Closed session: Council to approve negotiations with Cinema West owner to buy State Theatre
Plus another hidden subsidy for Petrovich at Sixth and Main
City Council closed session agenda, May 17, 2011:
"B.2 Conference with Real Property Negotiators, Pursuant to Section 54956.8 Property: APN 006-602-02 (320 - 324 Main Street) State Theater Agency Negotiator: Agency Executive Director and Agency Attorney Negotiating Parties: Mark Deven, Ed Quinn and Richard Mann, Dave Corkill Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment."
Dave Corkill and Paul Petrovich claimed they would build the Cinema West multiplex at Third and Main without any subsidies from the city. Well, here's another one of those subsidies in the form of "storm drain improvements" at the corner of Sixth and Main, the site of Petrovich's former Rite Aid project... under the consent calendar, meaning they won't discuss this in the public forum:
"H.6 SUBJECT: Approval of Right of Entry Agreement for the Main Street Widening (CIP 05-09) and the East and Main Streets Storm Drain Improvement Project (CIP 09-18) and Authorize the City Manager to Sign the Agreement"
"The Main Street widening improvements will widen the north side of Main from East to Sixth Streets. These improvements consist of widening westbound Main Street to two lanes as well as sidewalk, curb, gutter and ADA ramp work."
Price of street widening component: $305,281 (minus $69,000 to be reimbursed by the Woodland Courthouse project)
Price of storm drain improvement: $392,000.00
Total: $697,281.00 (minus $69,000 to be reimbursed by the Woodland Courthouse project)
Posts
3 comments:
Hi Dino - I think this was slated for the rail road due to surface flooding because... and also the court house project. It does not include our store area or the Hoblit building. We have not had any flood issues or back up as of yet since 2000 but there is a drop heading East.
Do you know if / when the court house project slated to begin?
Brenda,
$69,000 of the $305,281 is supposed to be reimbursed by the courthouse. I'm not sure when they will begin construction. I think the architectural plans are due this summer, but I'm not sure of that either.
As you recall, the Planning Commission allowed many deviations from the DSP when Petrovich sought to build the Rite Aid at the eastern gateway to the historic downtown. Oddly, it was very similar to what the zoning administrator did for the Chase Bank project. According to the DSP there should be monumental (i.e. two-story or two-storyish), mixed use buildings at both entry ways to the downtown. Petrovich got away with a cookie-cutter Rite Aid building with no mixed use and was also afforded a deviance of the left-hand turn restriction from Main onto Sixth. This "storm drain" problem should have been a mitigating cost covered by Petrovich and the Rite Aid project as it improves that specific site. The railroad has nothing to do with this, really, but only to allow easements for the city. These improvements should only be made when Petrovich builds on Sixth and Main and he should cover the cost. Just like the Cinema West project should cover the $800,000 of infrastructure improvements on the 800 block of Main. Of course, the RDA wants to subsidize Petrovich/Corkill with that, to.
In summary, this boils down to one more benefit to Petrovich and his properties and extraordinary actions the city is taking to improve the area around Petrovich's Cinema West project. Be on the look-out for parking in Freeman Park that will be disguised as parking for the Farmers Market (eating up more RDA money). Cinema West will be allowed to use the parking and this will reduce their mitigation or in-lieu fees for parking requirements.
The RDA absolutely blew it by ignoring the State Theatre Renovation and Expansion project... but you can see why they did it - they obviously favor anything Petrovich. Your taxes are subsidizing Petrovich projects.
"Design is expected to proceed through 2012, with construction scheduled to start in early 2013. The courthouse project, with a total estimated cost of $165.3 million, is scheduled for completion in late 2014 or early 2015."
http://www.courts.ca.gov/OC20-11.pdf
Post a Comment