Redevelopment was a frequent topic of local government debates in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the late 1980s, early 1990s. Unpublished photo of handsome construction worker taken at construction site in downtown Oakland, CA by Lurene, probably around 1986. I did not know this man, but was walking to BART 12th St. station with camera in hand, quickly snapped shot.
445, 446:
Published news story for El Cerrito Journal by Lurene Kathleen Helzer, May 13, 1987, “Delays in Schurgin Project Anger Proposed Tenants.” Photos of residents at meeting alongside story also by Lurene Helzer.
This story gives detail about how difficult it was to get an aged trailer park out of El Cerrito’s main commercial area to make room for the development of a retail development which could bring more tax revenue to the city. This story available if requested.
Next, published news story for El Cerrito Journal by Lurene K. Helzer, October 4, 1990, “Target Store plan ok’d; Approval comes over objections”. Original story follows, providing some detail about El Cerrito as it was in the late 1980s, early 1990s:
EL CERRITO – Over the objections of some agency members, the redevelopment agency will enter into an agreement with the Target Stores retail discount chain for the construction of a new El Cerrito store.
Community Development Manager Pat O’Keeffe called the deal a “sure thing” in his report Monday to the City Council, which passed resolutions authorizing the agreement.
Councilmember Cathie Kosel, voting against the resolutions along with El Cerrito Mayor Robert Bacon, commented that the city “could have cut a better deal.”
The city and redevelopment agency will receive $283,000 yearly in revenues from sales and property taxes, according to staff estimates.
The store is to be built on San Pablo Ave. between Hill and Blake streets, which will displace residents of a trailer court and require the relocation of a bowling alley.
American Recreation Centers District Manager Fred Foerster, speaking for Golden Gate Lanes in El Cerrito, spoke before the council, visibly frustrated. “We are not interested in moving north of our present location. We’d like to stay.”
Also opposed to the agreement was El Cerrito Elms Trailer Park resident Laureen Burnett, who brought her two-year-old baby up to the podium in front of the council as she spoke.
“We’re living on edge…day by day. I just wish the matter would be taken care of,” said Burnett, complaining about the uncertainty of the relocation process.
Burnett, who was accompanied to the council meeting by her father and husband, also complained that the agency was unclear in explaining what, if any, relocation benefits she and her family would receive.
O’Keeffe seemed sympathetic to complaints brought before the council, and said relocations were ‘the most agonizing part of the redevelopment process.”
He promised to deliver a “definite relocation schedule” as soon as he could, while noting that he had unsuccessfully tried to keep in touch with the parties by telephone.
The proposed agreement calls on Target Stores to pay for $3.5 million of the total $6.5 million cost of relocation and acquisition. The agency will carry the remaining $3 million, borrowing $750,000 of that from Target Stores.
The $750,000 loan to the agency will be repaid at a 9 percent annual interest rate. The repayments themselves are to come from tax increments generated from the store over 12 years. According to staff estimates, this makes the agency responsible for a total interest payment of $1,158,867 over the 12-year period.
“I’m concerned that there’s a 12-year payback. If Target wants to be here, they should put the money up,” said Councilmember Cathie Kosel.
O’Keeffe cited the attractive revenues anticipated from the store. “Given the difficulty of balancing the budget, it’s a good deal,” he said.
“Usually, we try to stay within a 10-year period, but this is a sure thing,” O’Keeffe said in response to Kosel’s concerns. – end –
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