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84 <br /> <br /> Mr. Paul Wood, President of the Paramount Theater and <br />Cultural Center group, acknowledged supporters of the <br />restoration of the Paramount in the audience. Mr. Wood noted <br />that the funds requested are not tax dollars and would <br />provide an opportunity for the City to be a partner in the <br />project without using tax dollars. Mr. Wood stated that he <br />felt the project will be important to downtown and noted that <br />over $400,000 has been raised in cash or in-kind. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter questioned whether the Paramount group had <br />a feasibility study which could be provided to the Council <br />and requested that updated information on Code requirements <br />be provided. <br /> <br /> Mr. Wood stated that he would provide available <br />information to the Council which included an asbestos <br />study. <br /> <br /> Mr. Sheldon Anderson, 740 Ivy Farm Drive, and owner of <br />University Florists, stated that he was firmly in favor of <br />providing the full $50,000 to the Paramount, noting that this <br />was the only way the Council could contribute to the project <br />without involving tax dollars. Mr. Anderson stated that he <br />felt providing the funds would be a vote of confidence to the <br />volunteer group working to restore the Paramount. <br /> <br /> Ms. Sharleen Martenas, President of the North Downtown <br />Residents Association, stated that while most of the NDRA <br />Board members supported restoration of the Paramount, the <br />Board unanimously supported using the money for a revolving <br />fund. <br /> <br /> Mr. Darden Towe, 607 Davis Avenue, noted that the <br />Council had supported the Virginia Discovery Museum by <br />purchasing the building they occupy and making a loan to them <br />and stated that he hoped the Council would now support the <br />Paramount. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jon Fink, 1901 E. Market St., requested that Council <br />provide ~10,000 toward the replacement of the Woolen Mills <br />Chapel roof, adding that the remainder would be raised by the <br />neighborhood and church. Mr. Fink stated that he supported <br />renovating the Paramount, but hoped that some funds could go <br />to the church. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kurt Wassenaar, 619 E. High St., Chairman of the <br />Board of Architectural Review, stated that the BAR has begun <br />to prepare a plan for historic renovation and unanimously <br />supported using the funds to establish a revolving fund to <br />use for historic preservation. <br /> <br /> Ms. Antoinette Rhodes of Oak Street, stated that she <br />supported a revolving fund, adding that it was not a matter <br />of which project was more worthy, but that since only $50,000 <br />is available the funds should be put towards the best cause. <br /> <br /> Mr. Fran Lawrence, 1729 Chesapeake Street, speaking on <br />behalf of the Woolen Mills Neighborhood, recommended that the <br />Council consider an ongoing grant program for historic <br />preservation and suggested that it be used for exterior <br />renovation. Mr. Lawrence stated that while he would support <br />giving some funds to the Paramount, he hoped that some could <br />be used for the Woolen Mills chapel and other projects. <br /> <br /> Mr. James Berry, Central Region President of Jefferson <br />National Bank, stated that the Bank supported providing the <br />funds to the Paramount, noting that it would help the <br />Paramount group reach a major milestone. <br /> <br /> Mr. Sandy Peaslee, 307-A 2nd Street, N.W., President of <br />McGuffey Hill Neighborhood Association, speaking personally, <br />supported establishing a revolving fund. <br /> <br /> <br />