(February 21, 2009) ECRD has learned that the development team of Klutznick and Anderson has submitted a new proposal for a tower at 708 Church Street. As we expected, the new proposal is eerily similar to the changes the Council hastily made to the Downtown Plan adopted last week. In a questionable move, Alderman Moran has requested a "Special Meeting" of Planning & Development on Thursday February 26. Whether this special meeting date will be changed or abandoned will be a subject of discussion at the regularly schedule Planning & Development meeting on Monday February 23 at 6:30pm. It is clear that Alderman Moran and several others who support the excessive height and density in the Fountain Square block sense an urgency in granting special consideration to the Klutznick team. Why the rush? How did the new proposal reach the City within two weeks of the passing of the questionable downtown plan? Is there a reason why this needs to be approved before the new Council is seated?

We have heard that the highlights of the new plan are:

• A 35-story mixed-use luxury condominium tower (amazingly, exactly 385 feet tall!)
• A single floor of retail space (18,258 sq. ft)
• NO office space
• 4 floors of above ground parking (approx 270 spaces)
• 218 Luxury Condominium Units

The development team is claiming 4 benefits:

1. Commitment to Silver LEED Certification (lowest level above basic)
2. Contribution to affordable housing (mandated by ordinance)
3. Real Estate Tax/TIF generation (no real change from previous proposal - fuzzy math)
4. "Meaningful" contribution to Fountain Square ($1 million)

Note: the majority of these items would NOT be considered benefits under the Downtown Plan passed on Feb 9.

The following Aldermen SUPPORTED the Downtown Plan that allows for a MAXIMUM height of 35 stories in a "central core": Wollin (1st), Jean-Baptiste (2nd), Holmes (5th), Moran (6th), Rainey (8th) and Hansen (9th)

It should be noted that Ald. Wynne (3rd), Bernstein (4th) and Tisdahl (7th) REJECTED the plan because of the creation of a "central core" (which was also opposed by a MAJORITY of the Plan Commission).

It is our understanding that Ald. Wynne, Bernstein, Tisdahl and Hansen are questioning the rush to push the Klutznick/Anderson proposal, possibly circumventing established rules and procedures of Planned Developments.

We would appreciate any assistance by any or all of the following means:

• Email or call your Alderman
• Attend the Monday February 23 P&D meeting at 6:30pm to express your disapproval of the project and the questionable process.
• Attend and make public comment at the City Council Meeting on the 23rd at 8:30pm.

While some Aldermen have been defending their actions and denying any relationship between the 708 Church Street proposal and the new Downtown Plan, we fail to see how their past activities and current actions can be anything but related.

We have been told that the Downtown is "Everybody's Downtown", but the current actions don't seem to bear this out. Please raise your voice.