Carefree Truth

Issue #350, October 27, 2014

 

 

Councilman Mike Farrar stressed that everyone on the Council fully embraces the Ed Lewis Project, feeling it will provide an intrinsic enhancement.  He said Mr. Lewis had told him that Arizona State University (ASU) had been slighted by the Mayor.  Mr. Lewis wanted the Town to re-engage with ASU.  Mr. Farrar attended the next meeting with Carefree and ASU representative Gordon Knox, and confirmed that it was cordial.  Mr. Knox clearly communicated that they would enjoy working with Desert Foothills Theater (DFT), and thought it was a great opportunity for both organizations.  Working together, they could have daily programs.  He also stated that ASU was nowhere near being able to commit to a facility in Carefree, that a commitment was 2-3 years away.  The proposal has to go to the Deans of each of the Schools and to ASU President, Dr. Crow, for approval to cover operating expenses.  Mr. Farrar felt it would be advantageous if Carefree could attract a diversity of cultural draws like ASU, DFT, and the Heard, rather than putting all the eggs in one basket.  

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar thought the development agreement seemed nearly finished, and that the 5 new elements for which the Town asked were very minimal.  He questioned the change in parking from the 288 spaces he remembered to the 177 on the current application.  Mr. Lewis clarified that they are 2 different stages.  The 288 spots are for the North project, which includes underground parking; the application is for the South project.  

 

 

 

Returning to the topic of a cultural center, Mr. Farrar said he would love to see that in Carefree.  It would draw people and increase property values.  The entire Council is open to working with potential attractions.  He reiterated that he did not sense any bad feelings at the August meeting with ASU.

 

 

 

Councilman John Crane said there are two very different opinions on conversations between ASU and the Town.  He felt that ASU has enormous value and helps everyone.  It is imperative to sort it out, maybe approaching it from a different angle and being creative.  A resolution should be drafted for ASU to consider. 

 

 

 

Councilwoman Melissa Price wanted to go over some points in her petition.  1: Further negotiations will take place in good faith.  2: The Town will fund and support a cultural center, and will take another look at working with ASU.  She felt that they were talking about it as if it were just space for DFT, a Council chamber, and meeting rooms.  She said it went from 5,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet, then back down to 15,000 square feet.  There are 2 years left on the lease in the current location, with a minimal square footage price, and an option to renew for an additional 5 years.  She said the date for that renewal came and went without any input from the Council.  Mayor David Schwan replied, "You're entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts.  The lease expires in 2016.  We have not passed 2016."  Ms. Price was under the impression that renewal notice was supposed to be given to the landlord by last July.  Gary Neiss said he did not recall that in the terms of the agreement.  Ms. Price couldn't see why the Town was considering building a Council chamber, which was not a priority for economic development.  

 

 

 

Carefree resident Gary Hayward stated that Greg Gardner, Jerry Wetta, and he were asked to formulate a Long Range Financial Plan for the Town of Carefree.  They looked carefully at the benefits of building onto the existing town hall, although it was not nearly the size of the project under consideration now.  They included a Council chamber, to be paid for with funds put aside for that use.  In his opinion, building a Council chamber, but not all the other uses, makes a lot of sense.  But the Town must look at the trade off of economic benefits for outlays, so all is subject to discussion and looking at the numbers. 

 

 

 

Mr. Crane said that is exactly right.  The problem is finite money.  Carefree is not like Scottsdale and other big communities that can afford to spend significant money and make a mistake.  What is small change for them is a big chunk of money for Carefree.  The mission is economic development.  Mr. Hayward agreed that choices must be made to invest in A or B.  Which gives the biggest return? 

 

 

 

Kirsten Brown, of Butte Properties, suggested utilizing a multi purpose room in a new facility that would be available for lectures one night and a Town meeting the next night.  Mayor Schwan responded, "Well said.  That's the proposal from DFT."  Ms. Brown saw separate spaces in the proposal.  The Mayor clarified the layout in the current proposal.  There would be a multi purpose room that could be used as a Council chamber/lecture hall/community meeting room, a 240 seat performance space, and a space in the back for theater storage and uses.  He pointed out that if the ASU Herberger Theater came, it would have the same requirements.  Ms. Brown said that all the entities considered had proposed sharing space.  Mayor Schwan replied, "Exactly."

 

 

 

Ms. Brown pointed out that while ASU doesn't have any money for this project, neither does DFT, so they are both coming from the same baseline.  No one foresaw this years ago to start saving for it.  Both are saying, "We'll go hand-in-hand and we'll raise it."  She and her father, Ed Lewis, are prepared to host and pay for fundraising events with ASU.  ASU has experience from forming two other satellites through their art organization.  Mr. Farrar agreed that at the last meeting with ASU, DFT, and the Town, the intent was a collaboration moving forward. 

 

 

 

Mayor Schwan felt everyone could agree that there are multiple opportunities, all of which should be pursued.  Mr. Lewis needed a Resolution from the Council, an issue which couldn't be added to the regular Council meeting the following night because the agenda had already been published.  But a special Council meeting would be held at which a Resolution would be considered.  Mr. Lewis had been asked to draft one and send it to the Town at his earliest convenience, and he had agreed to do so.  

 

 

 

Carefree resident John Traynor suggested that COINS be utilized to keep Carefree citizens updated on the progress of the Lewis Project.  He realized that negotiations could not be discussed in public, but felt that COINS would be an appropriate forum to keep people informed of the negotiation points. 

 

 

 

Carefree resident Alice Ernst asked if the proposal was for DFT to actually come into Carefree, saying she would definitely prefer it in the town center rather than in its current location off of 60th Street.  Mayor Schwan responded that DFT is space constrained in its current facility and wants to expand.  They have asked to be considered as a possible cultural attraction in downtown Carefree, moving all of their activities into a building that would be active morning, noon, and night, year 'round.

 

 

 

Carefree business owner Martin Holmes expressed concern about disruption to downtown businesses during the Butte Properties retail/condo construction.  Having been in construction for 42 years, he anticipated that the project would take at least 2 years.  He asked if the streets would be closed as utility trenches were dug, and wondered how the merchants would survive during the construction period.  Mr. Lewis answered that he has been developing projects for 25 years without ever shutting down an adjoining business, and assured Mr. Holmes that he would certainly not do so in Carefree.  The utilities are already at or near the property, and at most 1/2 of a street might be closed for a few weeks to make a tie-in.  The project will not involve tearing up any streets, and won't change business access points or parking availability.  He will only be building on his own property.  

 

 

 

Jeff Bergman owns the building in downtown Carefree that contains the Wild Holly Gallery, his wife Holly's business.  He said that even if the businesses are hurt for 12-24 months because a new town core was being developed, there would be light at the end of the tunnel, and it would be worth the investment if business is improved in the long run.  He asked why they were all here if traffic keeps diminishing.  

 

 

 

Vice Mayor Peterson felt the Town should continue to work with DFT, and with that success, ASU would follow.  It would be difficult for both to attempt fundraising simultaneously, and if fundraising efforts fail, the Town may have none.  Ms. Brown asked if there was a proposed timeline from DFT.  Mayor Schwan answered that there is not a proposed timeline but there is a business plan showing sustainability and a donor base.  He expected there would be a decision by this summer. No decision is being made now "to choose vanilla or chocolate".  He added that if someone comes in with strawberry, the Town will look at all of those.                 

 

http://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/108813120/29cd87eae0

 

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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