I don’t really feel that Empire was given preferential treatment, when you consider how they have dealt with Reynolds… who has been given I don’t know how many extensions. Reynolds originally talked about doing something as far back as 2001, when Janet Cowell was still on the City Council!

Anyway, I agree with Ernest, that we ought to give them more time… a few months seems reasonable. Consider also that issuing yet another RFP would take considerable time, and the RCC will be open shortly (we need rooms!). If Hatem can downsize, but still deliver a viable ($) hotel site plan by Nov, then we are in business. The N&O stated just this week that Hatem plans to split the site into 1/2 hotel and 1/2 office/condos (to come later). Good idea. Reynolds deadline is looming as well…

West of the new convention center is a parcel that will be used for an amphitheater, and in the future will serve as an extension to the convention center. I will be unpleasantly surprised if this lot will not be split, offering an opportunity for an adjacent hotel, or a mixed-use project. Given the vision for a future high-rise development at the site where The Warehouse was - provided the new restaurant/club doesn’t become financially successful - I think this site will be prime for redevelopment in the nearest future.

There are two more city-owned lots that will be part of the South End revitalization: Site 5 (bounded by MLK Jr Blvd, Dawson St, South St and McDowell St) and Site 6 (NW corner of MLK Jr Blvd and Salisbury St). While I do not expect anything yet, I do want to see some mixed-use development, including a few mid-rise buildings to complement something taller. Something of truly urban nature. Doesn’t have to be tall buildings everywhere, but I would urge the city to aim for something that will bring more pedestrian activity.

How do you get a message to city council and city manager, get the RFP’s out for all available land and get these empty pathetic lots developed.

Also, what about the land west of the convention center, where those garages and goodyear station are located. How long will we have to look at those eyesores?

Empire Properties has bitten more than they could chew, that is for sure. However, they deserve one more chance and I am glad that the City Council gave it to them. What harm a few more months would do? If Russel Allen wants to see things moving, he should recommend putting out RFPs for Sites 2 and 3. The city officials were supposed to have this done some time ago… What happened? By doing so, we achieve three things:

1) Avoid any further delays and move forward with some more redevelopment.

2) Put pressure on Empire Properties as more competition is under way.

3) Test some new guidelines for RFPs. If a project is not within the scope of the entire redevelopment effort, then issue another RFP, or extend the deadline until someone with both vision and deep pockets brings something nice to the table.

Dana, you brought up an interesting and valid point… There are more lots out there for redevelopment, some of which belong to the Empire Properties. Two of them come to mind, right away: the lots adjacent to Lincoln Theater and Clarion Hotel. The problem is that Empire Properties will then have to either negotiate parking space, or include it in their building(s). That would add significant cost to the price tag of Lafayette, which is why I am confident that Greg Hatem and his team will do their absolute best to deliver what they proposed.

If Empire isn’t granted numerous additional extensions, I fully expect to see public protesters, celebrities snidely ridiculing the Mayor in public, a movie which conveniently omits mention of the MOU and numerous extensions, and Cindy Sheehan here to show how dumb our leadership is.

The honest truth is that while Empire has done great work and plans an excellent project, a line has to be drawn. It isn’t fair to the other bidders three years ago to allow the site to go untouched, regardless of the economy.

However, it isn’t like we don’t have plenty of empty lots downtown for other great Empire projects. Hopefully Empire can keep their great momentum going.