Dear Neighbors, As head of the Project Committee of the Highland Park CDC (HPCDC), and in light of the recent e-mail string, I would like to take this opportunity to update you on what we have been doing to improve Bryant Street generally and the possible future of Terry's Villa. In a nutshell, we have been working with a private developer to construct a series of multi-use buildings spanning from D&L Cleaners up to, and possibly including, Terry's Villa. The first floors would be reserved for neighborhood serving retail and services, and the upper floors would consist of professional offices and residential apartments. That's the short version ... as for the long version .... A few years ago, after a competitive RFP process, the HPCDC entered into a development relationship with Don Carlson, a developer with experience in Highland Park (you can see his work at the formerly vacant and fired out Callowhill Apartments on Callowhill Street). Since that time the CDC has been been working with Don on a site plan to develop all of the property from the corner of N. St. Clair and Bryant (including the former D&L Cleaners) up to and including Terry's Villa, cognizant of the many concerns that Highland Parkers have expressed over the years regarding the sale of alcohol to minors at the establishment. Though we at the CDC were not at liberty to share this news with the community until such time as those properties were under site control either by the CDC or Mr. Carlson, I am pleased to announce that we now have those properties either in our portfolio or under agreement. What does that mean for the future of Bryant Street and Terry's Villa? Our current plans call for the construction of a 2-3 story building (which will actually look more like a series of buildings) with first floor "neighborhood friendly" retail (family restaurant, dry cleaners- businesses that Highland Parkers have been clamoring for) and second and, possibly, third floor professional office space and residential. This development will likely span from D&L Cleaners up to, and including, Terry's Villa. This development will change the face of Bryant Street, provide us as Highland Parkers with businesses we have been seeking, and spur further positive activity on Bryant Street. While exciting, this project will take time, though we hope to break ground in 2005. In the interim, and perhaps beyond, Don Carlson and his associates have been working to acquire Terry's Villa. Under their current scenario, if all goes well, Mr. Carlson will reopen Terry's Villa, which will be operated on a daily basis by the son of the current owners of Terry's Villa. They will eliminate much of their alcoholic beverage sale business and will create a new menu, hopefully including a diner-style breakfast. This arrangement, therefore, will not only provide our neighborhood with more, and better, services and eradicate alcohol sales to minors, but also provide our community with a voice as to the operation of Terry's Villa due to the CDC's relationship with Carlson. In the next few months you will hear much more about these plans, and have the opportunity to provide guidance through a public input process at Highland Park Community Club meetings. So, with the HPCDC's residential development plans on Mellon and Negley coming to fruition this year AND the exciting happenings on Bryant Street, great things are happening in Highland Park! Stay tuned and get involved! If you'd like any further information or would like to get involved, please don't hesitate to contact me at (412) 983-7663. Your neighbor, Yarone Zober