If ever Butler needed a leader, it needs one now.

With momentum stalling for the Centre City project, Butler needs a leader to step up, reinvigorate the vision and finalize the biggest real estate deal this city is likely to see in a long time.

The question is: who will that leader be?

Here’s what is at stake:

J.S. Capitol Construction, a property developer, is ready to build a Marriott Springhill Suites hotel and Rite Aid Pharmacy in downtown. Jeff Schmitz, the owner and president of J.S. Capitol, says he’s ready to break ground as early as next month — in fact, J.S. Capitol needs to get moving since the existing Rite Aid’s lease expires this year and the store needs to be in its new location before it expires.

Centre City will be a major investment in Butler’s downtown. It’s likely to reinvigorate the business district and attract other investors. It’s a game-changer.

There’s only one problem. The city is dithering over its commitment to build a parking garage as part of the development.

In December, city council approved $6.5 million in bond issues for the 225-space, three-tiered parking garage. But the parking authority, which will manage the structure, appears to lack clear direction on where it’s heading.

On Wednesday, the parking authority reviewed options for financing and constructing the garage. One option was having J.S. Capitol build it and lease it back to the city, to be operated by the parking authority.

That’s not how the original deal was presented to J.S. Capitol or to the public. The plan had been for the city to build and own the garage, with the parking authority operating it.

Schmitz was justified in asking Wednesday for a status report on the parking garage. The reply he got was far from encouraging.

J.S. Capitol is offering a multimillion-dollar injection of commercial development into the city’s business district. It is likely to spark new jobs, new businesses and new life in downtown.

But the problem lies beyond the hesitation over how to proceed with the parking garage. The hesitation is attached to a lack of coordination between the city, its parking authority and its redevelopment authority.

And, as with any transition from one administration to another, a loss of traction on issues and priorities can be anticipated. The outgoing and incoming mayors can’t be blamed for that.

Councilwoman Cheri Scott, who attended Wednesday’s meeting, said confusion and a lack of communication have slowed the process. “The real issue is there has been a failure to communicate effectively, and it’s unfortunate,” she said.

Candidate Donaldson said during his campaign that he supported the idea of Centre City but that the city could have negotiated for a better deal with J.S. Capitol. But you can’t negotiate a better deal when the other party is ready to break ground or go elsewhere — in other words, when a good deal is on the table and the other party is fast approaching the “take it or leave it” mode.

Keep in mind it likely will take the city several months to arrange a bond issue to finance the garage, prepare blueprints, put the job out to bid and award a contract. The time frame is enough to make the most stalwart developer a bit squeamish.

In October, we suggested the Centre City project was too good an opportunity to be turned into a political issue. That’s still our stand. Centre City was not a Mayor Stock project. It won’t be a Mayor Donaldson issue, either. It’s a Butler issue, and regardless of who’s in the mayor’s chair, the mayor should promote it fully.

Centre City presents an opportunity for Mayor Donaldson to be a hero — even if it’s not an opportunity of his choosing. Someone needs to take the reins of leadership over the city’s resources and boards, rally everyone involved and coordinate the plan of action. If not the mayor, then who?

J.S. Capitol’s investment in Butler is a big deal — a very big deal, too big for the city to let it get away.