Smoke Filled Back Room Deals Intended?

The Development on the Northwest Corner of Mt. Vernon/Barton Rd… More details... and

Gramps Focus on the Issue:

First of all the terms and condition of the lease and termination clause have not been disclosed by either private party or this is an issue to be resolved between them and possibly the Courts it is not a Public Issue or a Political Issue. However, the comments made by the City’s Mayor and Acting City Manager are of Public Interest or should be.

Now it is none of the Mayors business or the Cities what gets built on Private Property, IF a business thinks 2 Drug Stores will survive in GT then it is a BUSINESS and PROPERTY OWNER’s RIGHT to try. That is called free trade… That being said. The state does have a limit on how many Liquor Licenses can be issued in Grand Terrace, including selling from a “Drug” store. This is the majority of the sales tax items sold in a Walgreens or CVS so is it possible that you all booze it up more if there are more stores to buy booze from? That would be an interesting study.

I am concerned that the Mayor has the attitude that somewhere in her mind set she has control of what gets built on a Private Piece of Property by Private Business. That bothers me and it should bother you.

The City even suggesting a willingness to negotiate about street ownership is a hidden recognition by the Developer and the City that there is insufficient parking in the plan if it is to be within the code and zoning requirements of the City. These codes and “Plans” have caused other developers to not consider the property or other developments. To ease up on them for one and not remove the requirements on all future development is to be an injustice to current land owners as it puts them at a disadvantage in the market place. THIS IS NOT FREE COMMERCE or equal treatment under the Law, and Codes.

Sales Tax on What ? More Booze? Drugs and Food are not taxed. Well the truth is the CVS Store is on its way out of business. The building is listed for lease… at 1.5 million but the length of time that buys you is not posted. So perhaps the Smoke Store can pony up for that building… The smoke store should have a stand alone building as the owners habitually allow people to light up and smoke in their store. Others should not have to be exposed to this in their air ducts and walls.

So Mayor Ferre…. Have your meeting with the developer… see how much money gets contributed to Grand Terrace Days, the Mayors Campaign, or to the “Historical Society” by this developer in the past or in the future. Meetings between a developer and a person with a plan to be approved by the city council should not be having private meetings with the Mayor or any other member of the council… That quite simply does not pass the smell test… all the way from here… I can smell it and it is not good.

Gramps.

This is the part of the Article you should be WORRIED ABOUT…

The City Council is expected to consider the plans in early February. Construction could start in June and would take about eight months to complete, officials said.

As part of the project, the developer is asking the city to allow a portion of Britton Way running through the property to be vacated and maintained as a private driveway. The section of the street will still be open for public use for nearby residents.

Acting City Manager Steve Berry said the city expects to bring in between $60,000 and $100,000 in annual revenue from the project after all the businesses are open.

"We're hoping that by the time this gets built, the economy will have picked up steam," Berry said. "That is our busiest corner in the city."

Mayor Maryetta Ferre said she plans to meet with the developer next week to discuss the project. Ferre said she has questions about putting in two pharmacies across the street from each other. The city has a CVS Pharmacy at the northeast corner of Barton and Mount Vernon.

"I'm very happy to see new development in Grand Terrace, but I want to make sure it's exactly what we want," Ferre said.


GT shopping center hits snag
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/30/2008 04:05:08 PM PST


GRAND TERRACE - Plans to revitalize a blighted corner are running into resistance.
The city hopes to redevelop about 3.5 acres at the northwest corner of Barton Road and Mount Vernon Avenue with a Walgreens and a Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market.

Three of the four buildings on the property, which housed several businesses, were demolished about two weeks ago.

But the GT Tobacco Shop isn't budging.

The owner of the tobacco shop, identified by the city as Jawad Abdeljawad, did not respond to a request for comment.

A woman at the shop who identified herself as Abdeljawad's daughter said he has a long-term lease and cannot be forced to leave. She declined to answer further questions.

Robert Ha, an Orange County doctor who owns the property and wants to develop the project, was unavailable for comment.

Ha's Anaheim-based attorney, Douglas T. Richardson, said his client has made a generous settlement offer of $25,000. Abdeljawad also hasn't had to pay rent for November and December and will get his security deposit back, Richardson said.

After initially wanting more than $300,000, Abdeljawad is now willing to accept $150,000, Richardson said. But Abdeljawad has not provided documentation to support his claims that he is entitled to compensation for lost inventory, lost profit and a rental increase at a new location.

"We are willing to negotiate with him, but his figure is so far out of touch with reality.


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It doesn't make any sense," Richardson said.
Meanwhile, the proposal has cleared the first hurdle of the city's approval process.

The Planning Commission on Dec. 18 recommended approval of the project, which calls for a 14,820-square-foot Walgreens and 13,969-square-foot Fresh & Easy. Other tenants have not been identified.

Starbucks Coffee, which occupies a separate building on the property, will be remodeled and remain part of the new center, known as Barton Square.

The City Council is expected to consider the plans in early February. Construction could start in June and would take about eight months to complete, officials said.

As part of the project, the developer is asking the city to allow a portion of Britton Way running through the property to be vacated and maintained as a private driveway. The section of the street will still be open for public use for nearby residents.

Acting City Manager Steve Berry said the city expects to bring in between $60,000 and $100,000 in annual revenue from the project after all the businesses are open.

"We're hoping that by the time this gets built, the economy will have picked up steam," Berry said. "That is our busiest corner in the city."

Mayor Maryetta Ferre said she plans to meet with the developer next week to discuss the project. Ferre said she has questions about putting in two pharmacies across the street from each other. The city has a CVS Pharmacy at the northeast corner of Barton and Mount Vernon.

"I'm very happy to see new development in Grand Terrace, but I want to make sure it's exactly what we want," Ferre said.