CDA entertains all comers for Ren Zone;

After having no interest from potential developers for the residential Renaissance Zone property on Lakeview Boulevard, two local entities stepped forth to declare interest in the property. First, Jim Fleis and Dan Gabara formed a new company called Lakeview Builders and had a multitude of ideas and new plans for the development, causing a stir with their new concepts in early December.

The following week, Bob Parsons of Rogers City Group, Inc. attended a Community Development Authority (CDA) meeting to put forth some ideas for development of the project and said that group would soon be ready to present a proposal and offer. Since that time, no offers have come forth and all seems quiet, presumably because both groups are readying for their offers. But nobody was present from either entity at the Wednesday CDA meeting, according to mayor Beach Hall.

Hall said he had heard from a Craig Patterson of Alpena who was interested in being a promoter for the Renaissance Zone, but not a developer.

?WHAT CAME OUT of the meeting,? said Hall, ?is that basically, the CDA is going to propose a purchase of Kiwanis Park to the council for $1 and other considerations. That gives the CDA some flexibility.?

Kiwanis Park property is included in the parcels of property in phase one of the Renaissance Zone Development property on Lakeview Boulevard.

According to Hall, based on the purchase price of properties several years ago, it was determined the property was worth about $30,000. The CDA will better be able to determine what value should be put on the property.

?But when you get down to it…it cost the city nothing, but it (Kiwanis Park) has pot

ential,? Hall said. ?Nothing has been put into it as yet. The voters approved selling it several years ago.

?We?ll (the CDA) meet again January 22 (at 7:30 a.m.), and we should have the final staff version of the requests for proposal and letters of intent. Essentially there was nothing done with any developers, but it was discussed as to what needs to be done.

?Nothing has as yet been submitted by any developer — but nothing will be entertained until February 3. The RFP (requests for proposal) will be given to the two we know of, (Lakeside Builders and Rogers City Group, Inc.), and anyone else who asks.

?They will have until the end of February to submit a proposal and offer,? Hall continued. ?If nothing comes in, the CDA will move ahead as its own developer.?