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Edgewood Plaza work to proceed despite violation #ITY #OUNCIL TO FINE DEVELOPER ALLOW RENOVATION OF RUNDOWN COMMERCIAL CENTER TO CONTINUE LONG STALLED EFFORT TO SPRUCE UP 0ALO !LTO S DILAPIDATED %DGEWOOD 0LAZA SHALL GO ON THE #ITY #OUNCIL DECIDED -ARCH DESPITE THE DEVELOPER S ILLEGAL DE MOLITION OF A HISTORICAL BUILDING AT THE PLAZA LAST FALL 4HE PLAZA LOCATED IN 0ALO !LTO S $UVENECK 3T &RANCIS NEIGHBOR HOOD HAS BEEN LARGELY DESERTED FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS SINCE THE !LBERTSONS GROCERY STORE CLOSED )T TOOK YEARS FOR THE DEVELOPER 3AND (ILL 0ROPERTY #OMPANY TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD RESI DENTS ON A PLAN TO RENOVATE THE PLAZA ON #HANNING !VENUE 4HE PLAN THAT THE CITY APPROVED LAST FALL ALLOWS 3AND (ILL TO BUILD HOMES AT THE PLAZA IN ADDITION TO A NEW GROCERY STORE 3AND (ILL WAS ALSO REQUIRED TO REHABILITATE TWO HISTORICAL BUILD INGS BUILT BY DEVELOPER *OSEPH %ICHLER ONE OF WHICH WAS TO BE REFURBISHED AT ITS PRESENT SITE WHILE THE OTHER WOULD BE DISASSEMBLED REFURBISHED AND REASSEMBLED AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION IN THE PLAZA 4HAT PLAN HOWEVER FELL APART IN 3EPTEMBER WHEN THE DEVELOPER S CONTRACTOR COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED THE BUILDING THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DISASSEMBLE 4HE DEMOLITION PER FORMED WITHOUT A CITY PERMIT THREW THE PROJECT INTO TURMOIL AND LEFT THE COUNCIL WITH A QUANDARY HOW TO PE NALIZE THE DEVELOPER WITHOUT FORCING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SUFFER THROUGH
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YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION DELAYS !FTER MUCH DEBATE COUNCIL MEM BERS AGREED ON -ONDAY THAT WHILE THE DEVELOPER SHOULD PAY FOR ITS ER ROR THE PROJECT SHOULD MOVE ALONG FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMUNITY 4HE COUNCIL VOTED WITH +AREN (OL MAN 'AIL 0RICE AND 'REG 3CHMID DISSENTING TO ALLOW 3AND (ILL TO PROCEED h/UR CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW v #OUNCILMAN ,ARRY +LEIN SAID h)T S NOT FUN TO HAVE A BIG PROJECT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD v $EVELOPER *OHN 4ZE OF 3AND (ILL 0ROPERTY #OMPANY APOLOGIZED TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE UNAUTHORIZED DEMOLITION WHICH HE SAID WAS PER FORMED WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION AND FOR BREAKING HIS PROMISE TO THE COM MUNITY 4HE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY HIRED TO WORK ON THE REHABILITATION DEMOLISHED THE BUILDING ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE AFTER DISCOVERING THE BUILD ING WAS hNOT REPAIRABLE v ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY S HISTORICAL CONSUL TANT * 'ORDON 4URNBULL h4HE DEMOLITION WASN T AUTHO RIZED BY ME OR BY THE CITY BUT OC CURRED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF MY ORGANIZATION v 4ZE SAID h) M SORRY IT HAPPENED AND ) TAKE FULL RESPON SIBILITY v -OST COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREED THAT WHILE THERE SHOULD BE A PEN ALTY THE PROJECT SHOULDN T BE HELD UP ANY LONGER THAN NECESSARY -EMBERS ASKED STAFF TO RETURN AT A LATER DATE
Veronica Weber
by Gennady Sheyner
#ONSTRUCTION IS WELL UNDERWAY ON THE NEW MARKET THAT WILL REPLACE THE OLD !LBERTSONS STORE AT %DGEWOOD 0LAZA IN 0ALO !LTO &RESH -ARKET IS SLATED TO OPEN ITS FIRST 7EST #OAST OUTLET THERE IN -AY WITH A PROPOSED FINE AN AMOUNT THAT WOULD CONSIDER THE ECONOMIC BEN EFITS OF BUILDING THE NEW HOUSES AT %DGEWOOD 0LAZA )N THE MEANTIME 3AND (ILL WILL BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION "EFORE THE COUNCIL S VOTE SOME RESIDENTS URGED THAT THE PROJECT BE ALLOWED TO MOVE ALONG WHILE OTH ERS CALLED FOR THE COUNCIL TO HOLD THE DEVELOPER ACCOUNTABLE !REA RESI DENT 2OBERT 3MITH SAID HE DOESN T CONSIDER THE DESTROYED BUILDING hHISTORICAL v h) THINK IT S AN EXAMPLE OF @ S COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE STRIP MALLS AND SO ON v 3MITH SAID h)T WAS A FAILURE v *EFF ,EVINSKY WHO ALSO LIVES NEAR
%DGEWOOD 0LAZA CALLED THE DEMOLI TION A hBREAKDOWN OF THE 0# PRO CESS IN 0ALO !LTO v REFERRING TO THE CONTROVERSIAL hPLANNED COMMUNITYv ZONING THAT ALLOWS DEVELOPERS TO EX CEED CITY REGULATIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR NEGOTIATED hPUBLIC BENEFITS v )N THE CASE OF %DGEWOOD 0LAZA THE MAIN PUBLIC BENEFITS ARE A NEW GROCERY STORE AND REHABILITATION OF HISTORICAL BUILDINGS h4HIS WOULD BE THE MOST EGRE GIOUS EXAMPLE YET FOR A 0# BEING VIOLATED v ,EVINSKY SAID "Y LAW THE CITY CAN ISSUE A FINE OF ABOUT FOR THE ILLEGAL DE MOLITION THOUGH THE FINE CAN BE RAISED SIGNIFICANTLY FOR A DEMOLITION OF A HISTORIC STRUCTURE 4HE COUNCIL
AGREED THAT FALLS FAR SHORT OF WHAT THE CITY SHOULD ASK FOR 3AND (ILL WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED NOW TO PERFORM A SUPPLEMENTAL %NVIRON MENTAL )MPACT 2EPORT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE CHANGING NATURE OF THE PROJECT 0RICE OPPOSED THE MOTION FAVOR ING MORE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR 3AND (ILL 4HE COUNCIL S DECISION MEANS THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE %DGEWOOD 0LA ZA GROCERY STORE REMAINS ON TRACK &RESH -ARKET A .ORTH #AROLINA BASED CHAIN PLANS TO OPEN ITS FIRST 7EST #OAST STORE AT %DGEWOOD 0LAZA IN -AY N 3TAFF 7RITER 'ENNADY 3HEYNER CAN BE EMAILED AT GSHEYNER PAWEEKLY COM
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City tries to hold on to retail on Emerson 0LANNING COMMISSION ENDORSES REQUIRING RETAIL AT STREET LEVEL ON BLOCK OF %MERSON by Gennady Sheyner OR A GLIMPSE OF DOWNTOWN 0ALO !LTO S CHANGING FOR TUNES ONE NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE BLOCK OF %M ERSON 3TREET WHERE ZONING LAWS HAVE BEEN SWAYING WITH THE ECO NOMIC WINDS IN RECENT YEARS 7HEN THE ECONOMY WAS SAGGING IN AND SPACES ON THE PERIPH ERAL DOWNTOWN BLOCK WENT VACANT THE #ITY #OUNCIL REMOVED A LONG STANDING REQUIREMENT THAT RETAILERS OCCUPY THE GROUND FLOOR GIVING PROPERTY OWNERS THE OPTION OF LEAS ING TO OFFICE TENANTS 4HESE DAYS WITH EMPTY SPOTS NONEXISTENT AND OFFICES DISPLACING SEVERAL SHOPS ON THIS BLOCK THE ZONING PENDULUM IS SWINGING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION 3EVERAL DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES "LUE #HALK #AF£ &RAICHE 9OGURT AND *UNGLE #OPY HAVE BEEN RE PLACED BY OFFICES IN RECENT YEARS /N 7EDNESDAY NIGHT IN A RE
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SPONSE TO #ITY #OUNCIL CONCERNS THE CITY S 0LANNING AND 4RANS PORTATION #OMMISSION VOTED WITH 6ICE #HAIR -ARK -ICHAEL AND #OMMISSIONER -ICHAEL !L CHECK DISSENTING TO RESTORE THE GROUND FLOOR REQUIREMENT TO THE BLOCK BETWEEN (AMILTON AND &OR EST !VENUES 5NDER THE ZONE CHANGE THE COMMISSION APPROVED EXISTING OFFICES ON THE BLOCK WILL BE AL LOWED TO CARRY ON AS THEY ARE "UT IF A BUILDING REMAINS VACANT FOR MONTHS THE GROUND FLOOR RETAIL REQUIREMENT KICKS IN h) THINK THE ISSUE IS THAT IF WE DON T DO THIS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANCE THAT OTHER PROPERTIES WILL DESIRE TO TAKE THE HIGHER RENT AND THAT WE LL LOSE THE CONNECTIVITY TO RETAIL THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT v #OMMIS SIONER !RTHUR +ELLER SAID SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE ZONE CHANGE
/NLY TWO PROPERTY OWNERS VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THE ACTION *OYCE 9AMIGAWA PRESIDENT OF (AMIL TON -ANAGEMENT A SUBSIDIARY OF +EENAN ,AND #OMPANY SPOKE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL CALLING IT THE hMICROMANAGEMENT OF REAL ESTATE v (ER COMPANY OWNS THE BUILDINGS FROM TO %MERSON 3T h7HEN YOU START REQUIRING CER TAIN USES THAT MAY BE CONTRARY TO WHAT THE MARKET IS TELLING YOU THAT CAN CAUSE THOSE VACANCIES v 9AMIGAWA SAID $AVID +LEIMAN OWNER OF &OREST !VE ON THE CORNER OF &OR EST AND %MERSON SAID HE DOESN T OPPOSE THE CONCEPT IN GENERAL BUT SAID IT SHOULD NOT APPLY TO HIS BUILDING BECAUSE IT HAS NO WIN DOWS AND WOULD NOT BE VIABLE AS A RETAIL SITE 4HE BUILDING HE SAID IS MORE THAN YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST
WHEN IT HAD RETAIL USE h)F YOU CAN THINK OF A RETAIL TENANT WHO WOULD TAKE IT CERTAIN LY LET ME KNOW v +LEIMAN SAID h) DON T THINK ONE EXISTS v "UT THE COMMISSION DECIDED TO GO THROUGH WITH THE CHANGE NOT ING THAT IT WOULD NOT IMPACT THE PROPERTY UNLESS IT WERE VACANT FOR A YEAR !LCHECK WAS THE ONLY COMMISSIONER WHO SPOKE AGAINST THE REZONING SAYING HE OPPOSES HAVING THE CITY MEDDLE IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET !LCHECK SAID THE CHANGE MAY FORCE PROPERTY OWN ERS TO SCRAMBLE IN THE h TH HOURv TO FIND TENANTS JUST TO AVOID LOS ING THE OFFICE OPTION 4HE CHANGE HE SAID WILL RESTRICT THE PROPERTY OWNERS FLEXIBILITY h)T S NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY WON T BE ABLE TO RENT TO AN OFFICE IN MONTHS IT S THAT THEY LL BE FORCED TO RENT FOR LESS v !LCHECK SAID
-ICHAEL THE ONLY OTHER DISSENT ER HAD NO PROBLEM WITH CONSIDER ING THE POLICY CHANGE BUT ARGUED THAT THE ZONE CHANGE IS PREMATURE 4HE CITY IS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A MAJOR DOWNTOWN STUDY THAT WOULD ASSESS THE AREA S POTENTIAL FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT AND RECOMMEND ZON ING ADJUSTMENTS "UT #HAIR %DUARDO -ARTINEZ ECHOED THE COUNCIL S SENTIMENT THAT IF THE CITY DOESN T MOVE WITH THE CHANGES MORE RETAIL ESTABLISH MENTS WOULD BE DISPLACED WITH OF FICES WHICH FETCH HIGHER RENTS #OMMISSIONER #ARL +ING MAK ING HIS DEBUT ON THE BOARD SAID THAT IF THE NEW POLICY WERE TO LEAD TO VACANCIES THE CITY WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THEN N 3TAFF 7RITER 'ENNADY 3HEYNER CAN BE EMAILED AT GSHEYNER PAWEEKLY COM
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