IN THE NEWS: INDOOR RETAIL ADVENTURE CENTER

Gramps:

Mar Ventures Web Page:
http://www.marventures.com/

Click on Current Projects You Will see Grand Terrace on the list:
There is a Picture I can't capture...

However it says:

Location: Grand Terrace, Ca
Size: 400,000 SF Retail and 200 Units on 84 Acres
Product Type: Mixed-Use Masterplan
Commencement: 2005
Completion 2009 est
Partners: Center Square Holdings, Inc.

Looking for who's Who?

Corporation
Corporation
MAR VENTURES, INC.
Number: C1881584 Date Filed: 2/10/1994 Status: active
Jurisdiction: California
Address
2050 W 190TH ST STE 108
TORRANCE, CA 90504
Agent for Service of Process
ALLAN W MACKENZIE
2050 W 190TH ST STE 108
TORRANCE, CA 90504

CENTER SQUARE HOLDINGS, INC.
Number: C2682978 Date Filed: 11/12/2004 Status: active
Jurisdiction: California
Address
2815 TOWNSGATE RD #140
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91361
Agent for Service of Process
RICHARD A LAWRENCE
2815 TOWNSGATE RD #140
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91361

LP/LLC
GRAND TERRACE PARTNERS, LLC
Number: 200432010224 Date Filed: 11/10/2004 Status: active
Jurisdiction: CALIFORNIA
Address
2050 W 190TH ST STE 108
TORRANCE, CA 90504
Agent for Service of Process
RICHARD A LAWRENCE
2815 TOWNSGATE RD STE 140
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91361

Didn't we hear Schawb and Jacobsen refer to the Revised Town Center as being Town Square? Is Jacobsen in on the NEW DEAL TOO?

Gramps:

Stephen Wall Reporter for the Sun Telegram once again beats the City Management’s Drum and does not report the WHOLE STORY:

Missing from his report is the MOU’s Statement which will demand the City RDA and City Council to increase the RDA DEBT from 15 Million to 65 Million, and extend the Existence of the RDA’s Tyrany over the Citizens, Businesses and Landowners of Grand Terrace, both in Jurisdiction and in the Number of Years to be Suffered.

Missing from his report is that the GT Partners LLC were the same people that cost the City untold legal expense in trying to defend their Grandiouse, Flauded and Finacialy Troubling Development formerly known as “Outdoor Adventure Center”. Judge Wade’s court REVERSED ALL APPROVALS related to the OAC. One would assume that would also have reversed any prior obligation or relationship carryover between the City and Grand Terrace Partners, LLC.

A Legitimate Developer would not have taken such a undependable approach to development as GT Partners and the Schwab tried.

Now Stephen Wall is not in the position to ask Ms. Ferre how she will deal with the Day Workers she will be inviting if the Council Approves a LOWES to Grand Terrace. Nor did he ask why she thinks inviting the Traffic to Grand Terrace 24/7 is better than the occasional annoyance of traveling to a Lowes. Lowes primary customers are contractors and they will continue the practice of having Pick Up Labor.

With the other suggestions being dropped as possible tenants, none are likely to be a good fit to Grand Terrace. These will all require Heavy Increases in Traffic Stopping to Shop in Grand Terrace. This should demand that the speed limit in the area should now be changed to 35mph to train the residents and transient traffic that this is a RETAIL/SCHOOL AREA.

GRAND TERRACE is about to Join COLTON and FONTANA with the HIGHEST DEBT PER CITIZEN CLUB. ALL Brought to you by having a REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

What is the alternative? Well if a Natural Approach was taken it would be the Developer who would have to make road improvements rather than the RDA’s Obligation. It would be the Developer who has to pay fair market value for land from the Property Owner’s who want to sell when they want to sell. It would be the Developer who determines best use within the existing zoning and use codes. It would not be the City or the RDA saying you build it we’ll change the codes and zoning and plans to FIT YOU.

CONTACT THE SUN TELEGRAM

ASK THEM TO REPORT THE ENTIRE STORY

Publisher's office
Publisher Fred Hamilton fred.hamilton@sbsun.com
Administrative AssistantNancy Kay nancy.kay@sbsun.com

GT gives green light to project planning
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/12/2007 10:26:44 PM PDT

http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_6877687

Contact writer Stephen Wall at (909) 386-3916 or via e-mail at stephen.wall@sbsun.com.

GRAND TERRACE - Plans for developing the largest piece of vacant land in the city are moving forward.

The City Council approved an agreement on Tuesday with a group of developers to prepare plans for a roughly 100-acre freeway-oriented retail center.

The mixed-use project is intended to provide the city with the tax revenues necessary to sustain services such as police and fire protection.

"Once we build out Barton Road and this particular freeway project, it should provide enough annual income for our city operations now and into the future," City Manager Tom Schwab said.

The memorandum of understanding spells out the responsibilities of the developers, and the city in moving the project forward.

Specific uses have not been determined for the land east of the 215 Freeway and south of Barton Road.

The group of developers is known as Grand Terrace Partners LLC, which includes Torrance-based real estate firm Mar Ventures Inc., national-marketing specialists Madison Marquette and Los Angeles attorney Richard Lawrence.
The developers have been working with the city since 2004 on a concept for development of the area.

The city originally planned a retail project featuring boat and watercraft dealers, but a market study showed those land uses did not make economic sense.

Three years ago, the city signed an exclusive negotiating agreement with Grand Terrace Partners after talking to several other developers.
That initial agreement has expired, but the city and Grand Terrace Partners have informally agreed to continue working together on the project.
Tuesday night's council action, approved by a 4-0 vote with Council member Jim Miller abstaining, formally extends the earlier agreement.

Miller expressed concern about the city not using a formal bidding process to allow other developers to submit proposals.

"From the outside looking in, it would look like they had an inside shot," Miller said of Grand Terrace Partners. "It could come back and bite us."

Schwab said Grand Terrace Partners has a proven track record of accomplishment with the city and it would be unfair to allow other developers to enter the picture now.
Under the agreement, Grand Terrace Partners will pay about $300,000 for planning, environmental work, land appraisals and other design expenses.
They also will line up tenants for the center.

The city and Redevelopment Agency will be responsible for selecting firms to do a new Specific Plan and an environmental-impact report.

The city also will provide input to ensure that state and local transportation agencies complete traffic improvements needed for the project to move forward.
Schwab said the project will have two anchor tenants - possibly a home improvement store and a mixed-retail store such as Mervyn's, Target or Kohl's.
Several smaller stores would be included in the plan.

In addition, the project will have a residential component, although it hasn't been determined whether it will be homes, apartments or condominiums.
It will take about three years to complete the project, said Allan Mackenzie, president of Mar Ventures.

Mayor Maryetta Ferre said a quality retail center near the freeway is very important to the city's future.

"It's getting more and more difficult to travel to a Lowe's or to a Trader Joe's because of the traffic," Ferre said. "It would be very nice if we could provide those services here, yet do it in a very upscale way and still maintain the charm and sophistication of the city. I think these (developers) can help us do that."