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<br />A community meeting to discuss the project is scheduled for March 7, 2007. Based on the <br />resulting input, Eden may request predevelopment funding from the City of approximately <br />$30,000 to move forward with the project. The Committee acknowledged the need for pre- <br />development assistance similar to that which was provided to Mercy Housing in 2005 to help <br />kick-off the Islander proj ect. <br /> <br />2. Discussion Regarding Proposed Owner Participation Agreement for White House <br />Catering (599 MacArthur Boulevard) <br /> <br />Business Development Manager Luke Sims explained that four years ago the Agency approved <br />a commercial rehabilitation program designed to help spruce up the exterior facades of <br />commercial buildings. Sims related that due to State budget shortfalls and the associated <br />burdens placed on redevelopment agencies, the program had not received funding in recent <br />years. However, through the lifting of these state imposed burdens and the improved tax <br />increment revenue from the redevelopment project areas, staff is looking to implement a new <br />fac;;ade improvement plan. <br /> <br />Sims further explained that staff is exploring an Owner Participation Agreement (OP A) with <br />White House Catering for fac;;ade improvements. The property, located at the comer of <br />MacArthur Boulevard and Lewis A venue, was purchased by a successful caterer who has <br />secured $750,000 to extensively remodel the heavily decayed fom1er bar. The project is <br />currently under construction and the OP A would provide an additional $50,000 of <br />redevelopment funds in order to allow the owner to create a more attractive fac;;ade. <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant inquired if matching funds were required in order to receive the <br />$50,000. Sims replied that matching funds were required but the money currently being spent <br />on the remodel fulfilled this requirement. <br /> <br />Chair Stephens spoke out in favor of the project, explaining that he drives by it regularly and is <br />impressed by the efforts going into the remodel. <br /> <br />3. Discussion Regarding Proposed Office Condominium and Parking Agreement (101 <br />Callan Avenue) <br /> <br />Business Development Manager Luke Sims stated that the office building at 101 Callan was <br />developed nearly 35 years ago as part of a redevelopment project. Sims explained that the <br />building had recently fallen on hard times and the property owners have struggled to lease out <br />much of the office space since Tri-Net moved to Creekside Plaza five years ago. Sims <br />informed the Committee that the building has a prospective buyer who plans to retrofit the <br />rental office into office condominiums. However, the building was originally constructed <br />without dedicated parking and leased spaces through a 30 year parking agreement with the City <br />of San Leandro. This agreement has now expired and a new agreement must be created in <br />order for the project to move forward. <br /> <br />Planning Manager Debbie Pollart explained the condo-conversion could be reviewed <br />administratively by the Zoning Administrator. However, due to the need for a parking <br />exception the project would be reviewed by the Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA). <br />Pollart explained that the building currently operates with about 100 spaces, which does not <br />meet the current zoning standard. The current zoning standard requires 159 spaces for an <br /> <br />2 <br />