1993-04-19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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38 office space with parking, coupled with a parking deck behind the Circuit Court, on the City owned property on High Street between 3rd and 4th Streets, N.E. Ms. Smith stated CIDA had reviewed the two proposals which had been. submitted and recommended that the R. E. Lee/Great Eastern Management Group be chosen. Mr. Vandever stated that the two issues before Council are 1) whether or not to develop the lot at this time; and 2) if so, which proposal should be accepted. Mr. Charles Rotgin, speaking on behalf of R. E. Lee and Great Eastern, stated that he was aware of the need for Board of Architectural Review approval of the building design and also wanted to work with the neighborhood on the project. Mr. Rotgin stated that the economic impact of the project will be substantial, his development team is in a position to fund the project, and they are sensitive to hiring minority subcontractors for ths~project. Mr. Rotgin noted that the proposal submitted complies with all existing City ordinance requirements and the parking which currently exists on the lot will be replaced by parking below the proposed building and in a proposed parking deck behind the Circuit Court. Mrl Kurt Wassenaar, speaking on behalf of the group which also submitted a proposal for development of the site, but which was not recommended by CIDA, stated that their goal was to bring new business to downtown. Mr. Wassenaar stated that he did not think the site should be developed unless all criteria of the proposal had been met and did not feel that CIDA had given adequate time to either proposal submitted. Mr Wassenaar recommended that Council meet privately with ea~h~ d~V~lOper before~making a decision.' Mr. Baugham Roemer, Vice President of the North Downtown Residents Association, stated that he was concerned not only with the proposed development of the High Street parking lot, but also with the proposed parking structure behind the Circuit Court which would remove access to a property owner's alley on 3rd Street and would increase traffic in the neighborhood. Mr. Thane Kerner, 609 E. market Street and a CIDA member, stated that after an exhaustive review CIDA had unanimously recommended that the site be developed and that the R.E. Lee/Great Eastern Group be chosen. Responding to concerns expressed, Mr. Kerner stated that parking will be preserved in the proposed development; he did not think the existing parking lot qualified as "open space;" including residential units in the building would be costly, risky and speculative; the development will add to the tax rolls~ and the recommended developer presented a superior parking plan and has the necessary finances. Mr. Kerner urged Council to accept CIDA's recommendation. Mr. Sam Frelich, a partner in the proposal with Mr. Wassenaar, stated that his group had come to the City with the proposal to develop the property and he had intended to be a tenant in the building and would also bring the Environmental Company downtown. Mr. Frelich stated that he has letters of intent to occupy for 94% of the building and interest has been expressed by three banks to finance the project. Mr. Frelich questioned whether consideration'had been given to any future expansion of the Circuit Court and the impact a parking deck might have on that expansion. Mro Fran Lawrence, 1729 Chesapeake street and President of the BAR Association, stated that the development proposal for the parking lot represented a wake-up call regarding parking problems for the court buildings downtown and he requested that the Council take a long, hard look at the parking situation. Mr. Lawrence stated that he was not supporting either development proposal, or even whether or