HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-01-15 Vant Hall, Downtown, Public Comment
Friends, I have always done everything I can to keep downtown healthy, esp. of
course, 1982-90. During that time, we passed a stricture re downtown zoning that
said any retail business in downtown B2 had to be replaced with a retail business
-- except with a CUP.
Some years later, Robyn Erlenbush asked for a waiver so that she could put her
realty office in a prime downtown location. In public comment, people spoke both
for & against the change. Among the people speaking against were the owners of
Country Bookshelf, Cactus Records & me.
Nevertheless, when Robyn promised to make her windows attractive to window
shoppers, etc., they approved her request.
As we left the building, Mary Jane DiSanti was crying; She said through her
tears, "That's the beginning of the end of downtown."
Robyn has not kept her promise in any way, shape or form. The windows are dark,
dull & uninviting.
She did allow MOR to put a few small, vapid things in the windows, but nothing
that would help keep people downtown.
Big mistake.
More recently, (during at least your long City career, Jeff?), HRDC (an eminently
helpful community asset, but not a retail business) was allowed to take up a
retail spot across the street from their main office, the old post office.
I guess there's no way you can reverse either of those decisions.
But while I'd seen notices of a CUP hearing for the real estate company, I did
not see the notice for HRDC. Did I miss it, or has the ordinance been changed?
I've been meaning to ask you about that ever since HRDC took up the retail space
across S. Tracy.
This morning's (Sat.) Chronicle letter to ed headlined, "DOWNTOWN SHOULD BE
DIVERSE AND INTERESTING" spurred me to write you this email. You, too, must hear
the frequent comments I hear, such as, "Downtown has too many galleries and
restaurants; it's losing its appeal to people."
And that's the truth.
What can you do about protecting downtown? Do you really want to? I hope so.
Sincerely,
Mary VH
(Mary Vant Hull)
maryvanthull@yahoo.com