The group is said to be in final negotiations for two parcels,and have already secured agreements to acquire two others.Apartment developer Joe Weston has agreed to donate one of thenecessary parcels, the Stevens Building at 812 SW Washington St,and Lawrence Ryan and Don Valaster have reportedly accepted anoffer for their Eaton Hotel at 620 SW Ninth Ave. The propertiesstill being negotiated for include the Woodlark Building at 813 SWAlder St. and a neighboring property at 830 SW Alder St.

In addition to Moyer and Goldschmidt, who has been leadingdowntown revitalization efforts since the 1970s, the park blockinvestors include developer John Gray, arts patron ArleneSchnitzer, lawyers Jim Westwood and Brian Booth, and Well FargoBank president George Passadore. If successful with this latesteffort, just about half of the five obstructing blocks will havebeen acquired, turning what many thought was a pipe dream into apossibility, considering the high-profile pressure that will reston the outstanding property owners.

Still, there are huge hurdles. Half of one block they need wasjust redeveloped into a bran new boutique hotel, for example, andsome property owners haven't expressed a willingness to sell.Regardless, the ultimate plan is to have those would-be CentralPark Blocks be more commercial than the existing blocks, with athinner grassy area lined with small cafes and stores. Beneath itall would be a 3,500-slip, mechanized parking garage.