Quote Originally Posted by Spartan View Post
Yes, there are a lot of valid concerns. Kerry is just saying the least of which should be the height, and I agree, and it sounds like a lot of us agree on this.

I'm not going to stand here and tell a developer that they can't build the development they can sell. This is the development that Rainey Williams is possibly, maybe, someday capable of selling. The 40-story tower of everyone's dreams is pretty clearly NOT the tower he can pull off.

Let's move past this "not tall enough" issue. The street interaction looks pretty good, actually. The lighting has the potential to be good, with the curtain wall element, and I'm sure they'll work that out. The parking egress/ingress is a MAJOR issue because it is absolutely vital that California's easement is kept clear so that we can reconnect it. Furthermore, a visionary should step in here and try and reconnect California now rather than "leave it for later." We're addressing this block now, so now is the time.

I'd even respect Rainey Williams for making an argument that he doesn't want to leave anything unresolved for the future with the investment he is making in this block. We need to respect that these guys are developers and not philanthropists and work with them and not against them. This development would be improved with extending California flush through and doing ingress/egress off of the new street, which is a win-win between the development and civic needs.

Height, however, is irrelevant. The public has the right to weigh in on several aspects of development, especially aspects that come into contact or conflict with other investments (especially public investments) OR public goals. The developer gets to decide how big of a bite he can chew.

Thank you very much for an enlightening and respectful response! I wish I had as much faith in Rainey as you do. Is it not concerning though that once SC is gone he can do whatever he wants to the land? good, bad, or indifferent. (Which is fine because he paid over 4 million for it but geeze, I really hope he delivers) fingers crossed.