ROLLINS HOPES PULLMAN RESHAPES DOWNTOWN,
ENDORSES PLANS FOR AUTHENTIC TROLLEY PROJECT
By
Tony Rutherford
HNN Columnist
Friday,
Nov. 19, 2004 -- Describing himself and partner William Dargusch,
as just a couple of guys from out of town, who were befriended by
the private and pubic figures in Huntington, Tim Rollins told a
small audience in a drenching downpour, "nothing's going to
rain on our parade today!"
Rollins, who
with Dargusch formed Metropolitan Partners after Steiner + Associates
pulled out due to the size of the market, last night strolled through
the development. After the movie preview party, the Harvard Business
School graduate and former chief executive officer of Steiner +
Associates sat on a bench near the escalator. "As developers
we like to step back and observe our projects as our first guests
show up and see what they're reaction is.they were smiling and happy,
looking around at the development and viewing the skyline across
the street. There's no greater satisfaction [to a developer] than
seeing that outcome to your work."
Rollins continued,
"We hope that Pullman Square will reshape downtown so it will
always be the center of attention for your region."
Later, he told
HuntingtonNews.Net that some
of the rest of the businesses will be open between December and
mid-January 2005, including Empire Books, Starbucks, the ice cream
store, the Funny Bone and two sit-down restaurants. "After
the first of the year, hopefully, we will start construction of
the one last building [on the corner of Tenth Street, where Chi
Chi's used to be] that will finish out Pullman Square."
Rollins embraced
a proposal to operate an authentic trolley on Fourth Avenue.
"One of
my former partners developed a trolley in Tampa that extended a
street car line from downtown through one of our developments. I
thought that was a clever idea. It added so much character to the
neighborhood. If they're looking at doing one of these in Huntington,
I think it would be wonderful."
Although much
of Pullman's construction has been completed, Rollins still has
a full plate with leasing, two developments in Columbus, and a project
in Wheeling, WV.
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