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[[image-black and white image of three buildings from Jefferson Avenue]]
[[image-black and white photo. One man speaking into microphone while one man looks on.]]

"But... this obviously is something that no individual or single corporation can do alone. When the major elements of the plan are all in place, we intend to make it possible for everyone who is interested to participate in the program."
"As I see it," Mr. Ford added, "this revitalization is a task for the business community here. There are more than enough resources, human and financial, to undertake a job of this kind, and what we have been lacking is a solid first step to get something started. This is essentially what I hope this new plan will do."
Mr. Ford said that the riverfront site was selected as the most promising location for the development after an intensive study of some 32 downtown sites. "We chose the riverfront site as the most likely to serve the city's long-range need and the most likely to serve as a catalyst for further substantial development in the downtown area," he said.
If the necessary details can be worked out, construction on the first phase of the project could begin in late 1972.
Mr. Ford said that options or agreements to grant options have been obtained on all of the property comprising the riverfront site and that "remarkable cooperation" has been received from the present owners.

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