i^^a&m::^^ i*4 $2 573*340 proposed outlined to city commision new downtown' St Johns A glowing picture of what downtown mission decided unanimously to apply to the/ committed. That decision is still five months or so away, and Clinton Avenue from State Street to Walker would remain a lot hinges on how the federal government feels about the pro­ open to vehicular traffic—possibly one-ways-with angle parking St. Johns could look like after an urban federal government for $2,335,340 to carry posal. in the center. This phase of the proposal would supplement a renewal facelifting was described to city out the project. Villcan-Leman and Associates, planning consultants, painted shortage of off-street parking spaces at the .south, (upper) end ,of the business district. officials and businessmen last. Tuesday This * as not a committment by thecommissionto carry out the proposal bright and dramatic last Tuesday in a summary of -urban renewal. ' ' ' ,. findings uncovered in a feasibility study. "In order to tie this end of the business district to the mall J- & night. - .1 ' Not until the commission votes to sign a contract with the and new commercial development, we would propose a covered On the basis of that,picture, the com­ federal Housing and Urban Development Authority is the city BASED ON THE STRUCTURAL inspections of all buildings canopy over the sidewalk on both sides of Clinton from State to in the six-block downtown area and surveys- of feasibility of the new buildings on the north," Vilican-Leman said in their rehabilitation of certain typical buildings, Vilican-Leman proposes summary. that the two most northerly blocks be cleared completely^, with all buildings presently there being torn down. "Trees arid other appropriate landscaping would also be installed to develop. an attractive atmosphere for shoppers from In addition, the northern half of the middle blocks would be one end of the business section to the other." cleared", and other structures behind the remaining commercial buildings would be moved to make way for off-street parking. • • PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS of those properties "The structural inspections indicated that a vast majority to remain would-be encouraged and assisted in fixing up their of the buildings in these areas are substandard and/or obsolete properties and to make every effort to coordinate their improve­ and not worth the cost of repairs that would be necessary," ments with their neighbors in terms of materials used, colors, the planning consultants said. "Certain sound structures within signs, etc.—all aimed at providing a unifiedlookfor the downtown these areas would also have to be acquired in order to round out area.. f desirable redevelopment sites.?' The proposed urban, renewal project would cost about Vilican-Leman proposes that Clinton Avenue be vacated $2,573,340. The city would buy the land on which buildings to from Higham to Railroad streets and that Higharn be closed be cleared are located and later sell the cleared land for between Brush and Spring streets. "This will allow assemblage f I Rrivate construction. Sale of the land would bring an estimated of a highly desirable redevelopment site for a department store $238,000, Vilican-Leman figures, leaving a net cost of urban or other major commercial development on the north end of renewal of $2,335,340. the central business area with adequate off-street parking," Three quarters of this amount would be paid for by the they said. federal government, including a grant of $72,000 for assistance in relocation of businesses and persons displaced in the project. THE MIDDLE BLOCK OF CLINTON Avenue-from Walker The local share of the cost for urban renewal is estimated to Higham—would be developed into a pedestrian mall, serving at $664,000. Non-cash contributions by the city are estimated to blend the existing shopping area which would remain with the new development to the north. • • • • • • • •• • • • • Mrs Rand win h - commission seats Mrs RobertJRand and John Furry were elected to the St. Johns City Commission by city voters Tuesday and both — highly elated after hearing the results — promised the best representation possible. Furry drew the top num­ I'M GOING TO do the ber of votes, 833, while very, very best I can for the Mrs Rand came in second people. I wanted to be'elected •K: with 618 votes, only 17 so I could represent the peo­ ple and I'll doing everything ahead ,of Douglas Carpen­ 1 can to be a faithful and good ter wli.pH, hftd_;601..^Lorenz:f commissioner and: represent 1 Tiedt was fourth with 497 the people well." votes, while incumbent Purry said that "Obviously I'm really elated over the Raymond Kentfield was support I've received from fifth with 268 votes. the community. As I have said in my campaign leaflets Mrs Rarid,-contacted at her I will do my best to represent home about midnight, issued the people as they expect to PROPOSED NEW LOOK FOR DOWNTOWN ST. JOHNS UNDER URBAN RENEWAL this statement: be represented.. I look for­ MRS. ROBERT RAND ward to working in coopera­ JOHN FURRY tion with the present commis­ sioners and Mrs Rand." commission will also name The city commission race another city resident — not had wide interest among St. necessarily a commissioner— V > Johns voters, and it was, to the county board. Lorenz largely responsible for a sol­ Tiedt is now holding that' id turnout of voters at t h e position. polls, despite a dull, overcast day with light to heavy rain Also scheduled for appoint­ during the afternoon und ear­ ments Monday night are ly evening hours. members of several boards within the city framework, THERE WAS A lineup of including the library board, voters to the outside of t h e board of review, and planning municipal court entrance on commission. T w 0 members several occasions during the will be named to the planning day, and the all-day pace.was commission and one member described as brisk with few to the other two boards. Ex­ lulls. Election inspectors isting terms expired Monday. worked until after 11 pjn. 2 compiling the results, which lilth Year No. 29 ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10, 1966 SECTIONS-32 PAGES IQ CENTS included absentee ballots. St. Johns voters Ray Kentfield, who lost his .bid for reelection, had served nix amendment on the city commission 14 By 56-vote margin years, including four years St. Johns voters joined with Ixpckwood, Allen, •as mayor during 1957, others around the county in 1958, 1961 and 1962. -During turning down the proposed that time he also served the statewide issue of lowering city on the planning commis­ the voting age to 18. Brown sion, library board and May­ They also turned down an 9 Nelson \vins DeWitt issue of their own — that of or's Downtown Development Committee. •amending the.city charter to allow the city commission to vitiors The two newly elected com­ set its own salaries. That missioners will get into the measure lost by a 4-1 margin*, The incumbent state repre­ of Ithaca, running in the 88th supervisor race 'Swing of c i t y government but ttie exact figures were sentatives arid senator serv­ quickly. At 8 p.m. next Mon­ District, had. a lead of 2,548 day the city commission will not available. ing. Clinton County were re­ to 1,185 over Democratic chal­ DeWITT—Republican ,Regi- precinct 2. 1,166 to 844 margin over Mrs On the Vote-at-18 constitu­ elected Tuesday, all by com­ lenger Joe Hanus in 24 of 26 nald Nelson was elected su­ Cecilia Stanaway. Republi­ meet to organize, for the next pervisor of DeWitt Jlownship CLERK WARDEN Kyes was cans William Purves and two years, as stipulated by tional amendment, -St, Johns % fortable margins - over their precincts in Clinton, and his reelected, "although this time voters said no. The vote was Democratic opponents. And margin in Gratiot with 22 of Tuesday, winning a.close bat­ Herbert Hardtke, with .1,069 the city charter. tle with Roy (Jack)' Andrews on the Democratic tickets. He and 1,066 votes respectively, 603 yes and 785 no, with pre­ Garry** Brown upended Paul 27 precincts in was 5,096 to got 1,010 votes to 891 votes for THE COMMISSION Will cinct 1 voting no 422 to 306 Hi Toad in the Third Congres­ 2,912. All of Gratiot .is in the by 56 votes. were elected to two trustee and precinct 2, 363 to 297. itf. Mrs Virginia Merrill, the Re­ seats, defeating Glenn Hlgfaee elect one of its members as sional* District. 88th, while only 10 of Clinton's Nelson polled a total of publican candidate* mayor and another as vice Municipal Court Judge Alba 16 townships are in the 88th. 1,017 votes to Andrews' 961. and Glenn Cheney. -State 'Sen. Emil Lockwood Republican Ronald Zeeb mayor. They'll also appoint a Wert was reelected to his LESTER ALLEN Nelson carried precinct No. 1( Nelson will succeed Super­ of StV/Louis was sailing a^ong was elected treasurer with a manager, city clerk, city .position with no opposition. with Mlead of about 21,485 to Blair" Woodman, Republican No, 4 and No. 5, while An­ visor Oliver Angell* whom treasurer, city attorney and 10,236/ at about 3:30 a.m. incumbent in the 87th state Watertown's two precincts un­ drews had a 72-vote edge in Nelson defeated in the August city assessor. Wednesday, with all but two representative district, held a reported, primaries. But the new term One of the commission PROTECT YOUR valuables preClficts in Clinton reported, lead of 13,370 to 7,618 votes ,ln the sixth district, which will not start until next April with a Central National Safety over, Sanford Volker with 15 10.