We all need to concentrate on avoiding mis-information and character
assasination, and focus instead on potential merits or non-merits of the
project. Here are some important corrections:
Basim wrote:
Approximately 2 years ago, Walt Gutzmer and David Piehl came up with the
idea of Artist Housing on this site (on 2nd Ave. between Lake and 31st St.
along with several of the houses on the west side of 3rd Ave. S.) They
received $50,000 of public money through CNIA, which they had control of.
**WRONG! The idea was developed almost seven years ago by residents of the
block in question and their neighbors on the other side of third Avenue - it was
submitted to Daryl Hall of the MCDA in 1995 by the housing committee after
residents of the block (Ken Flowers, the Gevers, Hoelzels, and others) took it
to the housing committee for approval. Further, the public money invovled was
$22,500 of a maximum $25,000 awarded by the CNIA business development Committee.
Current CNIA president Zach Metoyer was among several on the grant selection
committee who were very enthusiastic about the proposal, which was presented by
block residents, with no participation by myself or Walt Gutzmer (Walt really
has played almost no role in all of this, why the accusations?) That proposal
was also consistent with current zoning, the small area plan, and the NRP plan.
Basim wrote:
They selected Artspace to be the developer of the project. They then
conducted a survey amongst area artists, but failed to include any people of
African-American or Hispanic descent in their survey. Coincidentally, this
area is predominately comprised of African-American and Hispanic people. A
feasibility study was also done and results showed artist housing would not
be a favorable option for the area.
**Wrong again! Artspace did the survey, and minorities were included - recall
that the study done by ArtSpace noted that usually such projects have small
studio, efficiency and 1-bedroom apartments, but that ArtSpace planned to build
2 and 3 bedroom units in this proposal to reflect the needs of the neighborhood.
Artspace was selected by the Artist Housing Advisory Committee, which was
comprised of several African American members, (Rosemary Williams, Rebecca
Polston, Ken Flowers, and Valerie Metoyer - although Valerie was unable to
attend most meetings due to other conflicts) as well as BASIM SABRI!! Yes, the
committee welcomed Basim's participation! Remember Basim, that you made the
offer on several occassions to assemble the real estate for the project - even
putting it in writing? You said your motivation for participating was because
you loved the idea, and you were friends with several people at ArtSpace? The
driving idea behind the ArtSpace proposal was that various studies had
identified a strong need for artist space among existing residents of Central,
of all ethnicities. ArtSpace was in the initial stages of talks with the Latino
Artist Group to determine how they could partner in the development when you
terminated discussions.
Basim wrote:
Since the artist housing would have sought several million dollars of public
money and much public support, David Piehl and his friends called for a
public meeting. The neighborhood clearly voted their idea down. I was
approached by outside developers who wished to purchase this property from
me so that they would be able to develop a hotel. At first, the idea of a
hotel did not appeal to me.
**Wrong again! ArtSpace committed to raise the required funding on their own,
and wanted to have the neighborhood approve of the concept via a public meeting
before they committed additional resources to the fund raising effort.
Basim wrote:
However, after giving it serious consideration I
decided that if a hotel could be created in conjunction with some retail
shops on the first floor, it would fulfill and satisfy the needs of the
area.
**As Basim often states, everyone has their price
***With regards to Basim's efforts on other buildings, recall that CNIA, myself,
Walt, and several others welcomed and assisted with those projects - the only
opposition at the time was Urban Ventures.
Basim wrote:
CNDA was created during the leadership of David Piehl and Walt
Gutzmer at CNIA. $1.3 million was put into this building which was never
completed by these people.
**I have never had any involvement in CNDA whatsoever - why try to link me to
that project? CNDA's board included Maxie Turner, and some other
representatives over time, David Myers, Karen Forbes, all respectable,
neighborhood-oriented folks who did the best that they could given the
circumstances.
Basim wrote:
Within 40 days of purchasing the property, I completed the proper redevlopment
of the
building and had it fully occupied.
**And evicted Judy Cooper Lyle, a spectacular African American entrepreneur who
made significant personal investments into the theatre at the site, after
promising the city that the theatre was welcome to stay - also suing her!
Basim wrote:
Unlike the artist housing idea, no public money will be
sought, no houses will be torn down and nobody's house will be threatened to
be taken from them.
**Are you denying that contact has been made for hundreds of thousands of
Enterprise Zone funding (that is public money) and saying that no NRP funding is
being contemplated? Two houses have already been torn down (admittedly those
two were overdue), and at least two more will be removed for the current plan.
In the zoning and planning meeting last week you stated that an additional two
houses should be included.
Basim wrote:
It was suggested by David Piehl and his friends that we should build it in
an area that is not surrounded immediately by residents. They suggested
areas similar to Nicollet-Lake or Chicago-Lake. In other words, build it
somewhere that is not a block away from David Piehl's house.
**That's inuendo - Nic/Lake is 2 blocks away, so it's hardly about that! It's
about interfacing properly, and if it could front Lake Street instead of a
residential street it is a different story - I have stated that I personally
still oppose the useage because I believe it is detrimental, but believe that if
it is considered desirable by enough people, then it should not abutt
residential areas wherever it is built in order to minimize the detrimental
effect it will have. There are several spots within a block of the proposed
location that could accomodate this thought.
Basim wrote:
In reality, tomorrow I could build a retail mall which would
not require any zoning changes. Another possibility I have been lobbied to
consider is low-income rental units.
**There is a shortage of low income rental units that is metro-wide. I applaud
efforts to build residential units in the vacant space on this block - there
would likely be a lot of additional support from area residents on such a
proposal as well - I would love to see such a proposal pursued, provided that it
not displace any existing residents.
Remember, while part of the debate has been about the ArtSpace proposal, the
real debate is whether a motel is appropriate development or not for this
location. Building residential units has been the desired mode of use for the
space for a long time - artist housing was a vehicle to achieve residential
space as well as provide opportunities for small businesses that struggle.
David Piehl
Central
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