So last night was the big Water Street forum.

There were three current or former Ypsilanti mayors in attendance. There were four current City Councilmembers and at least one former Councilmember there too. The entire Planning & Development staff was there as well as the City Manager. In addition, there were five candidates from last year’s primary or general election that lost. There were at least four members of the Planning Commission and at least two members of the Zoning Board of Appeals. There were at least three members of the Historic District Commission. Add to that two members of the Blue Ribbon Commission on City Finances. Two members of the Ypsilanti Housing Commission. At least four urban planners. One local developer. One prominent contractor. At least three significant landlords. One member of the CBC. At least one member of the DDA, and one member of the DTDDA. One famous architect. One commercial realtor. And one member of the press.

In fact, the only person in attendance that didn’t have some close tie to Water Street was Mark Maynard, and he’s going to organize his own Water Street forum.

The highlight of the meeting was when one of the former Mayors stated that if there isn’t at least $30M worth of development on the site by December 31, 2008, we won’t be able to make the first bond payment. Another of the other former Mayors added that maybe the Ypsilanti Food Co-Op could move to Water Street and become the downtown grocery store wanted by so many people.

The only question I had was how much dues at the Food Co-Op would have to increase in order for them to build a $50M facility.