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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />'When Chairman Griset asked those persons in agreement with <br />the proposed sale to step forward to the podium, there was no <br />response. He then asked for those disagreeing with the proposed <br />sale to step forward to the podium. <br /> <br />Mr. Robert Lopez, of 1535 E. 17th Street, addressed the Agency <br />and registed the following objections: 1) community was not <br />consulted on this new proposal for the A-2 site; 2) the parking <br />structure would have an excess of 250 spaces; 3) other buildings <br />along Broadway should be refurbished, including the Broadway <br />Theater; 4) a study should be made to see if the proposed hotel <br />is economically feasible; 5) the project was rushed into and a <br />moritorim should be declared until the future of the Westdome <br />development is known. <br /> <br />Mr. Manuel Pena, of 631 Fairview, stated that: 1) the City <br />Manager had stated that he wanted a City Hall that would not <br />intimidate the people and that in his opinion the proposed Carley <br />development would be intimidating; 2) the development of Westdome <br />and Centerpointe would center all interest on the west end of <br />Fourth Street thus creating a "slow kill" of the merchants on <br />east Fourth Street. <br /> <br />Mr. Charles McClung, Jr., attorney for the Olivos family, <br />recapped some of the prior negotations between the City and the <br />Olivos family. He stated that the Olivos family did not oppose <br />the development of the A-Z site but would ask that the Agency <br />reconsider the demolition of the Broadway Theater, adding that, <br />in his opinion, rehabilitation of the theater would cost less <br />than a new theater or a performing arts center. He asked for a <br />30-day delay to allow the Olivos family time to formalize their <br />plans. <br /> <br />Chairman Griset then declared the Joint Hearing closed and asked <br />if there was anyone else here to speak to the subject or did <br />staff have a rebuttal on the environmental findings or the <br />proposed sale. <br /> <br />The Deputy City Manager/Development Services stated that the <br />proposed A-2 development would not separate one end of the <br />downtown area from the other end but would instead totally <br />integrate the whole area. He stated that this was not the time <br />to call a moritorium but a time to escalate and look for other <br />opportunities to invest, adding that this project would encourage <br />investors, thus creating additional employment opportunities and <br />a broader tax base for community services. <br /> <br />The City Manager pointed out that the statement he had made <br />regarding the intimidation of people by the City Hall related to <br />the fact that there were so many walls in the present Civic <br />Center. He added that the design of the A-2 development did away <br />with the walls that separate the community. He added that staff <br />considered this proposed development to be economically viable. <br />He pointed out that the hotel will be supported by the conference <br /> <br />-6- <br />