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55 <br /> <br />housing as well as advocate for neighborhood preservation. Mr. Cox recommended that <br />Council designate $15,000 from the CDBG funds considered earlier for reprogramming. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano noted that when he was a member of the Social Development <br />Commission, the race relations task force talked about the importance of establishing a <br />community development corporation. Mr. Toscano noted that the success of those <br />organizations depends on the organization skills of people in the neighborhoods. Mr. <br />Toscano stated that he is willing to talk about the issue further to see if it could be made to <br />happen. <br /> <br />Mr. Vandever expressed interest in joining Mr. Toscano when the issue is discussed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Anjana Mebane-Cruz, Department of Anthropology, Brooks Hall, questioned why <br />the Council considers the aesthetics of the proposed building for the High Street lot so <br />important but doesn't think it is important for the public housing being constructed on Ridge <br />Street. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty stated that the appearance of the Ridge Street housing was considered <br />important, and noted that the design was approved by the State Department of Historic <br />Preservation. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that even though some may disagree about the design, the <br />appearance of the Ridge Street building was very important. Ms. Slaughter noted that the <br />High Street property requires Board of Architectural Review approval, but no local design <br />board existed for Ridge Street. <br /> <br /> Mr. Maurice Cox stated that the Director of the Housing Authority has shown a <br />willingness to discuss improvements that could be made to the Ridge Street building. <br /> <br /> Mr. Brent Nelson, of South Street and a member of"Town Watch," opposed the sale <br />of the High Street parking lot. Mr. Nelson stated that he thought it was fair to say that <br />people do not want the building proposed to be built by McGuire, Woods, Battle and <br />Boothe, and stated that no one knows what the property currently owned by McGuire, <br />Woods will be sold for until it is actually sold. Mr. Nelson stated that he thought it was <br />morally obscene for the City to help McGuire, Woods get out of paying capital gains tax. <br /> <br /> Mr. Larry Engle, a resident of Albemarle County, agreed that Council has a lot of <br />traffic and parking plans, but stated that if the City had followed through on its parking plans <br />it would be making more money from the High Street parking lot. Mr. Engle stated that he <br />did not see the need to sell the High Street lot at this time. Mr. Engle stated that he was <br />disappointed with the process being used to interview applicants for the position of director <br />of Economic Develop, charging that no one will sit on the citizens panel who is actively <br />involved in business downtown. <br /> <br /> Ms. Linda Peacock, Budget Administrator, stated that several downtown business <br />people will be involved in the interview process. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano noted that in years past department heads were hired by the City Manager <br />with little involvement outside City government, but the process has been opened up recently <br />and attempts are made to have a representative group involved in the process of interviewing <br />candidates. <br /> <br /> Responding to comments made by Mr. Engle, Ms. Daugherty noted that part of the <br />interest on the part of Council in selling the High Street parking lot is to retain McGuire, <br />Woods, Battle and Boothe, a large employer, in the downtown area. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kevin Lynch stated that he can't think of law offices moving away from the Court <br />Square area. Mr. Lynch stated that he is sympathetic to citizens' need for parking and he <br />does not see how having a building will serve peoples' needs. Mr. Lynch stated that if the <br />City agrees to exchange the property he thought a buyer for the McGuire, Woods property <br /> <br /> <br />