Input from Steve Andrew and the Chamber of Commerce

-----Original Message-----
From: SJANDREW1@aol.com [mailto:SJANDREW1@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2001 10:27 AM
To: charlie.foskett@usa.net
Subject: Symmes Advisory Committee - Chamber of Commerce Input


The Arlington Chamber of Commerce has some very simple views on the use of
the Symmes Campus.  First and foremost, the Chamber wants to see as much of
the site as possible preserved for viable commercial uses, which may include
medical uses.  The Chamber accepts the idea that some of the site may be
used
as mixed income housing, and some of it preserved as open space.  However,
the Chamber prefers to see the largest developmental outcome be commercial.

Generally, the Chamber prefers that the town not engage itself in functions
that are best left to the private sector.  Therefore, the Chamber suggests
that as much of the development risk as possible be pushed onto a private
developer with the town retaining adequate control to assure that the
development serves the town's best interest.  This could be accomplished
through a long-term land-lease or subdividing the property into smaller
developable parcels, with re-zoning to fit the desired commecial use, or
some
form of public/private partnership that minimizes risk to the town, allows
the town to receive a reasonable return on its land investment and leaves
sufficient operating profit to the private interest to entice a first class
developer to engage in the partnership.

As a secondary priority, it would be in the best interest of the business
community to see some of the site allocated to address the much discussed
parking shortage in town.  This could take the place of a parking lot
designated for permit parking for businesses and their employees, with some
form of shuttle service provided to key business districts.  In the
alternative, a permit or fee based commuter parking lot would also be an
asset, since it will remove all-day communter parking from Mass Ave.


Steve Andrew
SJANDREW1@aol.com