We have told the owners that there is no plan to purchase this property. If they do submit a development plan, it will be seriously considered. We don't tell property owners what to do with their property. Gallo adds that the park master plan is constantly changing, as evidenced by a recent decision to set up a historic home district adjacent to the Vellequette property. And the investors' property is still zoned for development.
Plans are long-term thinking.
The investors, however, say they doubt the city has any intention of approving a two-story or larger development in the middle of their new park. They've hired Dan Orloff, partner in a well-connected public relations firm, to appeal to city officials. Orloff says the investors are crippled because they aren't part of the small clique of big developers on whom the redevelopment agency has relied on for most of its development downtown. The downtown won't take off until medium and small investors come in and invest their own money without a city subsidy. Our guys are guilty of being outsiders, being small, and being naive.