Forest Park/Fort Gillem Local Redevelopment Authority
Board of Directors Meeting
Minutes
A regular meeting of the Forest Park/Fort Gillem Local
Redevelopment Authority was held on
Board Members: John Westervelt, Chairman; Corine
Deyton; Linda Lord; Maudie McCord, John Parker, Debbie Youmans. Mike Beatty was
absent. Sparkle
Staff, Legal Counsel and
Others: Fred
Bryant, Executive Director; Frank Barton, OEA; Larry Beach , Army BRAC Office; Herb
Wolverton, Fort Gillem Base Transition Coordinator; Phil Browning, GMACC; Bob Tritt and Steve Labovitz, McKenna, Long
and Aldrich; Joe Plunkett and Stephen Kay, Hurt Norton.
Chairman
Westervelt called the meeting to order at
Approval of Minutes: John
Parker made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 26th meeting, seconded
by Linda Lord. The Board voted to approve the minutes, Don Judson abstaining.
Chairman’s Announcements and
Comments:
John
Westervelt welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Forrest Robinson who
asked for the opportunity to discuss the April 17th AJC article
announcing that Weeks Robinson Properties was replacing Cousins in the Forest
Park Development Partners LLC.
Forrest
Robinson introduced Ray Weeks and Dan Dupree, President and CEO of Cousins
Properties. Forrest apologized to the Board for the business decision and
venture being announced prior to his discussing it with them. The announcement
was supposed to take place on April 25th,
after Forrest had a chance to discuss it with each Board member. The article
that appeared in the AJC inaccurately described Cousins as pulling out of the
Ray
Weeks described his thirty-plus years experience in industrial development and
management and his economic development work and leadership on behalf of
Georgia Governors Busby and Miller and Atlanta Mayor Franklin. He described
successful projects he and his business ventures have overseen and his prior
business relationship with Forrest Robinson. He also mentioned that Rex Fuqua,
a well-know financier and philanthropist, will provide the private financing
for this and other projects. Weeks Robinson is dedicated to making the
Dan
Dupree reiterated that Cousins will stay the course and that the decision to
engage Weeks Robinson will be best for the LRA and the community. He hired
Forrest Robinson to oversee industrial development and management, an area
Cousins had not previously pursued. Over the past three years, he determined
that Cousins could not be as successful in this area as office and retail
because the company could not find a way to differentiate itself from others
that provide warehouse and other industrial space. It made more sense to
transfer the operation to a successful industrial team like Weeks Robinson.
David
Welch, LNR, reiterated that LNR is committed to the
A
summary of Board member comments and questioning follows: Debbie Youmans
questioned Forrest Robinson and Dan Dupree on the basis for this business
decision, and whether Cousins has been successful with industrial properties.
John Westervelt indicated that he reviewed his notes from the RFQ Evaluation
Committee process, and noted that LNR had extensive BRAC and industrial experience
and a strong financial backing. Cousins brought residential, office and retail
experience and financial backing which made this Master Developer team the best
for a mixed-use project. Linda Lord mentioned that it is better to make changes
like this now rather than five years into the redevelopment. Corine Deyton
expressed confidence in the team and Forrest Robinson. Don Judson appreciates
that Cousins will stay on through the project, and has confidence in the team
that has worked on the project for almost two years. John Parker indicated he
is confident the LLC will be successful, and appreciates the past two years of
work.
Executive Director’s Update:
Fred
Bryant briefly discussed the following:
On
April 8th, he presented a
The
LRA has forwarded to U.S. Department of HUD a revised LBA that addresses the
concerns raised in a March 24th conference call. The LBA is being
reviewed and we anticipate a favorable response prior to May 20, 2008.
The
Army, GA SHPO, and LRA continue to discuss the draft Programmatic Agreement.
The next meeting is April 15, 2008.
The
LRA is waiting for guidance on how the US DOL $5 million workforce grant will
be allocated. Mary Margaret Garrett of ARC is coordinating the details. We
anticipate the money will be used for civilian workforce retraining and work
ready certification.
Old Business:
None.
New Business:
The
Fort Gillem Operating Plan Request for Proposal was posted in the AJC and
Clayton News Daily on April 10th and 11th. A mandatory
pre-proposal conference was held at City Hall on April 21, 2008. 59
individuals, representing 44 companies or organizations, participated. A number
of minority businesses were present. Responses are due to the LRA by May 12,
2008. The RFP Evaluation Committee process will be like that used in the past.
The following individuals have served on the Committee in the past: Odessa
Archibald; Skip Cain; David Painter; Steve Pearson; Nigel Pennycooke; Pat
Roberson;
and,
Robin Roberts. Fred invited the Board to nominate by April 30, 2008 other
Kimley-Horn
is preparing road access options that will provide a seamless transition
through the Army enclave. These options will be presented to the LRA Board at
the regular May meeting. The Board’s decision will then be communicated to ASA
Eastin in a meeting we anticipate will take place in June.
Open Discussion:
None.
Adjournment:
A motion was made by Corine Deyton to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by John Parker. The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
Recorded By:
Executive
Director
Approved:
May
28, 2008
Fred
E. Bryant
Executive
Director