. If <br />ou depress the performers and don't elevate the crowd, it accentuates <br />he original problem. As to whether there is'any possibility of acco- <br />modating the stage idea in that area, Mr. Wilcox said in his opinion, <br />e sees no reasons why it could not be done. He does not think a stage <br />as to be on any given block and believes the philosophy of a stage is <br />sound one. <br />