Downtown Development Authority Minutes

Present: Christopher J. Johnson, Margene Buckhave, Jim Long, Rick Shaffner, Lou LaChance, Greg Presley, Jim DeHaan, Lynda Heaton, Dave Larsen.

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, Councilmember Jerry Mittman, School Board Member Martha Nield, DDA Director Lori Ward, Chuck Lapham, Reporter Lonnie Huhman, Recording Secretary Carol Kasprowicz

The purpose of the meeting is to reach a consensus of opinion regarding the proposed expansion of the Post Office at its present location. While City Administration and City Council have been actively negotiating with the Post Office with regards to the possible expansion, several City residents have expressed opposition to any expansion to the Wing Street building. City Council is seeking an opinion from the DDA and the business community.

City Manager Word presented the background and outlined the steps taken thus far in the negotiations with the Post Office regarding a possible expansion in the area. He stated the most recent development is a nationwide moratorium on capital improvements by the Post Office. However, he was informed that four projects in the Detroit area have been given a high profile status, with Northville being one of the four.

Director Ward reviewed general background information she had gathered from sources found on the Internet and summarized the positives of having a post office in a downtown area.

DDA member and consulting architect, Greg Presley, reviewed the most recent project drawings. He reviewed the factors involved in the design, and discussed traffic flow, proximity to the nearest homeowner, the grade of the property, and the architectural design of the building.

Discussion among the members covered the possibility of building a separate distribution center from the retail store, hours of operation, property transfer, parking, traffic flow, developmental controls of the community, the Senior Citizens Building and the programs housed in the building, the concerns of the nearby neighbors, and the lack of interest of the merchants regarding the post office issue. It was noted an NCBA meeting was scheduled this evening and the post office issue is on the agenda.

Motion Presley, seconded by Shaffner to strongly recommend to the City Council that the Post Office be retained in the downtown area. Motion unanimously approved.

The next meeting was tentatively set for May 8, 2001. Meeting was adjourned at 9:25 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz, Recording Secretary