June 23, 1969 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Special Session 935, }~inutes June 23, 19G9 Page 7 of business people in the area, reading: ~'WE, TiIE ~£~ERSIGNED, ILAVE COD~FIDENCE IN TI{E FUTURE OF UNIVERSITY CITY. T~L~T IS %~iY T~IOSE OF US REPRESENTING OLDER BUSIneSSES llAVE STAYED AI~D THOSE REPRESENTING Nm'? BUSINESSES ~VE CO~iE Ill. I~ URGE ~!E COUNCIL TO ALSO HAVE FAI~I IN ~{E ~JTURE OF UI~IVEilSITY CITY BY STICKING TO ITS ORIGIILAL REASONS FOR ZOk,~ING Tire ~STOVER LAND AS IT DID. I~ URGE THE COU~CIL NOT TO REZOi..IE TI. lIS AREA BECAUSE I~ FEEL IT %~ILL BE DETRI~Y~AL TO ~£E QUALITY AI~D ~TAi~DARDS OF ~IE ~MISTING ~USINESSES A!~ID TO GENERAL WELL BEING OF THE RESIDENTIAL ~!EIGIiBOR]~OOD.~ Mr. Smith further spoke against the rezoning contending tl~t he has not heard a really valid reason why the Council should reverse a previous decision. He maintained that there is no guarantee that the history of Target's seven years of success would continue. He challenged the figure of 30 cars in an hour and 30 cars out an hour with a total of $15 million a year business~ and also the cost of $3,500,000 for the structure. Mr. Smith contended that people ~enerate business and the area needs people - not a Target Discount Store. Mr. Wilmer Mayer, 1184 Belrue Avenue, upon being recognized, said he would like to see the Target Store come in because of what it would mean to University City. Another speaker was ~lr. l~arvin Sokolik, 951 Jeanerette, who asked Mr. Smith whether the majority of the ~.mer of the stores (who signed the petition) live in University City; Mr. Smith indicated he did not know. Mayor I~aufman said he believes the record can be checked. Mro Sokolik was followed by Mr. Odell Virgin, 1245 }it. Olive, who said he thinks Target is a fine organization and he would like to have them in the City, but he expressed concern about the traffic that would be generated and said he is most concerned about ~lt. Olive. He suggested if the Council rezones the property in question, it ought to also rezone Mt. Olive. 1~. Bruce Zuckerman, 1247B North and South Road, next to be heard, said he is employed by Target Stores as a pharmacist. He spoke highly of the Target Stores' operation and its excellent treatment of employees and the fine type of businesses it attracts. Mr. J. R. Mayer, 1146 Swarthmore, spoke against the project, suggesting that the ground in question, along with ground across the street, could be more ideally developed and the City Council ought not to fail to realize the potential. Mr. Gene Pattiz, 1409 Purdue, the next speaker, said he is in favor of the rezoning which would permit Target to construct a store. As for the high rise apartment, Mr. Pattiz said the residents would be contributing to the traffic in the morning and evening and the children would, of course, need the schools. He felt that establishment of a Target Store would be beneficial to the merchants in University City. Mr. David I.~gidson, next to address the Council, said he is concerned with the proper growth of the City and, in his opinion, a Target Store as proposed would be an important stimulus to the existing business. Dr. Lewis F~,ler, 7847 P~lan, upon being recognized, pointed out there