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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - June 3, 1996 Page - 12 - PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) 3. San Leandro Redevelopment Agency Public Hearing Regarding the Acquisition and Disposition of Real Property Located at 151 -161 West Juana Avenue. The Hearing was opened to the public. Rob Scribner, Owner of Scribner Center, said his mother will be investing $300,000 in the center. He said they tried to turn the center around but without parking they cannot attract tenants. This program creates 23 additional parking spaces on Parrott Street and gives them control of the City parking at the former Bogey's site. He said they already have a tenant interested in opening a restaurant, which would not have been possible without the parking. He applauded the Redevelopment Agency for an aggressive, imaginative interest in accomplishing positive things for the community. John Magnet, Owner of Ploughman's, said he is interested in opening a restaurant which will be a combination of British Pub, microbrewery, family restaurant, and sports bar. He said the additional parking will help create a good place for people to relax and have a good time. Peter Wells, Manager of Pelton Center, said the last six years have been very tough for the Center. He said the retail market has changed. He said these plans will make the Center more attractive and provide more parking for merchants and will be beneficial to the area. He said he has worked very hard to keep the existing tenants and this is a wonderful opportunity to develop a partnership that will bring more business to the merchants. Tom Guarino, Chamber of Commerce, spoke on behalf of Lorraine Lins, President of the Chamber. He said the process has evolved effectively, with a lot of input from business owners in the area. He said the Downtown Business Association also embraces the program. Josef Duran, Josef Duran Men's Store, said they have been at Pelton Center for 26 years. He said this development will be great for the Center and the City and urged the Council to vote yes. Ken Pon, said he has been a tenant in Pelton Center for the last 10 years. He said Parrott Street is wide enough for angled parking and it is an outstanding idea. He likes the idea of the property exchange; added parking will encourage people to come to the Center. He also likes the idea of changing Bogey's to something more family - oriented. He suggested something be done with the Crocker Building. Walt Fernandez, Walt's Gym at Scribner Center, said he fought for a long time to move to the downtown area but then felt there was nothing going on. He said the proposal is seen as something that is good because it makes the Center better. Parking on Parrott Street and other changes will slow traffic down.