It's because, Mark, you are trying to deal fairly for yourself with others of those who have inflated egos and delusional feelings of their own self-importance. They can squash you, and they have every intention of doing it.
No, it's not right, or fair, but they can do it with their positions the people have given them. They, and their vision of downtown, is better than you, or anything you may ever have to offer to your city.
It makes no difference to them that you work and pay taxes on that property, and have done so for many years, or that you are very good at what you do.
You aren't as good as them, and they don't want you in their new vision/version of your neighborhood. Been there myself, and I'm sorry for you.