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362 <br /> <br />Regular Meeting <br /> <br />Approval of minutes <br /> <br />Public Hearing: <br />Use of uncommitted <br />funds in the Vinegar <br />Hill Urban Renewal <br />Project <br /> <br />COUNCIL CHAMBER - MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1978 <br /> <br /> The Council met in regular session on this date with the <br />following members present: Mr. Barbour, Mr. Brunton, Mr. Fife, <br />Mr. Gatewood and Mrs. O'Brien. Absent: None. <br /> <br /> The minutes of the meeting of April 3rd were approved as <br />amended. <br /> <br /> A public hearing was held on proposed uses of the uncommitted <br />funds in the Vinegar Hill Urban Renewal Project. <br /> <br /> Mitchell Van Yahres, Chairman of the Charlottesville <br />Development Group reaffirmed the endorsement of the group for <br />use of the remaining Vinegar Hill Urban Renewal monies for the <br />purpose of extending a pedestrain mall including a strong <br />linkage to the Vinegar Hill tract. <br /> <br /> Mr. Paul Wood, President of the Chamber of Comme~ce stated <br />that the Charlottesville-Albemarle County Chamber of Commerce <br />endorses the extension of the downtown mall to establish a <br />liHkage with Vinegar Hill and asks the City Council to undertake <br />the extension this year. <br /> <br /> Mr. W. B. Downer, President of Downtown Charlottesville, Inc. <br />presented the following statement: The Board of Directors of <br />Downtown Charlottesville, Inc. wishes to go on record as <br />endorsing the extension of 'the remaining two blocks of the mall <br />and asks the Council to approve undertaking of the project this <br />year. <br /> <br /> Mrs. Margaret Carter, Chairperson of the City Planning <br />Commission addressed the Council and presented the following <br />priorities as recommended by the Planning Commission. <br /> <br /> Priority #1. That the funds should be used toward the <br /> extension of the downtown pedestrian mall <br /> from First Street to Vinegar Hill. <br /> <br /> Priority #2. Was suggested that the use df these funds <br /> in some manner be used to write down the <br /> relatively high cost of the entire <br /> development of Vinegar Hill. <br /> <br /> Priority #3. To create a private development corporation <br /> which would work in conjunction with the <br /> Charlottesville Development Group which <br /> would be adequately funded to accomplish <br /> the objectives of a unified Vinegar Hill <br /> development as well as other developable <br /> areas of the City. <br /> <br /> Mr. Harry J. Scott presented a statement from the Vice- <br />President of the M. C. Thomas Furniture Company urging the <br />City Council to extend the predestrian mall. Mr. Scott also <br />presented petitions containing signatures from eleven businesses <br />bordering-the proposed two block extension, in favor of the mall. <br /> <br /> Mr. John Conover stated that he supported the extension of <br /> <br />a mall, but would like to know more about the design. <br /> <br /> Mr. W. R. Bingler, Jr. suggested using the money to create <br /> <br />a cultural center in the Lane High School Building. <br /> <br />Mrs. Mary Williams spoke in support of ext~ension of the mall. <br />Mr. James W. Simmons addressed the Council in support of <br />a facility for organizations to use to stage presentations. He <br />requested Council to give some serious consideration to such <br />a facility, if possible to use the monies for this purpose. <br /> <br /> <br />