Let Nash Build

Now that developer Terry Nash apparently has succeeded in saving his property at Front and F streets from condemnation, the City Council should grant him permission to build his planned $6.3-million office building.

Just why Nash’s efforts to develop the 10,000-square-foot parcel he owns next to his Senator Hotel building have been met with such resistance by some members of the City Council remains a bit of a mystery.

Having won the approval of the Centre City Development Corp. board and the city Planning Commission, Nash’s proposed six-story office building, situated between the Horton Plaza shopping mall and the Meridian condominium high-rise, appeared headed for easy approval. CCDC Executive Vice President Gerald M. Trimble had assured his board that Nash’s project would not preclude a larger development from being built on the block’s remaining 45,000 square feet; Ernest W. Hahn Inc., which as builder of Horton Plaza has a contractual right to offer its own counterproposal to any plan for development of the block, had said it was not interested in Nash’s site.

But at an April 9 City Council meeting, an attorney for Meridian developer Walter Smyk argued against the project, and Hahn officials tried to rescind the company’s waiver on the site. Although the City Council was supportive of Nash’s proposal, it delayed a final decision for two weeks to sort out Hahn’s interest and legal rights. Mayor Roger Hedgecock spoke favorably of the project and complained that the council was being “jerked around” by the Hahn company. Councilwoman Gloria McColl and Councilman Mike Gotch also endorsed the Nash plan.

But by April 23, the situation had shifted dramatically. Hedgecock, McColl and Gotch had all changed their minds about Nash’s project, and it was rejected, 5-2. Nash, for better or worse, responded by building a fence around his property and beginning excavation. Last month, the council voted to spend $1 million and use the city’s power of eminent domain to buy Nash’s land.

But to condemn property requires six council votes, and Gotch--to his credit--has admitted he made a mistake in opposing Nash’s proposal and now supports it. With Councilmen Ed Struiksma, Bill Cleator and Bill Mitchell firmly on Nash’s side, it appears that the council will not condemn the property.

Nash proposes to build a perfectly nice building on land he already owns. He seeks no government subsidy for the project. While Smyk and others argue that the block should be used for a more ambitious undertaking, others argue persuasively that a high-rise would cast shadows on Horton Plaza and the Federal Building park across the street, and that there is no necessity of having two high-rises right together.

Without minimizing the contributions that developers Smyk and Hahn are making downtown, there is no reason they should have veto power over a legitimate development on property they do not own. Nash should be allowed to complete his project.