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4~Jp1_UTIO~y Bi pity of san lear~dro ~ °~ - ~ m 6-19~ C? ~ E _ - - _ _. _ T E -R ~~b>> 6~~z ~~~T . - for a~-rnformed~-community -~ ~, .~ A_ BICENTENNIAL CITY - _--- ---_ - _ - --- :°ij --'_. ____._ . ice= _ .--"--`' \/° NOVEMBER, 1978 1. . 762 VOLUME 9> NUMBER 4 rchara Park -Looking to the Future Downtown redevelopment is a little like climbing a mountain. You can see the top just ahead of you, but as you climb higher the slope gets less steep. And what you thought was the top gets further and further away. When you finally get to the top, you find that the summit is still a long way off, and you have been climb- ing one of the foothills. The view is great from the top looking back, but from the bottom looking up into unknown terri- tory can be a bit murky. That's where we are with downtown's Orchard Park Shopping Center proposal. The proposal was received from a group of local developers, Peralta Land Asso- ciates, nearly four years ago. Since then we have been climbing over rocks and around trees and finding that it took a lot longer to get to the top of the hill than any of us had expected. Finally, this summer, everything had been completed but one thing: the pri- vate long-term financing for the project. The lender required a strong letter of intent from a junior department store of at least 25,000 square feet. The rede- velopers had worked out nearly all the details with such a store, but were unable to get a letter of intent from the business conglomerate that owns the store chain within the time limit established by the Agency. But the fact that the redevelopers were not able to complete the final arrange- ments and gone ahead with the down- town development should not discourage the community. Mayor Val Gill has indicated he has great faith that these two blocks will be redeveloped and in a manner that all the citizens can be proud of. Mayor Gill has stated, when comrrient- ing on downtown development: "[ want to keep the people fully informed and involved and would like to hear their comments and suggestions. In the mean- time, we will not stand still. We are gathering new data so that we can be sure we know what opportunities exist and thus proceed knowledgeably." The Agency, therefore, is considering a new analysis of the feasibility of a downtown shopping center and will look at a number of other alternatives for downtown development as well, Over the last four years things may have changed and with this opportunity, the City will take "a second look," After the holidays, and after the Agency has studied its reanalysis, it expects to formally request new pro- posals from new redevelopers. In the meantime, contacts are being made with potential developers to stimulate further interest. What direction such proposals will take can't be determined yet, of course, but the Agency's purpose is to carefully look at all reasonable possi- bilities. If, by then, the conglomerate that owns the store chain with which Peralta Land Associates was working has formally stated its desire to locate in downtown San Leandro, Peralta Land Associates can resubmit its proposal and the Agency will take another look at it. Whatever happens, it is everyone's opinion that the development opportu- nity in the now largely-cleared two- block downtown site is truly magnificent. Ever since the Agency announced that it was going to reopen the field, interested redevelopers have been contacting City Hall. There apparently is a very strong demand for the site for quite a variety of development alternatives. The next task before the Agency, then, is to care- fully analyze all options and pick the one that is best for the long-range benefit of the City. It's the view from the top that makes the climb worthwhile. Mayor's Advisory (~ommittee Mayor Valance Gill, with City Council concurrence, has appointed an Advisory Committee to serve as a sounding board for matters involving City policies, programs and projects. This Committee is composed of 8 members who represent broad community interests, and who have. had an active role in San Leandro's devel- opment over the years. Lee Bruner, a local attorney practicing in this City for 16 years, is the third generation of his family to practice law in San Leandro. Mr. Bruner was elected Chairman of this Committee by his fellow members at one of the Commit- tee's recent meetings. .Audrey Albers has been a San Leandro resident since 1949. She has been very active in a number of community projects thru the Mulford Gardens Homeowners Association. She has served on many local citizens committees which reviewed such matters as tax assessments, the southern crossing, the garbage transfer station and the development of the Oyster Bay Re- gional Park. Marcel Lauper is co-owner of Lauper's Furniture Store and a resident of San Leandro for 31 years. For 10 years he was a Bishop in the San Leandro Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jack Maltester, born and raised in San Leandro, was Mayor for 25 years until his retirement in April, 1978. He is still residing in the City and has continued his interest and involvement in City affairs- Father Richard A. Mangini has been in residence at St. Leander's Church since 1976 and is currently the pastor. He is editor of the "Catholic Voice," a weekly newspaper for the Catholics in the Diocese of Oakland. Jim Pierron is owner of Pierron Con- struction Company founded in 1950. Born in Missouri, he has resided in San Leandro since 1945. Dale Reed is co-owner of the Bay Area Kenworth Trucking Company and has been associated with that firm since 1966. He was a member of the Finance Subcommittee of the Committee for San (Continued on Page 2)