MR. CLEMENT: The very best time that we
can hope for is an early decision by February 1
so that working drawings could be approved on a go-ahead
status for the mall itself, with actual construction
to begin on June 1, 1974.
First that sum of $250,000 be expended
for traffic improvements.
This is a necessary signal change
and complementary improvements to be
able to provide a perimeter-type traffic circulation
around the downtown area.
We would propose secondly that $1,045,000 be expended
for the building of the Main Street Mall
from the CNO station or in front of City Hall
to the Vinegar Hill area.
One of the areas that we've had to cut substantially
is the additional side street improvements.
We have now reduced that to four,
and those of you who'd like to turn around
can see that projected on the proposed downtown project
there where we've reduced 2 4 the number of connecting
mall streets which would go two to Water Street and two
to Market Street.
A sum of $250,000 would be necessary
for those connections.
We're proposing that $150,000 be spent for the City Hall Plaza.
Now that's a little bit misleading
in that a great portion of the funds that we're
speaking of there would have to be expended
to make necessary improvements to the 7th Street traffic
artery there, in order to properly carry the traffic.
As you know, there's a small opening
now that connects 7th Street with Water Street,
and that would have to be improved considerably.
The one message that we got, I think,
very loud and clear from the number
of people who spoke to us, including, I think,
sentiment from City Council, was that they
would very much favor the replacement
of the central place.
As you know in the last presentation,
the commission had recommended that due to the lack of funds,
we would have to cut this out of the project.
We were very fortunate, I feel, in being
able to negotiate favorably with the [? Kendridge ?]
Corporation, the owners of the property at the corner of 2nd
and Main, and the council has already
been made aware of that, and, I believe,
has appropriated the funds to enter into contract
with the present owners.
The commission is suggesting, however,
that instead of spending the sum of $225,000 for the land,
that we buy the property and request Halpern to design
a central place with approximately 9,000 square feet
of that area going back on the market
to be developed by private enterprise,
so as to bring additional businesses into the downtown
community.
I think this is one of the fallacies
that we've been working with thus far
that we've torn down quite a number of buildings
when we proposed that the parking garage be constructed.
We tore down a certain area, and we
have taken retail space away.
The fire, tragically, has taken certain retail space away.
We propose that this ought to be reversed.
That it's time now that we bring additional businesses back
into the community to help contribute
not only to the total well-being, but to the tax roll
as well.
Therefore, we would project that for the central place
the sum of $225,000 would be originally expended,
but it is with some very realistic hope, I think,
that the remaining property could be put back on the market
and could be sold for $125,000.
Therefore, we could net the central place
land cost at $100,000.
Now this is considerably below what we originally
had thought the total cost of land
might have been had we elected to stay
in the third and main location, which had been proposed
sometime back.
So that is a major plus in my estimation
for not only the program itself, but certainly
the financing of it.
We would propose further that the sum of $550,000
be allocated to the architects with their instruction
to use the funds in the manner in which they feel
is most fitting for the general benefit of the total plan,
for the development of the CNO plaza,
for the Vinegar Hill Project, and for the Central Place.
The sum of $190,000, and this is approximate, because it would
depend on the final dollar amount of the project,
is allocated to architectural fees.
This would leave us with a contingency fund of $115,000,
bringing the total project to $2.5 million.
SPEAKER 1: Thank you very much, Mr. Clement.
You have gone with your committee and done your job.
Let me ask Mr. Hendricks if he is anything
that he wants to add at this moment
before I ask counsel if they have any questions.
After that, I will give members of the audience
an opportunity to raise questions that may come.
Mr. Hendricks, do you have anything?
Do you want to point out anything up here on the map?
MR. HENDRICKS: The only thing I would like add in terms of time
that on the 1st of June, this project is to proceed.
These side streets and Main Street would have to be closed.
SPEAKER 1: Is there anyone in the audience who
would like to speak to this?
SPEAKER 2: Harry O'Mansky.
HARRY O'MANSKY: Mr. Mayor and members of the City Council,
I bring this as a matter of information to the council.
I participated in the past few days
in a survey contacting merchants and business
places in the downtown area.
We found that about 70% of those contacted
were opposed to taking traffic off Main Street and the side
streets.
We have a list of 45 firms that want traffic
to remain on these streets.
LEE HUFF: My name is Lee Huff.
I own the garage building right across from City Hall.
It took me 30 years to pay for that [? deli. ?]
I've taken [INAUDIBLE] down here to show it.
The building.
And if you all make an inspection there,
you'll find out that the basement
is leased American glass.
There's no way to enter the front from South Street.
Because there's two separate.
The first floor is entirely separate.
I have a park near it to tell you the truth.
If you all know Charlottesville, you
know I'm the only place that has a park in here
for customers by the business.
It's a service building for sales and service.
If the traffic is taken away from in front of my building
and trucks cannot come in there, the building won't be worth
anything after it took me 30 years to pay for it.
HOWARD CRISP: My name is Howard Crisp,
and I'm not a business man downtown, I guarantee you,
but I am a taxpayer, and I have some questions.
We hear opposition from the business community,
and we hear a lot of comments about what
all this is going to do for the people of Charlottesville.
And I would really like to know what
it is going to do for the people of Charlottesville.
For the people who are paying the taxes.
The $2 million that you talk about that's going into this
brickyard you want to put out here.
I don't see where we're going to get the benefit.
You haven't improved any access to the downtown business area
that I can see.
You've made it no easier for us to shop
in Charlottesville downtown.
And I would like to see some of the answers as to how
it's going to benefit us who have to pay this $2 million.
SPEAKER 3: The whole idea behind this mall
is to turn the downtown shopping area over to the pedestrian
so that people can walk freely back and forth and feel that--
a sense of space of being able to move about.
Now, if we put the car-- we keep the cars
on Main Street, that's going to be destroyed,
and I don't think whatever greenery
would be added to it would be significant enough.
This is one thing that has concerned me
throughout this whole project, and that was,
are we putting enough ingenuity, imagination, and money into it
to make enough of an impact that people
are going to want to come downtown to shop
and to do business?
Because if we aren't, then we're probably wasting the money
that we're proposing to spend.
I think that if we had a project for $1.5 million,
which would allow us to do nothing, but mall, a Main
Street and four side streets, that that probably would not
make a significant enough impact.
[INAUDIBLE] that we can spend on this project and make that
have an impact.
Certainly the more money you have, the more of an impact
you could make.
But what's at stake is not anybody's individual downtown
business.
What's at stake is the whole downtown
as it relates to the total community.
It's a vital part of this community.
Now there's nobody that will guarantee that this project is
going to be 100% successful.
I don't think anybody would wager that.
I don't think anybody would write you an insurance
policy to guarantee that.
But based on the evidence in other cities, cities
that have been successful and cities that have not
been successful with malls, we think that at this time
the project that has been presented to City Council
is a project that will allow the downtown business
area to remain a vital part of the community
and will allow it to function in such a way
as it will not be subject to decay.
And we think that ultimately if the plan that the Halpern
people have given to us is carried out, that we
go beyond just downtown.
We begin to preserve the areas around it.
That it will enhance the downtown area
over a period of years.
I think the alternative is reasonably frightening enough
that the amount of money which is proposed to be spent here,
is a very small sum of money.
When we look at the amount of local dollars
that went in to the clearing of Vinegar Hill and the impact
that that has had on the community in the last two
years, $2.5 million is a very small amount
of money to spend for such a vital part of the community.
There may be other sections of the community, other business
areas of the community, that will
need this same sort of treatment in 10 or 15 years.
I think the city government has got
to be prepared to move into those areas at such time
as is necessary so that those business and shopping
areas do not decay also.
It just so happens that the subject
of decay in my opinion at the present time is downtown.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) Downtown.
Downtown.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) Downtown.
Downtown.
SPEAKER 1: It's on Mr. Gillam and [? Mrs. Roundhouse ?]
motion that $2.5 million be spent rather than $3.5 million
or whatever that one was.
Ready?
Motion carries 3 to 2.
Now that means that--
as I understand it, the motion reads
acceptance of the Central City Commission's recommendation
with the change in figure to $2.5 million with $0.5 million
to come from a special assessment.
At the commission take all of the comments
and sit in and evaluate these comments,
comments that have been made over the last any number
of weeks and that the commission come back to the council
before starting working drawing.
Back to the Council with it's proposal and then it will be--
the Council will consider before they plan
to go to work on the drawings.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) Downtown.
Downtown.
SPEAKER 4: I'd like to move downtown to the mall.
Is everything still full speed ahead?
VAN YAHRES: Well, last week--
I think it was last week-- we voted,
this council voted for the contract
to proceed with working drawings on the central place.
As far as I know, things are moving along on schedule,
we're still shooting for that August 1st date,
and hopefully we'll hit it.
I haven't heard of anything yet that is slowing it down.
SPEAKER 4: The question of assessment.
I think that businessman Mr. O'Mansky
had said that they would have to be assessed before improvements
were made.
Is this true?
SPEAKER 6: I have here Mr. O'Mansky [INAUDIBLE],,
I believe, but in reality I'm not sure this is true.
I haven't talked to Mr. Hendricks or to Mr. O'Mansky.
So I really don't know about if he has said this.
I've heard it said in the paper.
VAN YAHRES: There might be an assessment as such.
In other words, the money would not
be collected, as such, but that hopefully--
not hopefully, there will be an assessment figure
given to the merchants.
They will know what will be expected
of them as far as the assessment will be in the future.
But it will not be an absolute figure because we--
reassessment, every year, changes the figure,
but they'll have an idea of how much this will cost them
in the five-year program.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) Downtown.
Downtown.
[MUSIC - PETULA CLARK, "DOWNTOWN"]
(SINGING) When you're alone, and life is making you lonely,
you can always go downtown.
When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
seems to help, I know.
Downtown.
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city.
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty.
How can you lose?
The lights are so much brighter there.
You can forget all your troubles.
Forget all your cares so go downtown.
Things'll be great when you're downtown.
No finer place for sure, downtown.
Everything's waiting for you.
Downtown.
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you.
There are movie shows downtown.
Maybe you know some little places
to go to where they never close downtown.
Just listen to the rhythym of a gentle bossa nova.
You'll be dancing with him, too, before the night is over, happy
again.
The lights are much brighter there.
You can forget all your troubles.
Forget all your cares so go downtown.
Where all the lights are bright.
Downtown.
Waiting for you tonight.
Downtown.
You're gonna be all right now.
Downtown.
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you.
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand
to guide them along.
So maybe I'll see you there.
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares,
so go downtown.
Things'll be great when you're downtown.
Don't wait a minute more.
Downtown.
Everything's waiting for you.
Downtown.
SPEAKER 6: This is public hearing on a special assessment
of the district downtown mall.
I will ask anyone who addressing counsel,
please limit your remarks to three minutes.
Mr. Hendricks?
MR. HENDRICKS: Proposed public hearing tonight
before City Council is to consider proposed improvements
to that portion of Main Street in the city of Charlottesville
lying between the intersection of West Main Street and Preston
Avenue on the West and East Main Street
and 7th Street Northeast on the East
into the southern portion of the block of 2nd Street
Northeast lying between Main Street
and Market Street and the proposed creation
of a special assessment district comprising
all parcels of real estate, budding
said portion of Main Street and 2nd Street,
within which taxes or assessments would
be levied upon certain property owners pursuant to section 15
dash 1.
15.1 dash 239 of the code of Virginia as amended.
The proposed improvements include, but are not
limited to, the replacement of sidewalks and street pavement,
the special paving materials, the replacement and expansion
of facilities for storm-water drainage,
and the installation of lighting, benches,
waste receptacles, and other street furniture, plantings,
and other permanent amenities.
The area that we're considering tonight,
shown on-- this is a map of Main Street starts
this particular point intersects Preston Avenue and Main Street,
runs down Main Street to 7th Street.
SPEAKER 6: I would like to start out
by asking does anyone who like to speak, forward.
Yes, sir.
C.H. WILLIAMS JR: My name is C. H. Williams, Junior.
I rise to speak in favor of the mall concept,
both as a property owner and as a merchant.
EDDIE CAMPBELL: Thank you for the time.
My name is Eddie Campbell.
I'm president of a local corporation operating
as retail merchants in the downtown area.
Also property owner.
I would like go on record, as Mr. Williams did,
100% in favor.
CHANNING DANIEL: Channing Daniel.
This time speaking not as president
of the Chamber of Commerce, but as a Vice President
of a national bank and trust company.
Although the question of the mall
has not been approved or disapproved
by the board of directors of National Bank,
I speak for Hubby Dabney, myself, and the entire bank
management team, in favor of proceeding as planned.
MYRON TREMAINE: My name is Myron Tremaine.
I want to speak for myself and also as a member of the Central
City Commission.
I want to allay any thoughts there
are about the Commission not giving time and effort
and thought to the mall plan.
The Commission has been working on this plan
for approximately two years.
It has reviewed, what we felt, were
the wishes of the majority of people in the downtown area
and in Charlottesville.
MCNAIR TILLMAN: Mr. Mayor, I'm McNair Tillman
of Tillman's Inc. I want to thank you for the opportunity,
for the silent majority, to get up and speak out tonight
in favor of the mall plan.
I speak for my own business and also for the landlords
of my business, that we're very much in favor of the mall plan
going ahead.
SPEAKER 6: Anyone who opposed, your term.
[INAUDIBLE]
JERRY TREMBLAY: Jerry Tremblay, and I
represent Mr. O'Mansky and several of the merchants
and landowners.
To my knowledge, this is the first time
that you are listening to this problem
under the statute of the state.
The mall concept is a concept that we're against,
the people I speak for.
We're not against improvement downtown.
We are certainly, the people I represent
are the land owners and the merchants
and therefore invite revitalization of downtown,
but not in the manner that you propose to do it.
SPEAKER 6: Yes, ma'am.
NANCY ROGERS: My name is Nancy Rogers.
I'm simply a taxpayer in this city,
and I agree with Mr. [INAUDIBLE],,
I believe his name was, who said that he
believed that this should be put up before the people.
I believe so, too.
HARRY O'MANSKY: I'm Harry O'Mansky,
and I'm a property owner and also a merchant downtown.
The pedestrian mall is both unworkable and impractical.
I say this now through experience.
Mr. [INAUDIBLE] and I have visited four malls, most
of them in the middle West.
All of these malls are adaptable,
we will say, to a mall concept.
We are not adaptable to a mall concept.
AUDIENCE: My name is David [INAUDIBLE]..
I speak-- have come down this evening as a--
I won't say I pay terribly much in taxes,
but I pay more this year than I did last year
to the city of Charlottesville.
I came down last evening to look over the downtown
to make a quick survey to see what
needs to be done to fix it up.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
What did I find down here about 8:30 last evening?
I found about six juveniles wandering around aimlessly,
a number of automobiles, the drivers of which
seemed to be on the verge, at least,
of engaging in some sort of drag racing,
one movie theater open, and that was it.
There was no restaurant, no bar, no nightclub, nothing
interesting to do downtown.
Now I can go out to Barracks Road
any time, day and night, stand around in people's drag,
looking at the magazines.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JESSE MOSS: Oh, I'm opposed to the mall.
I think we've got too much taxes already--
SPEAKER 6: Excuse me, what's your name, sir?
JESSE MOSS: I can't hear good.
SPEAKER 6: State your name.
JESSE MOSS: Jesse Moss.
SPEAKER 6: Yes, sir.
JESSE MOSS: And I think the burden should be taken off
of you, counselors, and you have a McHugh referendum.
I know the word McHugh smells bad in City Hall,
but I think that's what we ought to have.
And at five [INAUDIBLE] break, best of my knowledge,
there's already a break.
SPEAKER 1: Like Mr. Barbour, you may be sorry you did this.
To make a little statement here before this procedure starts.
If I talk about the mall, I think
I've been prohibited from talking about the mall,
but I don't think I'm prohibited from saying what
I'm going to say right now.
I regret very much that I have been
prevented from discussing publicly
and from voting on the mall.
So I, with two other counselmans,
requested the Attorney General to make a ruling.
I would have to say that I'm not attacking the Attorney General,
but I do not agree with his ruling.
SPEAKER 6: I might make a statement,
and sometime during that way, I would like to make a motion.
I would like to preface this statement
by saying that as a member of City Council,
we were elected to make decisions.
This was a responsibility for the position
to which we were elected.
Admittedly, some decisions has been easy,
while others has been very hard and have
proven to be unpopular, and even controversial.
I would like to make the motion to accept the construction
contract from Robbie Lee and Sons for the downtown mall.
VAN YAHRES: I hope the future will
show that we are correct in this move,
and the only way we will find out, I submit,
will be to go ahead with this, take this move.
I think that it's a progressive move for Charlottesville,
and I believe it will be the beginning.
And I want to underscore 'beginning' of the rejuvenation
of downtown Charlottesville.
Other things will have to happen or the mall will fail.
The whole question will fail.
We have to do the other things.
And we will have to get behind it.
And as Mr. Barbour has spoken to it, we have to do it together.
If we don't get together and do it,
if we continue to be divided on this question,
I think the mall proposal stands in dire jeopardy of failing.
So I second the motion, and I also
vote for the continuation of the mall
and the acceptance of the R. E. Lee bit.
[MUSIC PLAYING]