Anyone else have an opinion on Mayor Torres' plan to buy up the property that currently houses Coates Bicycles at Towne and Foothill in order to build a large retail center?
According to the Daily Bulletin article, the new center would be anchored by a big Walgreens (even though a HUGE CVS sits across the street). Torres reportedly would like to see an upscale market and a sit down restaurant there.
According to the DB, Torres aims to "refurbish one of the main gateways into the city." (What about the dirt strip that serves as a "Gateway" from the 10 freeway that would only take a few plants to revitalize, not millions of dollars?)
I've had great experiences with Coates. It's another labor of love business that should be cherished, not given it's walking papers.
If this development has to happen at that corner, why not figure Coates and their retro sign into the design of the new project?
I have several issues with this project, including why a grocery store within blocks of Sprouts, Albertson's, STater Bros and the new Trader Joes is being proposed when the rest of Pomona is so poorly served - and waiting with empty lots to receive it?
In the name of shorter posts and more comments, I'll stop here.
THE END
17 comments:
Maybe John Clifford has some info on this, but I'm guessing Coates may be one of the longest continually operating business in the city of Pomona. I think they were originally on 2nd street and expanded to the current location c. 1950's.
I thought Mr. Fong's words were poorly chosen, specifically the phrase about condemnation. Also, funny to read the comment from Norma concerning the need to capitalize on the higher incomes of LaVerne and Claremont. Who else is buying bikes that sell for $5000?
Btw the owner of Coates actually lives over by Ganesha Park. Nice way to treat your own residents.
Sherlock,
While Coates has been continuously operating since 1934, I believe that Baker lumber, and probably a few others, have them beat by at least a few years.
With the really ugly shopping center on the north side of the street, I'm at a loss as to why they want to bother the south side, where there are actually some fairly good, long-term businesses.
The north side has the ugliest Staples store I've ever seen and the CVS is way too big and also ugly.
BUT: Walgreens only builds on corners, so to get them they have to be able to offer them a corner space and someone decided that Walgreens must bring in more tax dollars than a 7-11, mini car wash, tailor shop, and cycle shop.
Unfortunately, the Supreme Court said that redevelopment agencies can take away/buy property from one business and give/sell it to another using eminent domain. Until we see a reversal in the business centric government, the small guy is screwed (sorry, I'm getting a little hot under this collar).
At least they're not still trying to go after the great 2-story Spanish home that is next to the mini-car wash. We were ready to fight for that one and had let the city know that we would not be happy to see a "gateway historic home" taken.
I could name many, many stretches of Holt, Mission and Garrey that need to be revitalized before this proposed project.
Anyone with eyes can see where the blight is in Pomona.
The last thing we need is another Walgreens or for that matter another Autozone.
I'm curious, would Claremont and LaVerne be within her boundaries if she were to run for the Assembly?
Believe me, the ideas presented by the developer for this location are nothing more than the rearrangement of the existing business's and adding a Starbucks.
Walgreens, CVS, what's the difference? They are oversized liquor stores that don't offer anything that's not already on Foothill Bl.
Ask about the possiblity of bringing something new to this location and we get the same old answer, they won't come because they are already in the next city over.
Redevelopment is ready to settle for second or third best and has never shown any interest in pursuing something new to the area. They continue to accept the same old story and believe we can't get anything else.
In regards to the comment made by your Mayor, the property is in Pomona, so stop trying to cater to our neighbors and do something for your residents. Why not seek out a new developer? What's the relationship between your Mayor and the developer?
Meanwhile Shakey's Pizza in Upland displays photos on their walls of Pomona school athletic teams that they have sponsored. Why would our teams go all the way to Upland after a game? Because on the north end of Pomona there are no family oriented establishments. Where do our kids go after high school games? What about our little league, and soccer teams? There's too much to say about this whole project.
And there is already a Walgreens across the street in the ugly center. But they want a corner lot (there's a gas station on the northwest corner) and the city and Lewis Homes wants to accommodate them. So they'd be moving businesses to accommodate a business that's already there.
As for the Mayor's motives. While I don't always see eye-to-eye with her, I don't think that this project has anything to do with her run for Assembly (other than a desire to have things for her resume). She's been working on that corner for a long time. At one time she had a project that would have run from the Albertson's center at Garey all the way to Towne and on both sides of the street.
I'm not completely sure this will help John's collar, but I was under the impression that California may restrict eminent domain to blighted conditions. Anyone know of any recent cases in California regarding eminent domain?
At $2 million, it appears to be a gift to Lewis Investments, and did Fong's numbers really suggest that it may take 10 years for the city to break even on the deal? I don't disagree with the concept of redeveloping your real estate next to more affluent communities, but the timing may not be right on this one. I wonder if the agreement with Lewis sunsets in year or two.
Redevelopment is much needed in our city, but another big box drug store...come on. Our Mayor, Past City Manager and Redevelopment Manager are to blame for this. Why would we be pushing out a business that has been in Pomona for almost 75 years. Lets fill up the blighted corridors first (Garey, north of the 10 freeway).
Since we are on this topic has anyone passed by the new city facility on Garey, south of the 60 freeway, on the east side of the east entrance. Prime...did I say PRIME location for a business (city revenue), what the hell are they thinking? We definitely need a City Manager with forward thinking, some one who will push to make this city flourish, without any excuses.
This was the one comment posted on the Daily Bulletin:
From KeB in Chino:
"One thing you should know is that Coates Cyclery has been in Pomona since 1934. In its current location for 43 years. This shop contributes to more student, police and kid bike programs than the city itself. So if the city officials think that taking away one of the bicycle industries top 100 stores "Voted 2006'' is good for the city, maybe we should take another look at what is really going on?"
Per Ed's comment about my collar, yes, an area has to be blighted. BUT, the definition of blight is pretty loose.
In Hollywood about 2 years ago now, Bernard's luggage was a holdout for the Hollywood-Vine "W" Hotel project which was a full square block and millions of dollars. Even though Hollywood rents are some of the highest in the city, and the building was in good condition and was contributing to the tax base, the city of Los Angeles declared it blight and were able to take it under eminent domain. From a historic standpoint, it was an identical building to the razed next-door neighbor, the Hollywood Brown Derby, but we couldn't save it (except for the facade which is being used for the new buildings) because it was "necessary" for an important project and to "get rid of blight."
I doubt Pomona will have a worse time with that particular corner.
Also for Anonymous. The complex I think you're talking about is actually a county alternative fuels facility. The county can build, doesn't need permits, and the city gets NO tax revenue. However, with Toys R Us moving out, Circuit City threatening to move out, and the Bakery now being abandoned, there does seem like an opportunity to utilize that very large piece of property, right off the Freeway. Let's see if our city can do something with it.
John, thanks for the eminent domain reference. You're like a walking encyclopedia.
Has anyone written an email or made a phone call to their Council member regarding this redevelopment? I haven't, so I was curious if I should be really embarrassed or just a little embarrassed.
Please let me know.
I haven't.
But then I would, at this point, probably wait until something real gets put forward. At this point everything is still speculation as they haven't gotten the property put together yet.
Of course if they try eminent domain, you know I'll be all over that one!!
Keb,
Just to let everyone know that, the city has sent out offers on to the property owners, and offered the businesses help with relocation. But the amounts are very low and most of the stores can not afford to move on what the city is offering.
I love the Coates sign-wish they could keep that up somehow.
I've just posted an update on this situation over at M-M-M-MyPomona.
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