New Plans Expected for East Main Street site
May 2010
Tim Louis Macaluso
City Newspaper
The Downtown Cultural Commission met last week and agreed to give the DeWolff-Christa-Morgan development team until 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 3, to finalize their new proposal for the former Rascal Cafe site at 420 East Main Street. And they will have six months to complete a feasibility study for the project, says Jim Vazzana, chair of the Downtown Development Corporation.
DeWolff-Christa-Morgan is downsizing its original $65 million, 10-story proposal for the site to something smaller. The original proposal called for a tower and referred to "beds" instead of apartment units to accommodate Eastman School students.
The plan drew concerns from some Grove Place neighbors, says one resident.
"I think people were skeptical about the need for student housing on that site," he said. But student housing on the site hasn't been ruled out, Vazzana says.
"It needs further study," he says.
Block F, as the site is known, is considered by many to be one of the most important undeveloped sites downtown. The right project on that site, officials say, could spur more development along East Main Street.
