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City planner John Fleming cited Medallion’s site plan application as a “huge step forward in the process of this bigger picture project.”

And he said the Back to the River project – intended to be a continuous effort along the Thames, including downtown at the fork and further south through the SoHo community, has acted as a draw for Medallion.

“An important goal of the Back to the River project is to stimulate investment in our core areas and to help them to revitalize. We’re seeing that occurring through the development of the South Street lands by Medallion,” Fleming said.

Medallion officials could not be reached for comment.

But Coun. Shawn Lewis, who’s leading the charge to delete the Ribbon of the Thames bridge along with the rest of the investment at the Forks of the Thames, saying it’s too expensive and shouldn’t be a priority, says he’s foursquare behind the Back to the River’s Phase 2 project in SoHo.

The two projects, though connected, are very distinct, he argues.

“I fully support what we’re looking for SoHo. And in fact, if we don’t go ahead with the project at the forks, I would consider taking some of the $5 million we have earmarked to enhance the SoHo development,” Lewis said Tuesday.

“I’m not concerned about losing momentum because I think honestly the Forks project is not fully supported by the community. I think there’s a danger that it doesn’t succeed (even if it’s built).”

Martha Powell, chief executive of the London Community Foundation, which is rallying to save the river revitalization plan, argued the pieces are intertwined much more tightly.

“If you look at the SoHo corridor redevelopment . . . everything marries together,” she said. “People don’t understand the bigger picture.”

Private donors who have promised $2 million for the work at the fork are likely to walk away from the project if council starts slicing and dicing, she said.

A debate on the project was expected Monday night but was instead delayed to a committee meeting at the end of the month.

The lookout at the fork and creation of a public space is pegged at $10 million to $12 million. Council has $5 million earmarked.