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<br />1~ <br /> <br />TUE SDAY <br /> <br />AUGUST 7, 1973 <br /> <br />Mayor West then invited questions and/or comments from citizens present, some of whom <br /> <br />raised the following questions (to which answers and/or replies and/or comments were <br /> <br />given by City officials): <br /> <br />(1) What percentage of the City's tax dollar is paid by businesses <br />presently within the central business district? <br />(2) How is the project to be financed? <br />(3) Why build what might be termed a "shopping center" within the <br />central business district? <br />(4) If Some tax burden, i.e., for the cost of the project, falls <br />on all local taxpayers, why? <br />(5) How would present business firms be relocated during construction? <br />(6) Would present business firms be permitted to return to area? <br />(7) Might not many small business firms now within the area be "priced out" <br />of returning to the area because of (anticipated) higher rental <br />and operating costs? <br />(8) Who will build proposed plazas and off-street parking facilities? <br />(9) Will College Street be eliminated? <br />(10) What will be private developer's responsibility as to providing <br />off-street parking? <br />(11) What is the time schedule for implementation of Plan (Phase) I? <br /> <br />In addition, Mr. William B. Muse stated that, although he is for redevelopment, in <br /> <br />his opinion the proposed CBD plan is shortsighted, lacks in-depth input from the total <br /> <br />community, is not viable, will decimate the black business area between Jones Street <br /> <br />and Market Street because of the proposed realignment and relocation of that section <br /> <br />of Fayette Street now between Jones and Market Streets, is akin to Federal urban <br /> <br />renewal programs and their results, disregards the interests of black businessmen <br /> <br />and the black community and (consequently) will be doomed to failure, and has been <br /> <br />prepared by persons unqualified in this field. Mr. Joseph Pritchett concurred <br /> <br />with Mr. Muse's opinion as to the alledged lack of total community input and <br /> <br />representation and, also, as to anticipated effect of the plan upon the Fayette <br /> <br />Street business firms. Councilman Hobson, indicating his approval of the CBD <br /> <br />proposal as a whole, expressed the opinion that planning of this type was long <br /> <br />overdue and, also, expressed his objection to CBD plan's proposed elimination of <br /> <br />Fayette Street as such, which proposed elimination was not encompassed in initial <br /> <br />studies and plans. <br />