I am sure this is an understated description, but it will suffice.

For some reason, Bill Bardenwerper is obsessed with stuffing a terrible development plan (way too big and not LDC compliant)  into a small location in the heart of Highview.  In 2009, his efforts were met with strong resistance by the community.  Thankfully the developer went away at that time.  Contrary to his 2009 claims of willingness to “meet ’til the cows come home” to work with Highview leadership about concerns with development of the property, he invited no such meetings in 2010 or 2011 or 2012.  Instead, he quietly revived the project under a new name and with a new developer, securing Mayor Fischer’s support (in a manner exhibiting a total disregard for the Mayor’s claim to uphold his “Citizen’s Bill of Rights”).

What is the Mayor Fischer – Bill Bardenwerper connection?

One key:  Bill Bardenwerper was on Mayor Fischer’s transition team.

Update:  For some reason, Mr. Bardenwerper seems to be a bit sensitive about this post that points to a connection between him and Mayor Greg Fischer.  I will add the following to clarify what more we now understand.

Based upon subsequent Open Records Request information received, the direct contact asking for (and getting) Mayor Greg Fischer’s support appears to be email communication on/around March 2012 from Mark Lechner of LDG (copying Chris Dischinger of LDG) to Mayor Fischer and/or his staff.  Somehow, Mr. Lechner provides a draft letter of support that makes reference to “Outer Loop Apartments” – a name that seems to come from the original 2009 version of this proposal when Bill Bardenwerper, David Mindel and another developer entity were pushing essentially the same design concept.  The origination of this draft letter (Bill or David or the other developer entity or other) is unclear.  Also unclear is the subsequent communication with Mayor Fischer and/or his staff resulting in the adjustments from “Outer Loop Apartments” to Frontgate Apartments and from “LDG Multifamily” to Overlook Development.

Bill Bardenwerper has been involved in pushing this proposal since at least 2009.  Bill Bardenwerper was part of Mayor Fischer’s transition team.  What direct or indirect involvement he may have had connecting Lechner and Fischer is unclear.