Arena series 'frustrating’
Editor,
The five part analysis of the proposed Arena by Marcel R. Williams may have been interesting and possibly alarming for some readers.
But for me, former Chair of the Business Development sub-committee of the city’s Arena Taskforce, it was extremely frustrating.
The writer should answer two questions:
Where was he when City Manager Cutter asked for assistance in developing a proposal for the project?
Several citizens and local experts including the Directors of the Metropolitan Planning Commission, SDRA, and the International Trade Commission and a current Chatham County Commissioner worked almost two and a half years on our report. All the issues he raised were addressed.
Why did he not explain how the City’s delay in moving the project forward is a key cause of construction cost increases?
Our report was submitted the summer of 2016. The new City Manager, though rudely greeted by a hurricane upon his arrival, seemingly did nothing to move the project forward until the following year. Then he invited the sub-committee chairs to meet with a well known local architect to discuss it. Ten minutes into the session it was painfully clear that this new participant had not read (and possibly was not given) our report.
The City lost an opportunity to benefit from his expertise when the plan was being developed but we should not suffer further delay because he was late to the party.
Kenneth Zapp, PhD Professor Emeritus and Mentor for SCORE Savannah
