Here is an interesting illustration of the generation gap that divides the Navy Broadway Complex proposal today and the time in which the development agreement was struck:

The Navy’s commander in chief in 1992 was President George H.W. Bush. It will be his son’s Pentagon officials who will be asked to sign off on Doug Manchester’s redevelopment proposal by the New Year.

The city’s agreement in 1992 allowed a developer to build densely on the Navy Broadway Complex at a time when a downtrodden downtown craved a catalyst. Today, there is a strong reluctance to embrace the large-scale building that is slated for the site.

The project’s critics have pointed to the amount of time that has elapsed since 1992 to argue that the current proposal doesn’t fit downtown today, but officials at CCDC, Manchester Financial Group and the Navy say that the changes that have taken place downtown were accurately projected in the 1992 pact.

Also, tune into Channel 24 today to watch public testimony about the project at City Council, starting at 2 p.m. Check back in with TJI, as we’ll post some of the comments community members and council officials make this afternoon.

EVAN McLAUGHLIN

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