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Grand Terrace eatery wants to distance itself from proposed Town Center
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, May 20, 2007
By JULIE FARREN
The Press-Enterprise
GRAND TERRACE - The parcels of land along Barton Road between Mount Vernon and Michigan avenues are mostly vacant for now.
But a restaurant opened there last week and city officials hope it is a sign that development is coming to the area, proposed as the site of a project called Town Center.
Miguel's Jr. opened Wednesday next to the proposed development, which officials hope will include retail stores and a new Stater Bros. Market.
The new Miguel's Jr. restaurant sits surrounded by vacant land for the proposed Town Center project along Barton Road in Grand Terrace. After 24 years the fast-food restaurant relocated to this site. Miguel's is not part of Town Center but will be its neighbor.
Miguel's CEO Javier Vasquez said that even though the fast-food restaurant is within feet of the 20-acre project, his family's business is separate.
"That's been the misconception from day one, that somehow we are in partnership with them," Vasquez said. "We are neighbors."
City Manager Tom Schwab said the restaurant's agreement with the city and developer Doug Jacobsen's proposal occurred close together in late 2004 to early 2005.
The city signed a contract with Jacobsen in February 2005 for a project that was to include a Lowe's as its anchor store. But Jacobsen couldn't secure the retailer and residents opposed a big-box store in Grand Terrace.
In April 2006, Jacobsen withdrew his request for the Redevelopment Agency's assistance in purchasing resident Jo Stringfield's home, which is on the eastern edge of the project's 14 parcels.
He had said he would resubmit a proposal to the Planning Commission last summer, but it has been more than a year since Jacobsen has presented the city with a plan.
That will change soon, Schwab said.
"He's supposed to submit a plan to the city that will go to the Planning Commission in a month," Schwab said.
As for the details, they remain under wraps.
Repeated calls to Jacobsen seeking comment were not returned.
Schwab said that Jacobsen hasn't identified any other potential tenants.
One sure thing is that Stater Bros. will move from its current site at Barton and Mount Vernon avenues to the town center location, said Don Baker, Stater's former president and current senior consultant.
"We've always been committed to the city of Grand Terrace," Baker said. "The fact is our
commitment stands. We'll be there."
Miguel's Jr., which has restaurants in Corona, Riverside, Norco and Fontana, operated at its previous Grand Terrace location for 24 years.
Mike and Mary Vasquez -- Javier's parents -- opened the fast-food restaurant in a Grand Terrace shopping center. With the larger, free-standing building, Javier Vasquez said the restaurant has doubled its workforce.
Javier Vasquez said that the restaurant signed its agreement with the city several months before Jacobsen did.
"We had a deal with the city long before Doug came into the picture," he said.
Miguel's Jr. and the town center became entwined when Jacobsen began designing the retail center.
Javier Vasquez said that Jacobsen came up with three plans, each of which featured the restaurant in a different site.
Schwab said that Miguel's Jr. was able to build at that site because it already owned land within the project.
"We owned a parcel and they bought the adjacent parcel," Schwab said.
"We had an agreement to swap enough land so they could build their free-standing store."
Miguel's 3,000-square-foot building has a drive-through -- only the second one in Grand Terrace. The first, Demetris's Burgers, opened on Barton on May 1.
Planning Director Gary Koontz said that once Jacobsen submits his Town Center application, the city can select a consultant to do an environmental impact report, which will take five months.
Reach Julie Farren at 909-806-3066 or jfarren@PE.com
Grand Terrace eatery wants to distance itself from proposed Town Center
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, May 20, 2007
By JULIE FARREN
The Press-Enterprise
GRAND TERRACE - The parcels of land along Barton Road between Mount Vernon and Michigan avenues are mostly vacant for now.
But a restaurant opened there last week and city officials hope it is a sign that development is coming to the area, proposed as the site of a project called Town Center.
Miguel's Jr. opened Wednesday next to the proposed development, which officials hope will include retail stores and a new Stater Bros. Market.
The new Miguel's Jr. restaurant sits surrounded by vacant land for the proposed Town Center project along Barton Road in Grand Terrace. After 24 years the fast-food restaurant relocated to this site. Miguel's is not part of Town Center but will be its neighbor.
Miguel's CEO Javier Vasquez said that even though the fast-food restaurant is within feet of the 20-acre project, his family's business is separate.
"That's been the misconception from day one, that somehow we are in partnership with them," Vasquez said. "We are neighbors."
City Manager Tom Schwab said the restaurant's agreement with the city and developer Doug Jacobsen's proposal occurred close together in late 2004 to early 2005.
The city signed a contract with Jacobsen in February 2005 for a project that was to include a Lowe's as its anchor store. But Jacobsen couldn't secure the retailer and residents opposed a big-box store in Grand Terrace.
In April 2006, Jacobsen withdrew his request for the Redevelopment Agency's assistance in purchasing resident Jo Stringfield's home, which is on the eastern edge of the project's 14 parcels.
He had said he would resubmit a proposal to the Planning Commission last summer, but it has been more than a year since Jacobsen has presented the city with a plan.
That will change soon, Schwab said.
"He's supposed to submit a plan to the city that will go to the Planning Commission in a month," Schwab said.
As for the details, they remain under wraps.
Repeated calls to Jacobsen seeking comment were not returned.
Schwab said that Jacobsen hasn't identified any other potential tenants.
One sure thing is that Stater Bros. will move from its current site at Barton and Mount Vernon avenues to the town center location, said Don Baker, Stater's former president and current senior consultant.
"We've always been committed to the city of Grand Terrace," Baker said. "The fact is our
commitment stands. We'll be there."
Miguel's Jr., which has restaurants in Corona, Riverside, Norco and Fontana, operated at its previous Grand Terrace location for 24 years.
Mike and Mary Vasquez -- Javier's parents -- opened the fast-food restaurant in a Grand Terrace shopping center. With the larger, free-standing building, Javier Vasquez said the restaurant has doubled its workforce.
Javier Vasquez said that the restaurant signed its agreement with the city several months before Jacobsen did.
"We had a deal with the city long before Doug came into the picture," he said.
Miguel's Jr. and the town center became entwined when Jacobsen began designing the retail center.
Javier Vasquez said that Jacobsen came up with three plans, each of which featured the restaurant in a different site.
Schwab said that Miguel's Jr. was able to build at that site because it already owned land within the project.
"We owned a parcel and they bought the adjacent parcel," Schwab said.
"We had an agreement to swap enough land so they could build their free-standing store."
Miguel's 3,000-square-foot building has a drive-through -- only the second one in Grand Terrace. The first, Demetris's Burgers, opened on Barton on May 1.
Planning Director Gary Koontz said that once Jacobsen submits his Town Center application, the city can select a consultant to do an environmental impact report, which will take five months.
Reach Julie Farren at 909-806-3066 or jfarren@PE.com
What is missing from Julie Farren’s Reporting are the following facts:
None of the other owners were encouraged to participate in developing their property in the town center.
Under the pressure and threat of Eminent Domain Confiscation of her property Jo Stringfield presented a plan to develop her own piece of property in conformity to the General Plan and was denied the option. The City’s Response was that the Development was not to be piece by piece. ONLY after Ms. Stringfield obtained specialized legal assistance and public outcry, did Jacobsen retract the request of the aid of the RDA to use Eminent Domain to obtain her land by a forced takeover by the RDA and then a RDA transfer to Jacobsen.
Not reported are the facts that RDA land was transferred without proper public notice of the sale/transfer and swaps.
Not reported are the tactics used by Jacobsen and his Agents to acquire the property from the prior owners and Jacobsen.
Not reported is the lack of replacement housing for the Mobile Home and other Housing Elements removed by Jacobsen and the RDA.
Not reported is the fact that the Development Agreement with Jacobsen and the City has laps and Jacobsen has not complied with the requirements of that agreement.
Not reported is the fact that there is a Court Case Pending… regarding the grading of the property including Jacobsen’s and Miguel’s, and the question of conformity to the General Plan, and Specific Plan by the Miguel’s new building as built.
Not reported is that Jacobsen said he would have several public meetings to insure that the development would be acceptable to the neighbors and community. After the Designation as the “Developer”, Jacobsen has not held a single public meeting, where the public was not viewed as being not good neighbors but obstructionists, and the “adversary”.
Documents provided to the Court of Judge Wade include plans for a Chile’s Restaurant, and additional Drug Store and the Stater Brothers Mega Market. These businesses need Liquor licenses to be issued or moved to this site. Grand Terrace Elementary School is close to this site. GT is a community with already an excess number of Liquor Licenses. Public concern is raising regarding the tenants Jacobsen is courting for the development. The City of Grand Terrace shows Grand Terrace Elementary School as Commercial Zoned, and it has been stated by city officials, that the Freeway Development will close the Elementary School. Colton Joint Unified School District has stated that the GT Elementary School will stay where it is and may be expanded easterly.
Not Reported is prior Drive Up Windows were rejected until Miguels/Jacobsen made applications and were approved. Demetris's Burgers and the prior Coffee Shop had applied for a Drive Up Window and had been told no, it is not allowed. Jacobsen got a drive up window at Savon/CVC and then Miguel's applied and Demetris Owners Re Applied. The Drive Up could not be ok for one and not all.
One thing is clear. Nothing is clear, and the stench leads back to the City Manager’s Office in all cases.
Under the pressure and threat of Eminent Domain Confiscation of her property Jo Stringfield presented a plan to develop her own piece of property in conformity to the General Plan and was denied the option. The City’s Response was that the Development was not to be piece by piece. ONLY after Ms. Stringfield obtained specialized legal assistance and public outcry, did Jacobsen retract the request of the aid of the RDA to use Eminent Domain to obtain her land by a forced takeover by the RDA and then a RDA transfer to Jacobsen.
Not reported are the facts that RDA land was transferred without proper public notice of the sale/transfer and swaps.
Not reported are the tactics used by Jacobsen and his Agents to acquire the property from the prior owners and Jacobsen.
Not reported is the lack of replacement housing for the Mobile Home and other Housing Elements removed by Jacobsen and the RDA.
Not reported is the fact that the Development Agreement with Jacobsen and the City has laps and Jacobsen has not complied with the requirements of that agreement.
Not reported is the fact that there is a Court Case Pending… regarding the grading of the property including Jacobsen’s and Miguel’s, and the question of conformity to the General Plan, and Specific Plan by the Miguel’s new building as built.
Not reported is that Jacobsen said he would have several public meetings to insure that the development would be acceptable to the neighbors and community. After the Designation as the “Developer”, Jacobsen has not held a single public meeting, where the public was not viewed as being not good neighbors but obstructionists, and the “adversary”.
Documents provided to the Court of Judge Wade include plans for a Chile’s Restaurant, and additional Drug Store and the Stater Brothers Mega Market. These businesses need Liquor licenses to be issued or moved to this site. Grand Terrace Elementary School is close to this site. GT is a community with already an excess number of Liquor Licenses. Public concern is raising regarding the tenants Jacobsen is courting for the development. The City of Grand Terrace shows Grand Terrace Elementary School as Commercial Zoned, and it has been stated by city officials, that the Freeway Development will close the Elementary School. Colton Joint Unified School District has stated that the GT Elementary School will stay where it is and may be expanded easterly.
Not Reported is prior Drive Up Windows were rejected until Miguels/Jacobsen made applications and were approved. Demetris's Burgers and the prior Coffee Shop had applied for a Drive Up Window and had been told no, it is not allowed. Jacobsen got a drive up window at Savon/CVC and then Miguel's applied and Demetris Owners Re Applied. The Drive Up could not be ok for one and not all.
One thing is clear. Nothing is clear, and the stench leads back to the City Manager’s Office in all cases.
