The nonprofit corporation established to oversee the revitalization of the downtown mall property no longer has any elected leaders among its directors.
Under the rules established by the City Council, both the mayor and a council representative who initially served on the panel were automatically booted off this month, leaving control of the Bristol Downtown Development Corporation entirely in the hands of seven appointed directors.
Though there's been no sign that either Mayor Art Ward or the council plans to overturn the agency created last winter, councilors are concerned about it operating entirely outside their view.
The city's Real Estate Committee recently agreed to ask Ward to appoint a council liaison to the downtown company.
The liaison is needed, said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, "so we know what the heck is going on over there."
Nicastro said that without the mayor or a council member sitting on the panel's board, "it would be beneficial" to elected leaders to have someone assigned to keep tabs on what the BDDC is doing so that he can report on its activities.
The downtown corporation, which spent most of the year getting organized, is expected within months to solicit proposals from developers to find out what can be done with the 17-acre, city-owned mall site.
The city plans to take out a demolition permit on Friday as the first step to knocking down the mall.
Razing the mall should be finished before spring, city Purchasing Agent Roger Rousseau said.
The city bought the mall in 2005 for $5.3 million with the intention of demolishing it to make way for new construction that would include stores, housing and offices. The long-standing goal of the city has been to revitalize the parcel to make it a pedestrian-friendly urban center that could help pump life into surrounding areas as well as attracting residents downtown.
Nicastro said the council needs to be aware of what's happening.
He said that council liaison are already in place for a host of other panels, from the Bristol Housing Authority to the Park Board, and the BDDC should also have someone assigned to monitor it.
Members of the BDDC board of directors
Tom Cosgrove
Jennifer Janelle
Frank Johnson, chairman
Richard Kallenbach
John Leone
John Lodovico
Gardner Wright
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
26 comments:
Looks like Frank wants to get in on the credit.
He dragged his feet for years, and now that progress is being made, starting with Couture, then Stortz, and now Ward, who is letting a good committee operate, Frank wants to put his oar in the water.
He could have worked to keep the mayor and Councilmember on, but he didn't: he had to flex his muscles.
Talk about Micro-managing!!!!!
The BDDC Charter allows for Honorary Directors who do not have a vote. At our last meeting it was decided to ask Mayor Ward to nominate Councillors Minor and Cockayne to that role. Minor because he was on the corporation since its inception and he is a professional urban planner; Cockayne because he is the mayor's liaison to BDC.
We couldn't agree with Nicastro more. BDDC has got to be an integrated process with full Council purview.
Tom Cosgrove
BDDC
The BDDC has the authority to appoint Honorary Directors. At last Monday's meeting, we voted to ask Art Ward to appoint Councillors Minor and Cockayne. Minor because he has been with BDDC since inception and is an excellent urban planner; Cockayne because he is Art Ward's liaison to Rosenthal's BDC.
We agree with Nicastro. BDDC's project has got to be an integrated project with no surprises. If we all work together, we can have a great development.
So far, we have the right planning consultant, the right law firm, a well balanced, positive board of directors and good city government support.
The public participation at our workshops was very good. Two individuals had even drawn up some plans for us to consider. Hooray for Bristol. We're moving forward.
Tom Cosgrove
I would suggest the BDDC have liasons with ALL the major city departments(i.e. Police, Fire, Water, Planner, Real Estate,DPW and BDA).They all should have some input if for no other reason, simply to avoid possible conflicts in the future.
Speaking of plans for the mall site ...... I still say due to the location of the firehouse..police dept.....townhall .... courthouse ...railway... etc ..... it would be an ideal location for a penal facility .
Even the land ownership of mcdonalds would work . I am certain a deal could be worked out with the franchise to provide meals and even training for occupants of the facility .
The city leadership has already reduced the access by removing 2/3 of the roadway access out front and is in the process today of removing even more travel lanes on the boulevard .
Heaven knows there is a crying need for more space for offenders to be contained . Any Doubts ??? Ask around in Cheshire ..
I'm sure I am going to get killed with comments on this one but here goes anyway...
Since one can argue that Stortz created the BDDC to work around (circumvent) Jonathan Rosenthal and the BDA -- now that Stortz is gone why not include the Director of the BDA (Jonathan or whomever Mayor Ward appoints to be the BDA's Director)? It is time that the BDA and the BDDC get together and look at the big picture of our city's downtown efforts.
"The city leadership has already reduced the access by removing 2/3 of the roadway access out front and is in the process today of removing even more travel lanes on the boulevard."
This idea is so ludicrous I'm not even going to respond to it, but I have to ask: what "access removal" are you talking about?
Tim:
I agree with you. The problem is having city employees attend BDDC meetings allows them to qualify for overtime or comp time. The union will not allow them to attend our meetings on their own time on a voluntary basis.
But your point is well made. We need to coordinate with all boards and commissions and all staff to make sure all of the cars of the development train stay on the right track.
I have asked the Mayor to call a joint meeting of Planning, Zoning, Parks, ZBA, Public Works, Handicapped, Police, Parking Authority, Fire and Transportation so we all keep each other in the loop. He has agreed to do so.
If Minor and Cockayne are made honorary members, (a status I have also requested be given to Alan Weiner) I think we can keep the coordination pretty tight.
Thus far everyone is cooperating, supportive, positive and enthusiastic. I hope the upbeat attitude and constructive input continues.
I am proud of the citizens who continue to provide positive suggestions.
Frank J. Johnson
What's the point? We know that the city will sell the mall property to Carpenter and people like Frank Johnson will let him do whatever he wants with it.
"" This idea is so ludicrous I'm not even going to respond to it, but I have to ask: what "access removal" are you talking about? ""
There used to be 6 travel lanes on North Mian Street . There are now 2 travel lanes on North Main Street . Hence ... reduction of access.... Bristol has taken it upon itself in their very recent history to remove entire sections of roadway by giving it to local business . They are currently in the process of removing turning lanes and installing yet more stop signs on the boulevard . Hence ... reduction of access . I hope this clarifies your confusion .
The idea of locating a penal institution on the old mall site is a logical and useful one that will benefit the community w/ the attraction of an host of associated business enterprises that are so sorely needed to aid in the stabilization of the tax base .
If it was up to me, I would like to see the BDDC's make up stay the way it is. I tend to think that when council members and/or the Mayor, are liaisons to boards, they tend to think they are the "choir director", or the chairman of that particular board. The boundaries of council liaisons have become very blurry over the years. I think the word liaison means " go between" whose only role is to report back to the Mayor and other council members. I have never felt that the liaison should be involved with the day to day operations or decision making of any board or city department. I think the BDDC would be less compromised and would have better ideas and discussions without direct council involvement. The chairman of the BDDC can surely keep everyone informed. Anyway, ultimately the coucil and the board of finance has to give any idea it's blessing. I think the council and Mayor have enough to do without the possible accusation of politically "steering" the downtown project. Honestly, I put all my faith in two individuals, Frank Johnson and John Leone, to move the downtown project forward. No two better experts than that. Zoning and goverment issues both covered.
I think city hall should leave the BDDC alone and let them get their work done. We don't need to slow down the process with bureaucrats.
By city regulations the BDDC would need to have plans and procedures reviewed by the necessary departments anyway. The BDDC doesn't need them breathing down their necks.
anonymous 2:24 said:
"Honestly, I put all my faith in two individuals, Frank Johnson and John Leone, to move the downtown project forward. No two better experts than that."
I say, God help us if we have to faith in those two guys. Frank Johnson and John Leone are 2 of the biggest reasons why Bristol has these problems in the first place. They've been in charge for years and done nothing except make bad decisions. They put the interests of businesses and developers over the interests of the community, and we know that Frank Johnson can't always be bothered to follow the regulations.
10:45am
Downtown Bristol Correctional Institute.
Sure, that's a real Economic Development catalyst.
I think John Leone should be commended for his work as Exec. Director of the Chamber of Commerce. He does a great job.
Frank Johnson impresses me with his enthusiasm towards Bristol's development. His work on the Zoning Commission has been stellar as has been his work on numerous other volunteer endeavors.
If you recall, the main reason that a BDDC was formed was to streamline and expedite the process. allowing them to concentrate on the Mall site.
We have the BDA for most of the rest, and with Rosenthal on the wau out, we can make progress on Riverside Ave.(aready started), Route 6 (already started), Main street and so on.
Let the BDDC CONCENTRATE on the Mall site; their role can be expanded IF they prove themselves.
Weiner Isn't he an out of towner, and aren't they excluded?
Besides, Johnson, Weiner, and Leone spell disaster.
"Speaking of plans for the mall site ...... I still say due to the location of the firehouse..police dept.....townhall .... courthouse ...railway... etc ..... it would be an ideal location for a penal facility"
--I've been saying the same thing for years. Everyone looks at me like I'm nuts. The city gets great incentives from the state and all the economic activity from the jerk-weeds that work there...well maybe it's not such a great idea.
"Tim Gamache said...
I would suggest the BDDC have liasons with ALL the major city departments(i.e. Police, Fire, Water, Planner, Real Estate,DPW and BDA).They all should have some input"
Proving his ignorance once again. Tim with all due respect isn't there a flag-football game somewhere for you to go and ref?
There used to be 6 travel lanes on North Mian Street . There are now 2 travel lanes on North Main Street . Hence ... reduction of access....
They eliminated the outer lanes to create on-street parking to help local merchants, and to slow down through traffic which also helps local merchants by discouraging through traffic and making people slow down enough to notice, hey, there's a bike store in downtown Bristol! Who knew? It doesn't reduce access at all. What a strange conclusion.
November 21, 2007 10:53 PM:
Yes but they failed to put in the angle parking that was "on the table" during the joint downtown planning sessions. Angle parking is also in the 10 Year Plan of Development written by the Planning Commission 1998-2003 (I was there and on the commission).
Downtown Middletown is doing well. Main Street, Middletown has four lanes. The speed reduction theory created by reducing four lanes to two is flawed evidently. Middletown also has angle parking. There are no silly islands or crossing areas in Middletown like they built in Bristol (which impedes snow removal). The North Main Street-scape was poorly executed.
Let me rephase that: The theory that changing the street from four lanes to two creates a better retail environment is flawed evidently by the fact that Middletown has four lanes and a business-healthy downtown.
Ah yes ..... snow removal . Are you aware that the "improved" section of North main street has to be closed to all traffic so the workers can come in w/ bucket loaders and dump trucks to haul away the snow ?? yet another example or reduction of access ....
Please don't forget the continued closings of north main street for "special events" , also a reduction of access.
Please remember .....police ... fire .... postal ... town hall ... courthouse ... ALL REQUIRE ACCESS .
"Let me rephase that: The theory that changing the street from four lanes to two creates a better retail environment is flawed evidently by the fact that Middletown has four lanes and a business-healthy downtown."
I like downtown Middletown too but don't get too carried away trying to compare Main Street Middletown with North Main Street Bristol. They have a LOT more stores, and their Main Street is a lot wider than North Main Street ever was, even before the redesign. Angle parking takes up a lot of road width, more than we had to give up.
I do not believe that MIDDLETOWN ever lost its downtown as we did .
But single file streets and awkward cross-walks have done almost nothing so far.
More parking, more pedestrian friendly, and the acessabilty is stil the same. You just can't speed like you used to.
A win win situation all the way around!
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