PAGE TWO THE MICHIGAN DAILY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1967 PAGE TWO THE MICHIGAN DAILY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1967 Skyscraper Plans Approved As Key Officials Vacation MAYNARD ST: Second Bid Taken After Withdrawal NEW RECORDINGS: Larrocha and Kraus Capture Spirit of Granados, Mozart (Continued from Page 1) one pulled off by the William from Towne Realty (University Street Company." Towers) after Towne Realty's "The developer is regaling peo- ple at cocktail parties with his building was under construction, account of the seduction of the This presumably .raises questions ;mall town aldermen who were in the mind of . . . developers dazzled by his scheme for a sky- why they should have to cooper- scraper for their town." ate with the city administration There are many who voice con- to the extent the city administra-cern over the prospect of Ann Ar- bor's tallest building completely tior .had required." overpowering narrow two-lane Larcon concluded: "When coun- Maynard and William Streets. One cil has relied upon the adminis- City Council member suggests that tration to achieve the best pos- "for the next 50 years or so we'll sible agreement, has referred the have a 26-story building made developer to this administration quately set back from the right expressing conflidence in the lat- of way, with inadequate provision ter, reserving always the right for its tenants, a miserable leg- to review the final agreement acy to the future of Ann Arbor that is reached. provided by a sandful of council- "I do not know exactly how this men." current proposal came to be han- But if the new building has its dled differently, but I express my detractors it also has many pro- sentiments along with those of ponents. One is the building's the Attorney and the Planning ,rchitect, Harry King of the De- irec or lrified n hethcasethf troit firm of King and Lewis. future projects of this type. Other- "The strictly concrete" structure wise, developers can reasonably is now going up, with completion expect similar treatment from expected in Jan. 1968. "It'll have a Council as was granted Mr. Klein- predominant look of glass with pell. One City Council member who bronze colored metal trim to hold voted against authorizing con- the glass," says King. struction of the 26-story Tower The ground floor is about 22 Plaza says that the William Street feet high. 'Supporting - columns Company representative "obvious- will come down to form a portico ly chose that Monday (Aug. 30) and the first floor will be set when the three top city officials back 15 feet from the inside of Nere 'out of town. I don't think "he sidewalk. The remaining 25 there was any quid pro quo - stories will come out virtually to there didn't have to be. The ma- the sidewalk. jority of council members were "I'm not concerned about the just dazzled by a big investor, building being too high. I'm more. In my years on the council I concerned about land coverage. have never seen a smoother, more More height gives less land cov- cooly arranged seduction than the erage. I went to the additional height to create a plaza for the building," says King. Stegeman says he expects the building to be "non-student-nol undergaduates will live there fort sure. "We'll have about the same proportions as Maynard House," Stegeman said. "Graduate stu- dents will fill 10 per cent."I Stegeman says that on the basis of experience with Maynard House (Which stands across the street' from the new Tower Plaza), only "32 tennants" will have cars. According to typical floor plants the building willhaveabout 200 1 one-bedroom units and 100 effi- ciency units. John C. Stegeman, a "minor partner" with the Wil- liam Street Co. and president of Charter Realty Co. is managing rental agent for the property says he expects 425 occupants in the building. However, some think the oc- cupancy could go as high as 500, with 100 people living in efficien- cies and 400 living in one-bedroom units. As it has turned out, the Wil- liam Street Co. will not build any of the 75 parking spaces previous- ly arranged for. In a plan worked out recently. with the city, the William Street Co. will pay a minimum of $2,500 annually and assume any deficit up to $12,000 annually on the $1,014,694 addi- tion to the Maynard Street car- port, which will provide 278 addi- tional parking spaces. Regardless of the arguments pro and con over Tower Plaza there is little doubt that Maynard Street will long live in the shadow of the Aug. 30, 1965, council de- cision. 'V (Continued from Page 1) little use for the Maynard Street property, the University was wise to dispose of the land as it did," said Vice-President and Chief Fi- nancial Officer Wilbur K. Pier- pont. The University also pointed out that it had sold land adjoining the 325 Maynard site "some years ear- lier." The property at 317 May- nard and 325 Maynard was pack- aged by Stepar for Jacobson Stores Inc., at 311 Maynard, which will build an addition there. The University holds a $300,000 mortgage on the Jacobson prop- erty at 311 Maynard. As of June s30, 1966, the mortgage balance was $242,669. While Vice - President Pierpont indicated in an interview Monday he did not know "who Parsons is," the 36-year-old Detroit lawyer is prominent in state as well as local financial circles. A 1956 graduate of the Univer- sity's law school, Parsons is ap- parently a business associate of Fred Matthaei Jr., son of Regent Fred C. Matthaei Sr. (R-Ann Ar- bor). Both men are in a group of young Detroit-based investors that control the Bank of the Common- wealth in Detroit, the Industrial State Bank of Kalamazoo and the Bank of Lansing. Parsons is chair- man of the board of directors of all three banks and Matthaei Jr. is a director of all three. Regent Robert J. Brown (R-Kalamazoo) is also a director of the Industrial State Bank of Kalamazoo. Parsons was a director of the Huron Valley National Bank of Ann Arbor from 1963 to 1965. He Text of City Administrator's Confidential Memo to Council on 26 Story High Rise has also purchased other Ann Arbor real estate. On June 25, 1965, Parsons, Matthaei Jr., and J. C. Holmes and their wives pur- chased land in Pittsfield township near Ann Arbor. U Statement On ILand Sale (Continued from Page1) erty, to invite another round of publichbidding, or to accept the next highest bid. The first choice would have meant continuing to hold property too small for use on which the University had an old, worn-out building which was being replaced by the new School of Music on North Campus. Refurbishing the old structure for other uses would have been impractical. The second choice would have meant risking lower bids than had been received, since the first bids and the appraised value were now publicly known. The third choice was recom- mended to the Regents because Parson's bid plus Stegeman's for- feited bond brought the price to alomst 30 per cent more than the appraisal. The Regents voted un- animously to accept Parson's bid. Wilbur K. Pierpont, the Univer- sity Vice President and Chief Fi- nancial Officer, said: "On the basis of the appraised value of the property, the alternatives open to the Regents, and the fact that the University had little use for the Maynard Street property, the Uni- versity was wise to dispose of the land as it did." ORGAN IZATION NOTICES USE OF THIS COLUMN FOR AN- NOUNCEMENTS is available to officially recognized and registered student or- ganizations only. Forms are available in Room 1011 SAB. Baha'i Student Group, Discussion, April 7, 8 p.m., 335 E. Huron, Apt.5. . * * Phi Eta sigma, Spring initiation, April 6, 7:30 p.m., Michigan Union. Joint Judiciary Council, Meeting, Wed., April 5, 6:30 p.m., 3540 SAB. Scottish Country Folk 'Dance Club, Dancing, Wed., April 5. 8-10 p.m., Wom- en's Athletic Bldg. Step instruction and practice-8-8:30 p.m. only. Newman Student Association, Gradu- ate student's mass and supper, April 5, 5 p.m., Newman Center, 331 Thomp- son. * 9*a Christian Science Organization, Tes- timony meeting, Thurs., April 6, 7:30- 8:30 p.m., 3545 SAB. Engineering Council, Meeting April 6, 7:30 p.m., 3529 SAB. U. of M. Rifle Club, Open shooting- .22 caliore rifle and pistol, Wed., April 5, 7-9 p.m., ROTC Rifle Range. All rifles and pistols furnished; ammuni- tion available at a reduced price. Crop and Saddle Coed Riding Club, Riding on Thurs. nights, meet at Wom- en's Athletic Bldg. at 6:30-p.m. Le Cercle Francais, Le Baratin-enjoy a French atmosphere, Thurs., April 6, 3-5 p.m., 3050 Frieze Bldg. Campus Crusade for Christ, College life meeting, April 7, 7:30 p.m., Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, 800 Oxford Rd. g ol 11311PAnonsrano,!. a6144 I 0 By R. A. PERRY Spanish LP's never truly cap- tivated American audiences, but in the last few years, the music has received a reflorescence, part- ly due to the interest in' folk guitar. One of the finest records of 1966 was Alicia de Larrocha's per- formance of assorted piano pieces by Enrique Granados. (Epic LC 3910). Following the acclaim ac- corded this disc, Epic has this month released a set of Twelve Spanish Dances also played by Miss de Larrocha (LC 3943). Granados (1867-1916), was a keyboard virtuoso, but his music offers more than just technical challenges, but Miss de Larrocha overcomes these with ease. Where- as Liszt, with whom Granados has been compared, describes only the mannerisms of the Romantic im- pulse, the equally romantic Grana- dos captures the soul, the resigna- tion, and the spirit of the Span- ish people. He does so, however, in a most exciting manner, much like Goya, whom Granados worshipped. It is the celebration of serious con- cerns, never self-pitying but iener- gizeA, which characterizes this music. The recently recorded Twelve Dances, though a bit more severe in mood than the ebullience of the pieces on the former recording, lose no impact for their relative lack of decoration. Miss de Lar- rocha, who directs the Academy Granados in Barcelona, never uses her infallible technique for any spurious effect., She plays totally from within the music; her light- ening touch, never flaccid, and her subtle sense of rubato is never loose but coiled. Lili Kraus is another female pianist who has recently won press attention. During this last concert season in New York, she played the complete cycle of Mozart piano concertos, and Epic has been re- leasing her performances of the same in three-record sets. The most recent set contains Mozart's first six piano concertos and the much later No. 25, K 503. Mozart "composed" the first four works when he was only ten and actually they represent a stringing together of little sonatas by vari- ous minor masters of the period. The works are pleasant pufferies to hear and remarkably enough show all the signs of the airy, open, joyous, Mozartean spirit. Offering marked contrast, the Concerto No. 25 is a grandly struc- tured and emotionally moving piece, but it does not receive in Lili Kraus's hands the refined workmanship that it warrants. The final rondo, for instance, lacks the light lilt it should have and minor embellishment are needlessly exaggerated. M is s Kraus' touch is also just a shade too syruppy and the orchestra seems more enthusiastic than con- trolled. For the ultimate in grace and precision, listen to the Fleish- er Szell rendition. This set then would make a pleasant addition to any record collection, but it hardly represents a perfect production, Although the three-record set sells for the price of two, the bargain is lessen- ed somewhat by the fact that most sides run under twenty minutes, and one lasts only fourteen. (Recordings w e r e ' obtained through the courtesy of Discount Records.) THE WALTER READEJR/JOSEPH STRICK PRODUCTION -- " ULYSSES' A SUPERB FILM! It is astonishing that anyone would try to film the sprawling 'Ulysses', and even mnore aston- ishing that it has been turned into so beauti- fully acted and photographed a movie, one that truly reflects and actually clarifies James Joyce's masterpiece." -Ufe Mogozine STARTING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12 10 PERFORMANCES WEEKLY Reserved seats, now at boxoflice or by mail Admittane wilt beden.d to a.11under 18 years of age. EVES. (8:30 P.M.) $5.50 MATS. WED., SAT., SUN., (2:30 P.M.) $4.00 R . t a1 Editors Note: Following is the text of the September 2, 1965 confidential memo from Ann Arbor City Ad- ministrator Guy Larcom to the mayor and city council members regarding the August 30 council decision to approve construction of a 26 story high-rise in Ann Arbor. Larcom was out of town when the building was suddenly put on the August 30 agenda and approved by Council. To: The Mayor and Members of the Council From: Guy C. Larcom, Jr., City 'Administrator Re: 26-Story High Rise Building and Council Procedure Since there is noother way for me to communicate with you re- garding the above subject, I am sending you this memo stating some of my concerns regarding Council action on the proposed 26- story high rise building, taken at the meeting on Monday, August 30. The -City Attorney and Plan- ning Director share these con- cerns. First, I made up the Agenda without this item being included on it on the assumption that the Building and Safety Department should complete its review of the plans to determine conformance with zoning, housing and building codes and regulations. Time was also needed for review by the Traffic Engineer, Utilities, and Public Works Departments in terms of problems that might be created. Once this review would have been completed, and if the plans were approved as conform- ing to all codes, ,then the Coun- cil would take up the question of whether the building should beI authorized as a matter of policy. This was the logical way of pro- ceeding, and this is what the City Administrator and Planning Dir- ector told the developer would be done here. The Agenda was approved with- out this item on it in accordance with the established procedure and with the authorization of the Mayor Pro Tem. When citizens and concerned city officials called, they were told this matter was not on the Agenda for Monday and some presumably did not at- tend for that reason. The City Administrator, City Attorney and Planning Director, who have been active in this mat- ter, were not at the meeting when Phone 434-0130 011.a 0 n CARPENTER ROAD FIRST OPEN 6:30 P.M. FIRST RUN HELD OVER RUN THE MOST SHOCKING FILM OF OUR GENERATION 'the matter was brought up on the floor. In the case of the Planning Director, it would have been pos- sible to attend if this matter had been scheduled. Council did not follow the usual practice of having negotiations conducted by the City Administa- tor with the developer, as has been the case with all other major City developments. Although, the de- veloper did meet in preliminary fashion with the City Administra- tor and Planning Director at Council's sugestion, his main ap- peal has been directly to Council and he has assumed that he did not have to deal with City admin- istration. In accordance with usual policy, Council would have asked for re- ports from the City Administrator, Attorney and Planning Director on the multiple policy and legal ques- tions a project of this size and dimension presents: parking, traf- fic, utilities, density, setbacks, et cetera, all of which, should have had some bearing on the final decision regarding the proposed building. The question of investment made by the developer as a legal basis for proceeding, is one of which City Attorney Fahrner is an expert, having successfully tried a similar case on behalf of the City through the Federal Dis- trict Court and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ,n Cincinnati. In that previous case, Northwest Park Construction Corp. claimed a substantial investment in land, leases, and in plans and property sold to the City for a park. So, in this regard, and in other relat- ed legal issues, the situation here was roughly parallel. The City Administrator, who worked closely with the Attorney in the Northwest Park case, has substantial experience in review- ing many development plans on behalf of the City. In this case he already had told the developer that the only investment he could claim, regarding the high rise building, was the cost of the plans that had been drawn to date, which he estimated to be 1 perhaps forty to sixty thousand dollars. The land, of course, re- tains great value even if not de- veloped as a 26-story building. It appears that the same basic plans could be used for an 18- story building,,for example, elim- inating