RDA Min 1995-01-30 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. I II residents of the development and 80% nom the community at large; the art center would be a community resource and available for a reasonable rent; and MRC would work in a - cooperative partnership with Redwood City to make this development work. In response to Council questions, John Raiser, President of Raiser Corporation, described the art center as an art walk, which will look like an extension of City Hall, and advised that they had chosen the same landscape architect and materials chosen by the new City Hall project architects; In answer to Council questions, Matt Schwartz, Project Manager, described the physical layout of the child care center and the arts center, and advised that the downtown merchants he talked with were supportive. Fran Wagstaff described a creative solution to the tax incentive requirements and deadlines and suggested a joint application with the City. Mayor Gasparini called on those individuals who handed in speakers cards: Joe Steinfeld, 850 Main Street, downtown merchant, Redwood City, stated that there are retail vacancies in the downtown now and the new retail units would never be rented, the project would add to the debt already incurred by the Redevelopment Agency which had no money, and the retail component was insane. - Mayor Gasparini advised that the previous speaker was expressing an opinion and he did not have his facts right. Kathleen Mahany, representing the League of Women Voters, spoke in support of this innovative project as a great addition to the downtown. Mrs. Mahany stated that this development meets the League's position on affordable housing for low and moderate income people. Don Saye, 2021 Broadway, downtown merchant, Redwood City, stated he had at first opposed this project and followed its development very closely. Mr. Saye said that he now supported the development wholeheartedly and saw it as a positive development on this side of the tracks. In response to Council comments regarding the ordinance requiring ground floor retail in the downtown area, Fran Wagstaff stated MRC had tried very hard to follow the directives of the Council, and that they knew the market and considered it a challenge. In response to Council questions, Chairman Greenalch described how the goals for low and moderate housing are being rethought in the state legislature. - MINUTE BOOK NO.1 Special Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes Page No. 253 January 30,1995 Page 3