On October 10, The Pitch requested a copy of any contracts issued or agreed to by the Jazz District Redevelopment Corporation. The JDRC responded on October 23 with a one-page letter that denied the request.
The following day, we published this story, in which several sources confirmed the existence of a contract between the JDRC and the Downtown Council. Hours after the edition hit the stands, The Pitch got a call from the JDRC that, yes, in fact, there was a contract. They offered to allow me to come inspect it at 8:30 this morning. After paying 70 cents, they handed over this copy of the contract.
The document spells out the particulars of the deal with the Downtown Council. It's an 18-month contract that can be broken by either side with a two-month warning. No money will change hands unless the Downtown Council can find tenants for the empty storefronts in the 18th and Vine District. And in addition to renting its property, the JDRC is also open to selling buildings to new tenants.
The contract was signed by Denise Gilmore, president/CEO of the JDRC, and William Dietrich, of the Downtown Council. It's dated August 24, meaning the two sides have been sitting on the announcement for two months. -- Eric Barton
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