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Director's Report CITY OF CUPERTINO 10300 TORRE AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 95014 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT -------::;> Subject: Report of the Community Development Direc~ Planning Commission Agenda Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 The City Council met on January 16, 2007, and discussed the following items of interest to the Planning Commission: 1. Authorize the City Manager to sign an agreement to dedicate land and restore the Nathan Hall Tank house near Blackberry Farm Golf Course and authorize staff to work with community groups to raise funding: The City Council authorized the City Manager to the agreement on behalf of the City: (see attached staff report) 2. Authorize the Mayor to work with the San Jose City Council to realign boundaries for area west of Lawrence Expressway between 280 and Bollinger and the area around Kentwood slated for housing: The City Council authorized Mayor Wang to work with the San Jose City Council. Miscellaneous 1. 2007 Planners Institute & Mini Expo: The League of California Cities 2007 Planners Institute & Mini Expo is coming up on Wednesday, March 21- Friday, March 23 at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center in San Diego. Enclosed is the brochure discussing the agenda and topics for this year's conference. If you are interested in attending this years conference, please fill out the Hotel Registration Form and return to Kiersa no later than Friday, March 2,2007. 2. Vacation I will be on vacatjon from January 23rd through February 1st, returning to the office February 2nd. Please contact Ciddy Wordell regarding any Planning related issues Enclosures: Staff Reports 2007 Planners Institute & Mini Expo Newspaper Articles G: \ Planning \ SteveP\ Director's Report\2006\pd01-23-07.doc DIR /1 I CITY OF CU PEI\IINO City of Cupertino 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 777-3308 Fax: (408) 777-3333 Community Development Department SUMMARY AGENDA NO. AGENDA DATE: Januarv 16, 2006 Application Summary: Authorize the City Manager to sign an amended agreement with the Byrne Avenue Homeowners Association to dedicate land and restore the Nathan Hall Tank house. Recommendation: Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to: ~ Sign the tank house agreement, ~ Complete the survey map exhibits for the agreement and ~ Finalize the agreement with the Rotary Club and return to the council for authorization to sign. BACKGROUND: In September 2006, the City Council was presented with a tentative agreement that staff negotiated with the Homeowners Association with regard to: . Dedication of land under and around the Nathan Hall tank house near Blackberry Farm Golf Course, and . Readjustment of lot lines to accommodate: o The structures of the Blue Pheasant that encroach onto the Byrne Avenue Homeowners' Association property and, o An existing bike/pedestrian pathway to the north of the property into the city's right of way. The transfer of the property on which the structures of the Blue Pheasant encroach upon resolves a long-standing misalignment of property lines and structures on the two properties. Additionally, the transfer of the bike/pedestrian pathway resolves an aberration in the City's right-of-way. This piece of land should have been dedicated to the City when the tract map was created. At the September city council meeting, a tentative restoration plan for the tank house structure was also outlined. At that time, the council was hesitant to accept a building that may need substantial rehabilitation, until the cost and financing strategy is better defined. The council directed staff to prepare a more comprehensive restoration plan with funding sources and the expenses for restoring the structure clearly identified. DISCUSSION: Restoration of old historic buildings needs to be scrutinized to ensure that it is financially feasible. In this case, staff recommends a phased and leveraged approach to the restoration. With this approach, each stage of the restoration funding will be identified before work is undertaken. Dr r< ~:) Report regarding agreement to dedicate land and restore Nathan Hall Tank House January 16, 2007 Page 2 of 5 There are several funding sources that may be used to fund the restoration project including the Dangerous Buildings Fund, service group donations, private donations and possibly CDBG grant money from the federal government. The implications of using CDBG money from the federal government are currently being analyzed. PHASED APPROACH The restoration project is proposed in four phases: 1. Recovery - secure and make the structure watertight 2. Renovation - make the structure accessible and useable 3. Restoration - add the wing structures to resemble the original structure 4. Redecoration - add major landscaping, pathway and exterior lighting etc. RECOVERY PHASE The Recovery Phase involves the recovery of the exterior of the building. The building as it stands may be designated a Dangerous Building by the Building Official. Such a building is an attractive nuisance attracting vagrants and encourages illegal occupants and uses to the property. This phase of the restoration can be done using the Dangerous Buildings Fund. In this phase, the building shall be made secure from the elements and other external factors. The following work will be completed at this stage: . General Site clean up - Los Altos Garbage Company to donate bin . Framing for roof . Roof repair/replacement - materials and labor donated by Los Gatos Roofing . Deck repair/replacement . Siding repair . Guardrail repair/replacement . Painting the exterior Note: Scaffolding will be required for roof repair, siding repair and painting. Repair roof Repair / replace guardrails Repair deck Repair siding Repaint Exterior I RECOVERY PHASE I G:\ Planning\PDREPORT\ CC\2006\ Tank House Agmt Rpt fan 07.doc DI~ '3 Report regarding agreement to dedicate land and restore Nathan Hall Tank House January 16, 2007 Page 3 of 5 Mr. Terry Brown has provided an estimate for this phase of the project (Exhibit A). The estimate is approximately $17,000 for the cost of materials. Mr. Brown has talked with a contractor who has volunteered man-hours to the project. Therefore, the final cost of doing the Recovery phase should be lower than the estimate provided by him. The cost of the fencing is not part of the Recovery Phase and has not been included in this analysis. Building Official Greg Casteel has corroborated these estimates with several building contractors. There has been significant interest generated in the renovation of the structure. The Los Altos Garbage Company has agreed to donate a 40 yard trash container for hauling away debris from the general clean up at the site and the San Jose Water Company has agreed to hook up the water service to tank house. (Exhibit B) RENOVATION PHASE In November 2006, city staff also made a formal request for consideration (Exhibit C) of the Tank House as the 2007 Cupertino Rotary Golf Classic beneficiary. On January 3, 2007, staff received notification from the Rotary Club of Cupertino that the Tank House has been chosen as the primary beneficiary for this event (Exhibit C). The specifics of the agreement with the Rotary Club are yet to be resolved and this agreement will be presented to the city council at a later date. The funds generated from this event will be used for the Renovation Phase of the project including the following: . Electrical service for light and heating . Water service hook up - donated by San Jose Water Company . Handicap on-street parking and ADA accessible pathway to building . Sheetrock . Flooring . Site fencing Flooring Electricity Sheetrock Repair doors and windows Note: Perimeter fencing is part of this phase RENOV A TION PHASE G:\Planning\PDREPORT\ CC\2006\ Tank House Agmt Rpt fan 07.doc .D 112 ~Lf Report regarding agreement to dedicate land and restore Nathan Hall Tank House January 16, 2007 Pa~e 4 of 5 An estimate of this phase of the renovation is approximately $35,750 (Exhibit A). This includes the cost of labor required for these tasks. The cost of materials for these tasks is not large and if voluntary labor can be obtained for these tasks, this phase too will be completed for less than the estimate. The restoration of the tank house can be deemed complete at this point. RESTORATION AND REDECORATION PHASES The Restoration and Redecoration phases could be undertaken if future funding sources are identified at a later date. If enough funds are not available for the Restoration phase, priority could be given to the final, Redecoration, phase. The Restoration phase involves the addition of the two wing structures that were part of the original tank house. These each would have approximately have the same square footage as the tank house structure. This phase will include the addition of restroom facilities. The final phase, Redecoration, would involve the addition of major landscaping and hardscaping of the property such as a decorative pathway to the structure. This would also include the installation of low intensity decorative outdoor lighting to illuminate the structure and the landscaping around it. ExteIior illumination and up lighting Add restroom Add hardscaping and landscaping RESTORATION & REDECORATION PHASES ADDENDUM TO AGREEMENT Two changes have been made to the agreement (Exhibit D) to reflect the changes in the funding sources for the restoration. In exchange for being the primary beneficiary of the Rotary Club's golf tournament, the Rotary Club has expressed a verbal desire to have its meetings at the site once the Renovate Phase is complete. An addendum (Exhibit E) has been made to the original agreement allowing the use of the property by service clubs for its meetings, in order to accommodate their request. Additionally, there was a clause in the original agreement stating that if the tank house is ever demolished or destroyed, the city shall return the property to the Byrne Avenue Homeowners Association. However, this clause has been amended to state that the city. is not required to transfer ownership of the property to the original homeowners association. G:\Planning\ PDREPORT\ CC\2006\ Tank House Agmt Rpt Jan 07.doc bjQ-5 Report regarding agreement to dedicate land and restore Nathan Hall Tank House January 16,2007 Page 5 of 5 Enclosures: Staff Report dated September 19, 2006 Exhibit A: Estimate for Recovery phase from Mr. Terry Brown and Memo from Building Official Greg Casteel Exhibit B: Email from Dana Drysdale, V.P. Information Systems at San Jose Water Co. Exhibit C: Letter from Rotary Club stamped January 3, 2007 and request for Consideration as Rotary's 2007 Golf Tournament beneficiary Addendum to the Agreement dated December 21, 2006 Exhibit D: Proposed Tank house Agreement Exhibit E: Addendum to Tank house agreement Prepared by: Piu Ghosh, Assistant Planner Approved by: Steve Piasecki Director of Community Development (~/-~ dlz(rt~L!l ~J't0) DavId W. Knapp t/ City Manager G: \ Planning \ PDREPORT\ CC\ 2006 \ Tank House Agmt Rpt fan 07.doc 7J , Q ~lo league of California Cities 2007 Planners Institute & Mini Expo General Information Registration/Events The full registration fee includes program materials, two breakfasts, one lunch, and one theme dinner. Guest/Spouses To attend the meal functions, guest or spouse attending the 2007 Planners Institute with a regis- tered attendee must purchase a guest registration at $160 to receive a badge for all meal functions. The guest badge is required. Individual meal tickets will be available onsite. For information on local events within the city, please contact the hotel concierge desk. Airlines We invite you to visit www.cacities.org/ travel for the new Enhanced Local Government AIrfare Program. Location Town and Country Hotel 500 Hotel Circle North San Diego, CA 92108 (619) 291-7131 CityBooks Register online and receive a $20 CityBooks coupon onsite. You VVil1 \;Vant to Attend if You Are a... III Planning Commissioner III Commissioner for Transportation, Historic Preservation, or Architectural Review III Planning or Community Development Director .. Land Use or Transportation Planner II Mayor or Council Member or City Manager wanting to keep abreast of planning issues Driving Directions Interstate 5 North or South Exit onto Interstate 8 East (El Centro) and exit 2nd Hotel Circle exit, turn left continuing under the overpass. Interstate 805 North or South Interstate 15 North or South & Hwy 163. Exit onto Interstate 8 West (Beaches), exit Hotel Circle and turn right. Interstate 8 East (EI Centro) Exit 2nd Hotel Circle Exit and turn left going under the overpass. Interstate 8 West (Beaches) Exit Hotel Circle and turn right. Transportation Super Shuttle from the airport $12 Taxi from the airport $24 Parking Hotel guests: $12 per day Local guests: $14 per day You Will Benefit from this Program by... II Attending briefings and seminars on a wide array of current planning topics II Networking with other commissioners and professionals to share ideas and solutions to make your job easier II Exploring the mini expo to learn about the latest products and services available to cities DIr2 ,6 Please note: session times, titles, and topics are subject to change. \/\./ prl n (1C: d I~rh 71 ~. II " t" ". Opening General Session 1 - 2 p.m. Community Makeovers A journalist, urban planner, researcher, pundit, and best-selling author, and now a practicing elected official as a member of the Ventura City Council, William Fulton has played a key role in reshaping the way urban and metropolitan growth issues are debated in the post- suburban era. Fulton is regarded as one of the nation's leading commen- tators on urban planning, metropolitan growth, and economic development. Although much of his professional experience has taken place in the fast-growing metropolitan regions of California and the West, Fulton also has a national perspective and often draws on his own personal experiences growing up in "the thinning metropolises" of Upstate New York. Speaker: Bill Fulton, Council Member, Ventura President, Solimar Research Group, Ventura Concurrent. Sessions 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Finance 101 Learn the essentials of California city revenues and spending in this session designed for community planners. Explore trends in California local government finance, potential impacts from the state budget, and critical issues and proposals for fiscal reform. Speaker: Michael Coleman, Fiscal Policy Advisor to the League of California Cities, CaliforniaCityFinance.com, Davis Conditions of Approvals and Findings Discuss the mechanics of how to review a project, identify impacts, craft conditions to mitigate, and draft findings to support your conclusions. Every project approval or condition can be the subject of a legal challenge. If done correctly the first time, litigation can be avoided and confidence is built in the commission's final decision. Speakers: Jolie Houston, Partner, Berliner, Cohen, San Jose Steve Emslie Director of Community Development, Palo Alto Curtis Williams, Assistant Director of Planning and Community Development, Palo Alto Legislative Updates What new laws do you need to know about and what is the Legislature up to this year? Hear the latest breaking news (and rumors) about what the Legislature has in store for housing, land use, and planning laws. Speaker: Bill Higgins, Legislative Representative League of California Cities, Sacramento It's Always About Infrastructure Infrastructure: it is the thing that makes your city a city. When it works well, nobody gives it a thought. But when it doesn't, the issue dominates the agenda. This session will examine two fundamental aspects of infrastructure planning: setting appro- priate performance standards and developing the funding tools necessary to assure that those standards are met. Speaker: Bob.Spencer, MuniFinancial, Oakland ~.~~~~.W()rk~hop 2 - 4 p.m. Sign-up .sheets will be available for the Mobile Workshops onsite at the League registration desk. Space for each workshop will be limited and members will be given admission on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are interested in the workshops, we advise you to sign-up upon arrival. Limit one mobile tour per attendee. Hip Trip Mobile Workshop (Gaslamp District, San Diego) Originally intended to be the main business district, the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego had suffered through decades of decay. Once home to sailor bars, pawn shops, racy bookstores and flop houses, the Gaslamp is now the hip spot for nightlife, fine dining, shopping and understanding San Diego's bayfront history. Join Michael]. Stepner, the former city architect of San Diego and one of the visionaries that brought life into the neglected district. He will explain both the history and the planning challenges that created the vibrant revitalization. Speaker and Tour Leader: Michael]. Stepner, FAIA, FAICP, FlUD Principal, Stepner Design Group, San Diego Concurrent Sessions 3:45 - 5 p.m. CEQA 101 This session is designed to provide a basic overview of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for new planning commissioners and staff. Gain background information on the law's intent and use in making informed judgments about project decisions in your jurisdiction. Also learn the primary compo- nents and terminology of the law and its applications levels. Moderator: Mahdi Aluzri, AICP, Community Development Director, Beverly Hills Speaker: Dr. Susan O'Carroll, Pareto Planning and Environmental Services, Los Angeles DIR -C{ Polish Your Public Performance: How to Get the Right Message Across How many times do you want to say something pointed at a planning commissioner and the right words just won't come out? How often do you need to elicit the pertinent information from staff or applicants but can't seem to get your message across? When you speak with boards and commissions, do you wish to improve your communication skills? Join this interactive workshop to learn the best delivery, the best stance, and the best tools for positive, motivational and strong communication. Speaker: Jenni Prisk, Prisk Communication, San Diego General Plan When was the last time you took a holistic view of your general plan? Would you know what the difference is between a good plan and an average plan? How do you know when a plan is working? These questions, and many more, will be covered with the goal of providing you with the tools you need to analyze your own community plan. Speaker: Elwood C. (Woodie) Tescher, AICP Director of Planning and Urban Development EIP Associates, Los Angeles Eminent Domain and Redevelopment The issues of eminent domain and redevelopment continue to loom large in the political arena. Gain important perspectives on these issues and hear an update on late breaking legal and legislative news in this area. Speakers: TBA Inclusionary Housing and Density Bonuses Both these issues and laws continue to play important roles in local housing elements. The problem is that the Density Bonus Law is poorly drafted and difficult to implement. lnclusionary housing continues to be an important source of affordable housing with more than 160 ordinances adopted statewide. How can cities apply their inclusionary ordinances in light of the Density Bonus Law? And, to what extent do these issues overlap with redevelopment requirements? Speaker: Barb Kautz, Goldfarb and Lipman Theme Receptionl Strolling Dinner 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. You've had a full day and now it's time to have some fun! Join your colleagues at this San Diego influenced buffet dinner in the Town and Country rose garden. Enjoy live music and come prepared for karaoke. Guest/spouse fee for the entire meeting is $160.00. Single event/ meal tickets for the dinner are available for $75.00. Badges must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the door. Please refer to the Registration form for more information. Thursday, March 22 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Full Breakfast Buffet Networking Breakfast Session There Are No Stupid Questions Take advantage of this opportunity to share ideas, experiences, frustrations and questions about planning and commission practice with your peers. This informal gathering will allow you to meet with other planners to discuss issues of shared interest in an open forum. Facilitators: Sharon Fierro Community Development Director, Campbell Lynn Osborn, Program Manager 511 Contra Costa Program Planning Commissioner, Danville General Session 9-10a.m. High Cost of Free Parking If the past trends in vehicle ownership continue, the world will have more than 4.7 billion cars well before the end of the twenty-first century. The average- car spends 95 percent of its life parked. Technology alone is unlikely to solve the parking problem. UCLA urban planning professor Donald Shoup says we actually have too many parking spaces in this country, espe- cially the free (that is, fully subsidized) kind. He argues that we pay the price for free parking in many different ways. Join this thought-provoking session to learn what we give up to keep our cars. Speaker: Donald Shoup, Department of Urban Planning University of California, Los Angeles Concurrent Sessions 10:30 - 11:45 a.m High Cost of Free Parking Follow-up Get a chance to address your detailed questions with the general session speaker. Speaker: Donald Shoup, Department of Urban Planning University of California, Los Angeles D/t2 -10 Making Bigger Better: Avoiding Mansionization and Preserving Neighborhoods With ever increasing housing costs, how does a community accommodate preferences in housing types, changing demo- graphics and maintain the character that drew residents to the neighborhood in the first place? Some cities have approached the challenge through modifications to development standards; others have imposed design standards. A panel debates the merits of imposing restrictions, what they can be, and what happens after controls are put in place. Presider: Susan Healy Keene, AICP, Director of Community Development, West Hollywood Speakers: Mahdi Aluzri, AICP, Community Development Director, Beverly Hills Alice Angus, AICP, Community Development Director, Orange Hank Koenig, Santa Monica Planning Commissioner and Architect Koenig/Eizenberg Architects, Santa Monica Walk this Way Obesity, physical inactivity, and overweight cost California an estimated $28 billion per year in medical care, workers compen- sation and lost productivity. This session will demonstrate how city officials can address the obesity epidemic by developing safe and active communities through better access to healthy food and physical activity opportunities through general plans, zoning controls and community redevelopment. Speakers: TBA Group Homes: What Planning Commissioners Need to Know Group homes serve important purposes in the community but are often very controversial. This session will explore the authority, and lack of authority, that local agencies have to regulate such homes. Speaker: Greg Priamos, City Attorney, Riverside How to Run an Effective Meeting Ever feel like your meetings are on the verge of getting out of control? Learn how to lead more effective meetings from experienced professionals. Get practical tips on how to have more open, effective, productive and enjoyable meetings. Speakers: TBA Strip Mall Makeovers: From Frumpy to Fabulous Strip Malls have become the pimples and stretch marks of our communities. See how these ugly ducklings can be transformed into community assets including new downtowns and mixed use. Speaker: Steve Price, Urban Advantage, Berkeley Lunch/Mini Expo Noon - 2 p.m. Enjoy lunch with your colleagues and be a part of the Mini Expo! Exhibiting companies will display products and services in the areas of: Budgeting, Performance Measuring, Retirement Planning, Economic and Community Development, Affordable Housing, Environmental Planning and Arbitration Practices, Traffic Solutions and Air Quality. Guest/spouse fee for the entire meeting is $160.00. Single event/meal tickets for the Lunch/Mini Expo are available for $50.00. Badges must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the door. Concurrent Sessions 2:15 - 3:45 p.m. State and Local Solutions for Housing: Comments from the HCD Director The new director for the State Department of Housing and Community Development, Lynn Jacobs, will discuss what the state is doing to help address the need for housing and how local agencies can take advantage of these programs. Speaker: LynnJacobs, Director, CA State Housing and Community Development Department, Sacramento Institutionalizing Collaborative Planning: Changing the Public Sector Culture to Support Civic Engagement Municipalities are increasingly turning to public engagement processes to bring resident voices to the table when making significant planning-related public decisions and policies. Panelists will comment on tools and strategies to move beyond one-time-only activities and to build an ongoing commitment to a public sector planning culture that invites the public's involve- ment. Join us to share perspectives and learn new approaches. Presider: Terry Amsler, Director Collaborative Governance Initiative Institute for Local Government, Sacramento Speakers: Elaine Costello, Director, Community Development Department, Mountain View Janet Fairbanks, Senior Regional Planner San Diego Association of Governments, San Diego Lynn Osborn, Program Manager 511 Contra Costa Program Planning Commissioner, Danville D1r'2 ~I J Traffic Mitigation This session will describe how to use traffic calming and alternative traffic devices. It will discuss the successes and failures of using roundabouts in your community. Speakers: TBA High Tech for High Touch: New Technology and Planning Tools New planning tools are taking some of the guess work out of planning. Visualization tools and mapping tools allow planners and community residents to understand the impact of their decisions on the landscapes of their communities, both in the short-term and into the future. These tools allow for more informed decisions and also allow community members to participate meaningfully in the planning process. Speakers: Sacramento Council of Governments Representative Steve Price, Urban Advantage, Berkeley Mobile. Workshops 2:15 - 5:30 p.m. Coronado Mobile Workshop Join in a tour of Coronado, the "Crown City" in San Diego Bay. Long famous for the Hotel Del Coronado, the island town is also home to new mixed use in fill projects along its "main street," many historic preservation endeavors and substantial public improvements that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors. Visit the landmark 'Hotel Del' and learn about its recently implemented master plan. See the new Glorietta Bay Civic Center and Promenade along a beautiful bay shoreline. Observe mixed use infill projects that supportthe village atmosphere and the wonderful attributes that define Coronado. Speaker and Tour Leader: Dale St. Denis, AlA, Coronado Green Design Mobile Workshop See first hand why it pays to go "green!" Visit the Ridgehaven Office Building, home to the City of San Diego's Environmental Services Department; is a model of sustainable design. Learn how various environmental objectives were achieved related to energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, improved indoor air quality and lighting. Hear first hand from building occupants as well as designers as to how to bring sustainable design.criteria to your jurisdiction and how to review projects for better environmental efficiencies. Speaker and Tour Leader: Lynn Froeschle, AlA Environmental Consulting Architect San Diego Concurrent Sessions 4 - 5:15 p.m. Planning Commission Administrivia The devil is always in the details. Examine the process of making a good decision that can withstand a challenge, appeal, or even judicial review. What is involved in developing an adequate record? What kind of evidence should the commission rely? What happens when there is an appeal? What makes a "fair" hearing? And, what are the due process requirements? Speaker: Christi Hogin Jenkins and Hogin, Malibu Top 10 Questions We have collected questionnaires from a number of commis- sioners and developed a list of common commission problems. Learn from your peers about "How to" deal with staff, tips for running meetings, and countless other issues. And, yes, bring your own questions as well. Facilitator: Bill Higgins, Legislative Representative League of California Cities, Sacramento I Hate Yellow: The Importance of Design Review Too many times, it seems, we hear about homeowners who want to paint or design their home in a way that is contrary to the restrictions in their deed. Who determines what is good design? Most people cannot describe what good design is, but they know it when they see it. Discuss how to give structure and clear expectations to your city's design review process. Gain answers to: why design review is important, who is responsible, how to set the bar with political support, and how to review case studies to lead you step by step. Speakers: TBA CIT' Register online and receive a $20 CityBooks coupon onsite. Du2 -/~ Friday, March 23 Networ~ing Bre~kfastl Full Breakfast Buffet 7:307" 8:30a.m. Ethics Training 8:15 -10:15 a.m. How to Build and Maintain the Public's Trust: Practical Ethics and the Law Your ability to lead in your community depends upon the extent to which the public trusts you and trusts your city as an institution. What are some questions that public officials can ask themselves when confronted with ethical dilemmas? What does the law require of you as a public servant? Discover the tools and resources available to you to deal with ethical and ethics law issues. Those who sign in and attend the full session will receive ethics education credit for purposes of AB 1234 compliance. Moderator and Speaker: JoAnne Speers, Executive Director Institute for Local Government, Sacramento Concurrent Sessions 9 - 10:15 a.m. Condomania California housing market values may be stabilizing or on the decline, but it remains dynamic with potential upswings in the not too distant future. Demand for home ownership remains at its highest level in the history of California. With the recent cycle of escalating land and construction cost, more multi-residential property owners have opted to convert their existing apartment buildings into condominiums. Learn from one jurisdiction who successfully managed this trend without placing a strict moratorium or opening the flood gate for demolition of its existing stock. Facilitator: Vince Bertoni, AICP, President of CCAPA City Planner, Beverly Hills Speakers: Kathy Reims, Planning Commissioner, Beverly Hills Noah Furie, Planning Commissioner, Beverly Hills Here Comes the Neighborhood: Community Acceptance of Affordable Housing California is experiencing a severe crisis of housing afford- ability. Yet local planners and elected officials can find it difficult to generate community support for affordable housing projects, which often precipitate neighborhood opposition from residents concerned about impact on quality of life. This session will describe tools that planners and public officials can successfully use to address neighborhood concerns and ensure that affordable housing meets with community acceptance rather than opposition. Speakers: Terry Amsler, Director, Collaborative Governance Initiative, Institute for Local Government Steve Sanders, Interim Director, Land Use and Housing Program, Institute for Local Government Planning Commissioners Roles and Responsibilities -Can't We All Just Get Along? What is the role of the planning commission in your community? Neutral judge or jury? Advocate for good planning policies? Visionaries for development directions? At this session, gain a better understanding of your responsibilities, as well as the relationship between the planning commission, the council, and your practical working relations with staff and proponents. Speaher: Lynn Osborn, Program Manager 511 Contra Costa Program Planning Commissioner, Danville Think Regionally, Act Locally Traffic, air and water quality, transportation systems, and jobs- housing balance all reach beyond the borders of one jurisdiction to another. Increasingly, regional and county-wide impacts are playing increasingly important roles in local decision making, particularly when more and more infrastructure funding is tied to projects that meet regional goals. This session will focus on the value of regional planning with an emphasis on assuring that local needs are still addressed. Speakers: TBA General Closing Session 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. When Generations Collide People can be difficult no matter what their age. Disparities in age may lead people to see situations differently. Acknowledging that people of various ages see things differently is funda- mental for successful communication. One of today's foremost cultural translators and an expert on the generations at work, Lynne Lancaster, will explain how temporal and social demarcations help us understand the key influences that shaped each generation and why traits that phiy out in to day's workplace can be so diverse. By combining practical, how-to exercises with examples from real-lifework situations, this thought provoking session will help you start seeing co-workers in a new light. Speaker: Lynne Lancaster, Co-founder/Partner Bridgeworks LLC, Sonoma fF/ I , J .\~~! \ f.... .\~ Plk?-I~ LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES 1400 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 www.cacities.org League of California Cities 2007 Planners Institute & Mini Expo Wednesday, March 21- Friday, March 23, 2007 Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego Registration and Housing Deadline: Friday, March 2, 2007 PRESORT FIRST CLASS US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1022 SACRAMENTO CA ~] t. i::' ~l f=: C.C!U.rti. un i tj.' I>':~ '--,:'::= l~:--'pl~L'S~'l~ t. :,...:. L .:=,,..:. L'_.';.. lD~00 ~o~r2 AV8~l.\~~ Ctl'pf~r..-t:.lnc: i '_,1"",. .:}.:~:! ..... ~':;' --;<-:-:-;"-:-:', <~"-':':~i:i:'?-- '., J;t1.:J , " -JR~OI" 1~+NtJ. - - ~J.l.~--Ti . - - -- - .-." . -zz..;'i~jt .. ' I _. ' . - - - ~.- :: - - -...'" - -- ...~-- - - ~- - - League of California Cities Conference Fee Mark Your Calendar 2007 Planners Institute & Mini Expo Three Ways to Register Register online at www.cacities.org/events Registrations completed online before Friday, March 2, 2007, will receive a $20 discount coupon to be used at the CityBooks bookstore. Or, fax the enclosed registration form to the League of California Cities at (916) 658-8220. Or, mail the form and a check to the League of California Cities, 1400 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Reservations must be received no later than 5 p.m., Friday, March 2, 2007. After this date, please register onsite. FuIlC:c:;.nferenc:e' .. Wednesday, March 21 - Friday, March 23 One day registration is not available -.,0" Cities I City Officials $490 All Others $700 Guest/Spouse $160 _ (see Registration form, fees for spouses) o Iii I Shaping California's Future Special Accommodations 1111 If you require special accommodations ~ related to facility access, communication and/or diet, please contact Conference Registration at (916) 658-8291. Save the Date! Join us in Sacramento, September 5- 8, 2007 for the League's Annual Conference. Registration opens in May 2007. DII2-fLf 2007 Planners Institute & Mini Expo Wednesday, March 21 - Friday, March 23, 2007 Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego Hotel Registration Form \l~c;t\O~ '0'" CO~ ~e\ \tese{"~~1 0> '\~~\ .,.,~_a ~ LEAGUE ~ OF CALIFORNIA CITIES Please DO NOT return this form to the League of California Cities. Reservations must be received no later than 5 p.m., Friday, March 2, 2007. How to Reserve Your Room: Register online for the conference and housing at www.cacities.org/events. OR call the hotel at (800) 722-8527. Be sure to request the group rate for the League of California Cities. OR fill out this form completely and fax it to the Hotel at (619) 294-4681. Please make copies of this form if additional rooms are to be reserved. Use only one form per room. If faxing this form, do not mail a duplicate copy. Hotel check-in is 3 p.m. and checkout is 11 a.m. All reservations, changes,.or cancellations can be submitted to the hotel in writing or by calling the hotel. Name Mailing Address City, State, Zip Telephone: E-mail Fax: ( Arrival Date and Time o a.m. 0 p.m. Departure Date and Time o a.m. 0 p.m. Room Preferences o I will share a room with (name of person) o Non Smoking Room 0 Handicapped Access o Single King o Double, 1 Bed o Double, 2 Beds There are no guarantees on room type, although the hotel will do everything possible to accommodate your request. Room assignments are based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Deposit Information The hotel requires a deposit in the amount of the first night's room rate. Housing forms received without a valid credit card or check deposit will be returned and will not be processed. (No cash deposits accepted.) Rate: $139 single (plus 10.50% state and local tax) $145 double (plus 10.50% state and local tax) Deposits by credit card require the following information: Name on Card Please make checks payable to: Hotel Town and Country Hotel 500 Hotel Circle North San Diego, CA 92108 Amount: $ Card Number Expiration Date Signature Date Confirmation: If you do not receive a confirmation via e-mail, fax or mail within 14 days after any transaction, please contact the hotel at (800) 772-8527. Cancellation: You must cancel your housing reservation directly with the hotel. The hotel will make a full refund if the cancellation occurs before 5 p.m., 48 hours before your check-in date. \) Ie - (5 ~t@ ~;j wv 'EDNESDAY JOSE MERCURY NEWS 'lUARY l7, 2007 tVa LOCAL NEWS IN YOUR INBOX ... EVERY WEEI(OAY It ~, Tree cutters, owners face city fines l!l1ews -~r' ...-----~----.-. NO PERMITS ISSUED TO CUT OLD SYCAMORES "nfJ~~:\~~': By Janice Rombecl( Mm:ury News A San Jose tree service company that cut down three sycamores over the weekend, generating a firestorm of protest from neighbors, did not have the required permits and will be fined $4,500, a city official said Tues- day. The owners of the vacant lot on Ca- mino Ricardo in San Jose's Willow Glen, Todd and Anita Holt of Tres Pi- nos, also will be fined $4,500 for con- tracting to have two of the three trees removed by PMC Tree Service on Saturday, said 'Jamie Matthews, code enforcement administrator. The third tree was not large enough to require a permit. Planning Director Joe Horwedel said Tuesday in addition to citations, the city will file a complaint with the contractors license board against the tree service, and that the city attor- ney's office is checking to see whether an unfair business complaint can be filed against the property. Calls to PMC Tree Service and the Checking yo~r e-mail? Why not check the n:\ljs ~oo?~lg~up for our e-mail newsletter. Holts were not returned Tuesday. "That's nothing," neighbor Larry Ames said of the fines, considering the profit a developer could get from building and selling a home in Willow Glen. But Matthews said fines could be increased to $30,000, and violations would still occur. "There is no amount of fines to See TREES, Page 4B TREES I Cutters, owners face fines over sycamores cut down Continuedfrom Page IB prevent people from breaking the law," Matthews said. The illegal tree removal was brought to the attention of authorities by neighbors who heard the sound of a. chain saw on Saturday and called the city's hotline. When they didn't get an answer, they called police, who ar- rived 90 minutes later. By then, two of the trees were chopped down and a third had lost nearly all its branch- es. After the stiffer fines were approved, the city also as- signed a code enforcement of- ficer to work Saturdays to field complaints of. tree re- movals and other violations. A pilot program ended on Dec. 31, Matthews said, with few calls logged. Residents, who gathered to protest the tree removal, said the trees were thought to be at least 60 years old. Willow Glen residents also added fuel to the issue with a frenzy of e- . mails over the weekend. Matthews said Tuesday , ;.s,,-,,: . n.' >Sa,n . .i'''..N,O,.''''. ,,,...., ? 'I'" . <;>::'Jose / .2", . "Ii " "..' '..'., .-.(Q )IIIillri~so~~~~L~:. . .-/' o 1/2 -- Mile '..i" . '."% .~ '.'00 ,'>" ~ ',C? MERCURY NEWS ... A San Jose official says these trees were cut with no permit. UV AMES - SPECIAL TO THE MERCURY NEWS that the owners, who are re- sponsible for maintaining street trees and trees on pri- vate property, were notified in a letter dated Jan. 9 that they could not remove two of the sycamores and another tree without a permit, which they didn't have. The tree on the property that was not dis- turbed is a Deodar cedar, or Cedrus deodara, which has been designated a heritage tree by the city because of its size and species. The letter was sent from the city Planning Department to the previous owner of the property, Qui Van Pham, with a copy sent to the Holts, who purchased the property in mid-December. According to a city ordi- nance, property owners are required to apply for permits to cut down trees with a cir- cumference of at least 56 inches. Last summer, the city approved stiffer fines for vio- lators in response to com- plaints by residents. Ames said the city should go a step further and require the owners to replant trees in the same location as the syca- mores, which would reduce the size of the proposed home. Initial design plans call' for a new 2,767-square-foot, two- story home with four bed- rooms and 3 y, bathrooms. "That won't make up for what is gone," he said, "but at least the developer won't get .an illegal gain out ofit." Contact Janice Rombeck at jrombeck@mercurynews.com or (408) 275-0917. Die "I to lL j GATOS SUNDAY ~4'.~~__'_~"'''''''.'''_ WEST VALLEY . ~ l'I1r;;~____~'.,-.1=__~~'~"""-.:';~>=U~~=-~ JANUARY 14,2007 S E R V I N GT HE LOS GATOS NEWS delays project ns securing the right of way acific blocked the multicity east a decade. The company ss selling the property until ng the railroad end. ard is moved forward with its rail using nearby land owned ~ 1.6-mile trail will run from [me to Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and cost about $2.5 million. The project has met some opposition from neighbors. About 150 res- idents signed a petition opposing the trail. But it has its share of supporters, too, with one anonymous donor giving about $399,500 for construction. The project also has fund- Santa Clara Valley Trans- thority's federal bicycle llld. by PG&E and the water positive, the City Council e Environmental Report - ;mith said may be available Id then the project can move engineering design phase. TRAIL /5 larage . . Sunday, Jan. 14,2007 3 Road's prospects look bleak Officials push costly, multicity 1.9-mile stretch least we're talking to them. At least it's on the radar screen. Ann Waltonsmith, Saratoga vice mayor BY KRISTEN MUNSON / STAFF Saratoga officials say they face an uphill battle for moving Prospect Road improvements up on San Jose's to-do list because of funding problems. While recently elected San Jose City Council Member Pete Constant is interested in pursuing the project, the cash-strapped city is cutting back on capital improve- ment projects, he said. Residents from both cities have signed petitions calling for traffic calming and beautification mea- sures along the 1.9-mile stretch of Prospect Road shared by both Saratoga and San Jose. The instal- lation of a landscaped median strip with left turn pockets will cost each city about $1.5 million. Despite a history of failed coor- dination efforts, Saratoga officials pledged in November to revisit the issue with San Jose. The Saratoga City Council voted to bring $50,000 to the bargaining table to woo San Jose's interest in upgrading the roadway and formed an ad hoc committee to get talks rolling this winter. "I think that there'sa lot of reasons to do the project," Constant said Thursday from a confer- ence for new council members in Sacramento. ''From a safety. and aesthetic viewpoint, I think the median strip is a good idea. The biggest stumbling block, quite frankly, is going to be finding funding." . San Jose is coming off several years of con- tinuous budget deficits and already has higher- priority projects. Constant has been in office less than two weeks and is still forming his own priority list. He is still learning the avenues where additional funding fm: the project may be available, he said. Prior to being sworn in, Constant met with a group of concerned Saratoga and Cupertino resi- dents to discuss the project over coffee. He supports performing a traffic study of the road to deter- mine if safety is the primary issue. "I know about the communi- ty's desire for (improvements)," Constant said. "I agree there is a need for it. But I cannot commit ,,-,..p. 'C" ,/, more than that right now." But despite the dreary fman- cial forecast, Saratoga Vice Mayor Ann Waltonsmith remains optimistic. "At least we're talking to them," she said. "At least it's on the radar screen. There's nobody around saying, 'No this is a bad idea.'The neighbors are certainly enthusiastic about it from both sides of the line." , At the end of January, she and fellow ad hoc committee member Council Member Kathleen King will likely head back to San Jose for anoth- er round of talks. "It's in their b31lpark right now," Walton- smith said. "That doesn't mean that we're going to let them sit there." The $50,000 Saratoga set-aside for funding the project's Master Plan is still on the table, but Saratoga will not shoulder the cost alone. ROAD / 5 Dlt< ;{ 1 L ---....j ;.un~nY. ~h 54 II 30 SUNDAY ....---....,...~,-~~~~ SERVING THE WEST VA.LLEY JANUARY 14,2007 j-T .-- I ~-! --. ----------.----..--------.,.------.------------------------------------ -----j ,1Ji,mrp~.~t back twoI!l~!!~ --'";-;,~'.),;". . .__. ..... .Seepag~3 '" ~ <=> '" r- www.thelesgatesnews.net Impact report delays De Anza Tmil project BY KRISTEN MUNSON I STAFF But problems securing the right of way from Union Pacific blocked the muHicity project by atleast a decade. The company will not discuss selling the property until operations along the railroad end. Bureaucratic snafus bave delayed environmental testing for Saratoga's por- tion of the De Anza Trail, setting the pro- ject hack about two months, city officials said last week. An Environmental Report was expected for public review by the end of January but has been delayed due to difficulty schedul- ing soil and structural testing with Pacific Gas & Electric and the San Jose Water Company. "It took longer than we expect- ed," Saratoga Vice Mayor Ann Wal- tonsmith said. The project relies heavily on federal funding, and the Environ- mental Report is required to be very comprehensive. Ann Waltonsmith, Saratoga vice mayor Moving forward Saratoga has moved forward with its portion of the trail using nearby land owned by PG&E. The L6-mile trail will run from Saratoga Avenue to Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and cost about $2.5 million. The project has met some opposition from neighbors. About 150 res- idents signed a petition opposiItg the trail. But it has its share of supporters, too, with one anonymous donor giving about $399,500 for constrnction. The project also has fund~ ing from the Santa Clara VaHey Trans- portation Authority's federal bicycle expenditure fund. If the tests by PG&E and the water company are positive, the City Council will review the Environmental Report - which Waltonsmith said may be available in March - and then the project can move forward to the engineedng design phase. TRAIL /5 It took longer than we expected. History The De Anza Trail Project began about six years ago when Los Gatos, Saratoga, CampbeH and Cupertino discussed build- ing an 8.7-mile, multiuse trail that would run alongside the Union Pacific railroad tracks and connect the municipalities. PIt< -'/t6 JANUARY 5, 2007 VOL 24, NO. 35 $2.00 96 N. Third St Suite 100 San Jose. C~ 95112 Seeking secrets of the universe in search for unfamiliar rings. JO 1 eL '~.l Pages 15-17 STAY GAUGHT UP: Sign up for free e-mail newsupdatesatsanJose.blzJournals.com Suit filed over Sunnyvale mall BY SHARON SIMONSON ssimonson@bi1joumals.com Fourth Quarter properties and its affiliate, Forum Development Group, . of falling to pay Menlo nearly $900,000 promised as in- centive to gain enhanced devel- opment rights from the city of SUnnYvale. . Menlo seeks to attach judgment to the 34-acre Town Center site to . ensure that if it were sold, Menlo would be lil!.id. Forum is current- ly negotiating to sell the site and deve10pment plan. ,fJ;~enloEqu1ties spokesman would not comment on the com- plaiiit: The Forum principals cit- ed in the petition, William Brown and,:Ron Pfohl, did not return callS for comment, nor did their attorney. The suit follows arbitration. In early_ October, retired Judge Robert A. Baines awarded Men- lo the $1.2 million: the $882,000 in incentives and about $300,000 in fees and expenses. Forum, however, has not paid. Accord- ing to the complaint,Forum told Mertlo that it is "judgment-proof by reason of insufficient assets and will be unable to pay the fmal award." A subsidiary of ,Palo Alto's. Mertlo Equities has sUed a Geor-' gia developer for $1.2 million in unpaid fees and interest related to re-construction of the troubled Sunnyvale Town Center. The suit, filed Dee. 12 in Santa Clara SUperior Court, accuses - :.,- ~.~. See SUNNYYAlE, Page 6 SUNNYVALE: Mayor hopes 'city 'can avoid court and get new developer if Forum can't do project CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 creating exactly the kind of blight that California redevelopment law is suppes- Forum is now negotiating with Sill- edIy designed to remedy and thwart. No con Valley developer Peter Pau to sell construction work is in progress. hJm and his fmancial partner, Rreef, In August 2004, when it approved the the Town Center tract and development deal with Forum. the city projected it rights for 292 homes, 275,000 square feet would collect as much as $2 million a of offices and about 650,000 square feet year in.sales taxes from the center and of new shop space. Pau, a seasoned retail another $4 million in annual property developer, already owns the neighbor- taxes for its redevelopment agency. ing Town & Country shopping center. News of the potential sale comes af- Rreef, which has offices in San Fran- tel' the city accused Fourth Quarter in cisco, manages in excess of $60 billion March of breaching the 2004 develop- in real estate assets on behalf of institu- ment agreement. The city sought in Au- tional clients and other investors. gust to buy the land from Fourth Quar- It is not clear what Forum is bas- ter, but relented when Fonun asked to ing its claim on when it says it doesn't negotiate a sale to Pau and Rreef. have assets with which to satisfy the It is tUlclear if Sunnyvale will seel; arbitrator's directive at the same time it damages from Forum for the prQiect's appears to own the Town Center. delays and the consequent revenue loss. The dispute is the latest to complicate, Smllly\'ale City Attorney David Kahn the proposed rebuilding of downtown has denied open records req Ltests from Smmyvale, the object of thwarted city the Business Journal to see letters sent redevelopment plans for much of the last to the city by Forum to explain FOr\uu's decade. Forum, which is thought to have reasons for the project's problems. Kahn bought the fmancially troubled center has provided the Business Jom-nal two for $80 million from Lehman Brothers letters sent by the city to Forum, outlin- Inc. in 2005 after the center's former ing the city's position. It is not clear if owner declared bankruptcy, is the lat. the city has sent Forum additional cor. est player. At one time, Fourth Quarter respondence that Kahn did not produce. Properties evidently intended to do the Kahn says the city has the right to redevelopment, beginning demolition deny access to the letters, including Fo- work. It then stopped midstream rough- rum's, because they were prepared in ly a year ago for unknoWn reasons. anticipation of litigation. Today, Town Center is empty except But Sunnyvale Mayor Otto Lee, who for Macy's and Target, both of. which is also a lawyer, says he hopes the city own their stores and continue to oper- avoids suit. ate. But much of the property is sur- "If Forum were not able to develop for rounded by a ta1l, white wooden fence, whatever reason, a new developer would be a positive thing. There is no reason why we need to resort to litigation if that were to happen," he says. "This is my personal feeling, and if the city at- torney feels differently, that is another matter." According to a copy of the contract be- tween Mertlo and Forum included as Ex- hibit A ofMertlo's suit, Forum embraced an aggressive schedule of fmancial in- centives to entice Menlo to do all it could to beef up development rights attached to the Town Center property. It agreed to pay Menlo $8,000 for ev- ery additional unit of housing Menlo secured above a 200-unit threshold. It also agreed to pay $2 a square foot for additional office space approved above a baseline 202,000 square feet. Beyond that. Forum agreed to swee[- en a'monthly retainer t'O $25,000 110m $15.000. retnlactive to the first month the' COlllract v;as approved, if ]'o'lenlo reached these milestones. According to the contract. Forum was concerned that the terms of the incen- tives not become public and expressly prohibited Mertlo from disclosing them. Forum has already paid Menlo nearly $450,000. In its complaint, Menlo raises ques- tions about whether Forum ever had adequate fmancing for the project as it represented. Mertlo reserves the right to pursue additional legal avenues to sat- isfy its claims if that were to prove true. Financial issues were also raised in the recent city of Sunnyvale letters to Forum. Indeed, the city. specifically cites a lack of proof of project fmancing as one reason that Fourth Quarter had breached its agreement. Issues also arose the morning of Aug. 18, 2004, when the Sunnyvale City Coun- cil voted to approve Fourth Quarter's plans for redeveloping the Town Center. According to minutes of that meeting, the fmal vote to approve the develop. ment agreement between Fourth Quar. ter Properties and the city took place shortly before 4:20 a.m. Then-mayor John Howe and tllen vice-mayor Dean elm as well as then-councilwoman Julia Miller all contested the vote. citing the late hour and the surprise introduction at 2:55 a.lll. of sevell proposed amend- ments to the agreement. Th2 minutes do not list the I'rojlnsed cl;)1?11l1ments, but the\' came to the COllll' cil via Marl, Calvert~ ,I. l'oJ't5ultant wh') \'vorl~~(l ior Lel1ruan nl'l,tht:~rs oa the deal and '.','~'s well.knovin to (Ol1.llciJ people. !..ehm2.11 pl'ovided Fcnml 95 p>ll'c?nt of the interim financing to buy the center. city records show. The minutes do not address why Cal- vert presented the proposed amend- malts when he did. He could not be reached for comment. The minutes do not specifically list the vote tally, but instead say the measure carried and who dissented. According to John Pilger, Sunnyvale spokesperson, the resolutions passed 4.2, with Miller abstaining. SHARON SIMONSON ClM!lS real eslale fllf the Business JlIIII1UIl Reach her aI408-299-1953. Dlt2 -ICj ,)Gi,,~ LE 0 TO HEED FROM TI-IE PAST , wv THURSDAY SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS DECEMBER 28. 2006 c ~ B M S ful, in!: er Scb Wel pos me] sea alTI( war er, ; as " hig] 'I fier cial stal Flo: lion put tecl " WILLIAM A. WULF - SPECIAL TO THE MERCURY NEWS An electric streetcar heads down The Alameda, shown circa 1935 to 1938. The line is believed to be the state's first interurban railroad. 'Too much destroyed .' on TheAlameda I Almost every city worth its salt has an l avenue that boasts of grandeur. Paris has i the Charnps-Elysees, Vancouver claims Robsonstrasse, New York has Fifth Ave- i nue, Los Angeles has Wilshire Boulevard. Though it's often overlooked in such company, San Jose is no exception to the i rule. Its grand boulevard is The Alameda, ! the broad three-mile stretch between ; downtown San Jose and Santa Clara. You might know it as the route to the ; Shark Tank. But with apologies to my col- . league, Mr. Roadshow, the history of The Alameda is the first real road show in the state. It was considered the "first true road" . in California, the home of California's first stagecoach line, the route of its first inter- , urban railroad. It once boasted 67 mansions, built for doctors, lawyers and captains of industry. Only 27 remain today, mostly usedas of- fices, a sad indictment of how the city de- serted its past in the 1960s and 1970s. For these facts, I'm indebted to a 19- year-old UCLA sophomore, Shannon E. Clark, who's recently completed a soft- . ~ s S fire the -G Dri Sat A pOD late are can ber int< ( fire Cal '" PROVIDEO BY J.M. SAUNDERS - MERCURY NEWS ARCHIVES The Alameda was a tree-canopied lane linking San Jose and Santa Clara in 1860. bound book called "The Alameda: The Beautiful Way." I'll admit to more than a passing inter- est in the topic, I live in Hanchett Park, two blocks from The Alameda. All my meager experience covering real estate tells me The Alameda is about to surge See HERHOlD, Page 2B THE BOOK "The Alameda: The Beautiful Way" is published by the . Alameda Business Association, (408) 28B914. rer< eve .J scottherhold in my opinion 'DJ frJ-cOCI) , wv ,'.' THURSDAY 'SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS DECEMBER 28, 2006 (~ SOURISSEAU ACADEMY,- SPECIAL TO THE MERCURY NEWS The owner of this house, Judge AL, Rhodes, was one of The Alameda's many prominent residents, ': HERHOtD~ I 27 mansiOI1S . left olrt of o rigirl tenJ 6/7 Continuedfrom.Page lB with economic activity, par- i, ticularly when the Whole Foods opens at Stocktol1Ave- nue, ' Before that happens, it's worth looking backward at what the grand boulevard was, What' s f~scinating is _, that the problems that afflict us today - the daily com- mute, public safety, the jobs- housing imbalance - were the same that faced the build- ers of this grand San Jose boulevard. Clark does a fine job of painting the details. The story begins with Fa- I, ther Magin de Catala:, an aus- ;, , tere Spanish priest who de- clined to drink wine, refused to eat before noon and re- portedly walked barefoot on his rounds in the valley. ' Eager to cement the rela- tionship between San Jose's settlers and the mission at , Santa Clara, Catala got Indi- an converts to plant rows of willow trees along the route. The trees not only provided shade, but they also helped keep out longhorn cattle, which were feared by early residents. (The willows, sad- ly, have disappeared from the scene). As the road developed dur- ing the 19th century, it be- , came a preferred address for many prominent San Jose- ans. Among them was Judge A.L. Rhodes, who stepped in to deal with squatters who had the gall to claim land in front of the mansions in 1870. Rhodes obtained legislation that set the official width of the road at 115 feet. Any extra land was granted to the own- ers of the properties, a move that banished the squatters. The Alal'hecla was never sinlply a residential street. At the corner of Cinnabar Street - now Julian - was the Fredericksburg Brewery, a towering building that pro- duced a brew with this motto: "It is the best." (The brewery building was torn down in 1980). _ In the neighborhood re-use department, it's worth know- ing that the building that houses the Billy DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Community Center at 938 The Alameda was Savin's French restau- rant between 1929 and 1939 and later an A..rthur Murray dance studio. But it is the mansions that give The Alanleda the surest hints of its grandeur, and the ' saddest proof of the city's Ln- difference to history. Clark points out that land values were high on The Alanleda in the 1960s, and it was difficult to convert mansions into apartments. So the city al- lowed many of the grand old homes to, be torn down for of- fice buildings or other uses. ' Before sensitivities about his- torical preservation arose, this was easy to do. The sorriest ofthese sto- rIes concerns the Hart man- sion, the home of store owner Alexander Hart - whose , son, Brooke, was kidnapped and killed in a crime that led to the lynching of two men in St. James Park in 1933. (The FBI set up a command post at the mansion as it tracked , the killers' calls). Sold to an auto de'aler in ' 1945, the loveiy Hart mansion - patterned after the Petit Trianon at Versailles - was - - -1 ~ ~,.+ : .t, t'f;r rl. "':::~-,-=- .? LEONARD MCKAY - SPECIAL TO THE MERCURY NEWS In 1902, fire destroys the malt hOLlse of the Fredel'icksbul'g Brewery 011 The Alari1eda, bought in 1952 by the city, which planned to convert it to a museum. The council, how- ever, was, unable to come up with $76,000 needed for the project. Put up a,t auction in 1955, the property was bought by the YMCA, which razed the mansion for its util- itarian gym and pooL The re~ult? Driving down The Alameda today is lilce looking at the mouth of some- one with an eccentric dental past: a crown here, a gap there, a wooden denture in front and a gold tooth in back. Memo to incoming Mayor Chuck Reed, a man who is tight with a dollar: Some- times it's worth spending a . few bucks - or maybe a little bit more - to honor the past. It guides the future. Contact Scott Herhold at sherhold@mercurynews.coin or (408) 920-5877. D/t'2-;2/