University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan was on the offensive Monday (Sept. 18) when he criticized some council members for not being behind the redevelopment of University Square. Those council members took offense to the accusation.
University Heights Mayor Brennan says some council members not in support of University Square redevelopmentMayor Michael Dylan Brennan accused some City Council members of not supporting the redevelopment plan for University Square. Those council members reacted strongly to the accusation.
With the city threatening eminent domain in 2021, the involved parties, which by this time also included the city, devised in late 2022 a memorandum of understanding . The MOU stipulated that the city , would take title to the University Square parking garage after it had been brought up to code and right-sized by demolishing a portion of the structure.
Brennan went on to say that “it does not appear we currently have a majority on City Council, and maybe not on the CIC either, in support of the redevelopment of University Square.” “The public needs to know that,” he said. “The public needs to know that the redevelopment of University Square is in question, after all this time, due to opposition by City Council members, elected and appointed.
“It was very clear why I voted no on the contract for the bankruptcy attorney,” Weiss said. “I stated beforehand I am 100-percent in favor of University Square going forward. “And I can tell you that I will be the first one to make sure that this council and any future council collaborates together respectfully and doesn’t deal with a bully pulpit.”“It’s become a pattern that you’re using your mayor report as a stump speech,” Rach told Brennan. “As mayor you should really be addressing residents about issues in the city and not campaigning for or against certain people on this body. And I understand you want a whole new council, you’ve made that very clear.
“You’re whole speech, in my opinion, was a scary thought -- that you’re going to try to ram things through the city without any discussion.” Wezier said that the total cost to the city would actually amount to $1 million, according to the MOU, and not the $500,000 for the garage improvements spread out over 10 years, as Brennan stated. She said she didn’t have a problem with the city contributing $1 million to move the project forward, but does have a concern over putting the garage into the city’s, or the CIC’s, hands.