For those of you following progress on the list created by the Residents Advisory Committee and adopted by the Mayor, we have some progress to report. Last week, Mayor Franklin, accompanied by George Piscsalko from TNP, drove to Cantor where Steve Coon, the current owner of the Packard Apartments and a noted developer of historic properties, was hosting a fund-raiser for historic preservation.
Mr. Coon had not responded to at least three letters and calls from local people, including a call from the Mayor, encouraging him start work on the building. So the Mayor and George ambushed him at his own party and made sure he heard that we want him to succeed in the renovation. They also made clear that he’ll have all the cooperation the City and TNP can offer. (TNP recently re-boarded several doors and windows that were taken down by vandals/squatters.)
Mr. Coon seemed to welcome their visit and said that he is still hopeful that he can begin work this year. We will follow the progress as renovating the Packard Apartments is one of the top items on the RAC list. This may not seem like a huge step forward but it shows a real commitment; kudos to George and the Mayor for pushing for progress.
This is brilliant! Props for thinking outside the box!
Great move; glad to see this kind of effort. Public officials in the Valley, and in the city in particular, are not noted for being “proactive.” So this is a great switch.
Shows a little moxie, nice move.
No idea who this guy Steve Coon is, but assuming he’s legit, this demonstration that the mayor is interested and that the City is likely to be proactive when his (inevitable) issues hit would be likely to move the project up his priorities list.
The District of Columbia, near where I live, lost several chances to get baseball teams earlier than they did, several chances to keep the Redskins in town, and are in the process of losing their MLS franchise because the owners found it too hard and frustrating to deal with the city. It can make a difference.