• September 1991 – City declares South Pack Square (aka The Block) “blighted”; Council designates it a “redevelopment area” and authorizes creation of redevelopment plan
• June 15, 1993 – City adopts South Pack Square Redevelopment Plan
• June 15, 1994 – Eagle/Market Streets Development Corporation formed
• 1994-97 – EMSDC, operating first out of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church and then YMI, seeks funding
• 1997 – Required market and environmental studies of The Block begin
• 1998-99 – EMSDC buys and renovate building at 70 S. Market St.
• September 2000 – Gene Ellison and Howard McGlohon buy The Ritz Building (42-44 S. Market St.)
• April 2001 – Jesse and Amy Plaster buy Wilson Building (13-15 Eagle St.)
• 2002 – EMSDC buys and renovates 46 S. Market St.
• 2003 – EMSDC forms partnership with Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church to include their properties in the development plan
• 2003 – EMSDC completes financial and preliminary environmental/historical reviews for project
• September 2003 – Architect Jeff Dalton begins work on final plans (completed Sept. 29)
• Oct. 2003 – EMSDC presents plan to Downtown Commission and Block property owners, Ellison disputes plan, compromises fail
• Nov. 4, 2003 – Downtown Commission approves EMSDC plan
• Nov. 18, 2003 – Outgoing City Council postpones vote
• Dec. 9, 2003 – City staff recommend that City Council approve budget amendment transferring federal funds to EMSDC to start project
• Dec. 16, 2003 – Ellison files lawsuit against EMSDC and city; judge issues temporary restraining order, blocking Council action
• Jan. 15, 2004 – Preliminary injunction denied, restraining order lifted
• Jan. 27, 2004 – City Council again postpones vote
• Feb. 24, 2004 – Council denies EMSDC funding to EMSDC
— S.G.
