So in 1988, then-Councilman Joseph Coleman introduced a bill to change the zoning of the site from residential to commercial. The bill passed. But then the project stalled. Whether wary of the vehement opposition, the slowly sliding economy, or both, prospective tenants shied away. A hearing was held last Tuesday, but the vote was postponed.
Opponents say their concerns stem from the plaza's proximity to their homes.
Of even greater concern is a vehicle exit that opponents say will be dangerously close to a popular playground. Jekogian did not return City Paper 's calls. Adding insult to injury is the fact that no local residents had been hired to work on the construction site until last week, when two joined the crew. But as Byron Woodson of CGC points out, the land was zoned for residential use for 17 years, and nothing was built there. For example, in early plans, delivery trucks would have used the narrow side streets to get to the rear of the stores.