Same as always, frankly the city needs needs the tax revenue, and a future
"We have been reporting all week that a developer was closing escrow on Rockaway Quarry (see earlier post on Riptide). Now we have email confirmation (from a local contact) that Barry Swenson Builder of San Jose is the developer."
*Note: this article link has been pulled-off Pacifica Riptide as of Sunday 3/13/11. It is possible the escrow and land sale to Barry Swenson (builder) did not happen, but is at this time being discussed. Riptide apparently had every reason to believe the escrow and sale had happened.
Meet Barry Swenson, (developer, builder) in simple answers from a Business Journal article, 9/26/10:
Who is he, what does he build? "as the head of Barry Swenson Builder, Swenson has built in every sector of the industry: office, retail, medical, residential..."
Character and Local reputation. "Harry Mavrogenes, head of San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency, says 'labor of love' comes to mind whenever he thinks of Swenson.... he was as good as his word." Mark Ritchie of Ritchie Commercial is an unabashed admirer of Swenson. The broker calls the builder the George Bailey of San Jose, after the iconic character in the film 'It’s a Wonderful Life'. Downtown would be Pottersville if it wasn’t for Barry Swenson."
Environmentally sound. "Swenson said he has been heartened by the emergence of a new ally: the environmentally savvy Sierra Club. After years on opposing sides, the Sierra Club has become a partner in Swenson’s quest to build transit-oriented, high-density projects, such as Vendome Place, Skyline at Tamien Station and City Heights. 'They used to drive me up the frigging wall. Now they’re actually trying to support us,' he said, with a laugh."
Website: Barry Swenson Builder.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
23 comments:
Swenson is an evil, out-of-town developer who wants to destroy Pacifica by turning it into Daly City.
Not if he wants to build 355 housing units.
I didn't think Peebles would find someone to fulfill the "greater fool" rule but someone always seems ready to fill the role.
Let's wait and see what happens.
Was he the same developer that wanted to buy the OWTP many years ago and came by around introducing himself around Sharp Park?????
Damn, I love this town!
Let's all figure this out, Swenson comes to town, bargains with the city (Vreeland and Tanner), gets juked, his option check "disappears", and he comes back and buys the quarry. He's either the most naive developer this side of--------well, Pacifica, or he hasn't done a damn thing and Ripfart is goofing all of us. Someone call Rhodes or Nihart or "The Bearded" one and find out what's happening. Of course, that wouldn't be any fun!
We're dorks, and damn proud of it.
"Swenson is an evil, out-of-town developer.."
No Gaia, if you believe what you just said, you are in denial, or "evil" (your word). We have all been living with "nothing for Pacifica" for quite some time, with opportunities for quarry land (intended to be developed) passed-over and squashed.
Let's see, what would be your definition of "evil"? 1) build green, 2) bring-in tax revenue and jobs to this city, 3) ignore what San Jose has said about the positive stature and track-record of Barry Swenson and his firm, 4) refer to a local regional developer as "an outsider" (ha,ha), 5) comply with the ABAG sub-regional 311 unit housing need allocation (RHNA) as pledged by this city (see city council "consent calendar", item, item 5, 2/14/11), 6) finally build a city area designated to be built for more than 25 years?
Who is the "greater fool" Anon (5:53pm)? Looks like its the city of Pacifica, redevelopment within the city of Pacifica, special acknowledgment to those who have delayed and rejected the obvious need for a balanced city, and of course "the cooperators" who have said nothing.
It time for this city to get a whole lot smarter. Barry Swenson has been to Pacifica, and by now probably understands the hazards (not related to the property).
Swenson is a tea-bagger, watches Faux News 24/7, gave lots of money to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, and is good friend of the Koch Brothers.
Interesting.
Gala (7:04pm), Swenson is a conservative? If true, that information is irrelevant. But then you began your conversation (5:00pm) counter to known San Jose reality, stating without substance that Swenson is "evil" (aka: any developer who plans to build in Pacifica is "evil", I suppose).
The question is whether Barry Swenson (Builder) is capable of delivering a quality, cash producing development in Pacifica quarry. His track record indicates "yes he can", and "yes he will".
What's "interesting"(as Tom Clifford said) is that Peebles was a well-connected Democrat (also irrelevant), but you probably thought Peebles (Corporation) was "evil" also. Try to "get over it", the city needs the money, the compliance with ABAG housing, the jobs, the services. Think "Fix Pacifica."
Kathy, please calm down and try to recognize when someone's winding you up.
Scotty, well "winding up whoever would bite" could have been the case, but I that wild conjecture was not positively identifiable.
You chose to play as As "Gala". Maybe next time chose a name like "left-wingnut vs. right-wingnut"-- mind-reading will not be necessary, and your intent will be more clear.
The Highest and best use report for the WWTP is now on the City's web site.
Kathy, it's sometimes difficult to understand WTF you're saying, but most of us don't actually "play" as different people.
Try not to let the voices upset you.
Kathy, my name is "G-A-I-A" not "G-A-L-A". I am not an apple.
Two points should be made. One, why is everyone so willing to take something posted on riptide as the gospel? And, two, from the looks of the report, it has taken Pacifica over $300,000 to come to the same conclusion that was advocated by the evil "realtors" years ago. $250,000 was spent by King Vree for his oceanfront taj majal of a city hall. This town is amazingly gullible.
Thomas Paine (8:34am) you might have a good point about Riptide. My link to the Pacifica Riptide follow-up Swenson article is now blank and no longer posted there. Therefore, the quarry land closing on Friday may not have happened. However, the Business Journal link regarding Barry Swenson on my article (above) is worth reading.
Wait and see. The source for the quarry sale to Swenson was apparently from Jessie O'Malley, Senior Development Manatger, Barry Swenson Builder. So, John Maybury, Editor and Publisher of Pacifica Riptide would have every reason to accept the source as correct.
As for Scotty's concern about not understanding what I write, the typos I can understand, most of you have figured-out how to get beyond these. Fictitious name concern? Gaia, "earth mother", as distinguished from gala, "festive celebration", or an apple-- well? Considering the comments made does it really matter.
Kathy, since you can't figure it out on your own and despite Scotty's trying to show you, Gaia is using sarcasm to get her/his point across.
There are lots of people on this site who do that, its the only reason I read it.
Unfortunately I think the city senior staff/ Mayor may be leading the company down a garden path without sharing the Swaim report on the status of the SFGS of 2006/7 or the Coastal Commission bio-diesel staff report from July 14, 2008 where it found Calera Creek to be an Environmental Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA). Regardless of the city manages resolution to push any quarry development through the regulatory agencies on behalf of a quarry developer, if the Swensen group are not aware of these two items I hope they become aware before any purchase or lease pending permitting is signed.
Really Anonymous (12:39pm), you are a genius-- just like your name. Bravo!
Todd, I don't understand where you're going with that one either. Calera Creek is just that a creek with some habitat. Even Peebles Corporation only intended to develop about half of the 88 acre property, leaving the other half "open space". Otherwise, the land was a quarry (limestone, greenstone, and dumped dirt from Caltrans).
Developing the quarry is a potential needed downtown financial and service opportunity for this city. The adjoining Mori Point land, which we voted to develop as a hotel/conference center (and could have been more than that) is 100% gone (all of it) to "GGNRA".
From my view, duh, makes it that much harder for this city to survive financially. And, you and I do agree we don't want the continued "tax and fee" pile-on from the city.
Kathy,
the Coastal Commission has officially (against the city's and Peebles wishes) determined Calera Creek as an ESHA in their staff report on the bio diesel application coastal development permit which was approved July 14, 2008. Both the city and Peebles asked them not to do that in letters sent to staff prior to the hearing. So the creek has a determination from the CCC that it is an ESHA with the standard 300' setback protection from new construction. It's in the staff report from 7/14/08. I don't have an e-copy or I'd post it.
I just hope whom ever is pitching this property to Swensen is also providing information on this. I'd hate for the company to be sideswiped after a sale or lease agreement.
If Swenson is not doing their due diligence, you can't blame it on the city. I bet the company knows what it's doing. They're professionals. I don't think they're going to be sideswiped. If they are, it's their own fault.
Todd, that staff report will be worth viewing. 300', either side of the creek (?) is a whole lot of land out of the 88 acres.
On the other hand, unless "just kidding", the city has posted their redevelopment "plan" expectation on the city/planning/redevelopment website: 1) 309 housing units (senior/low cost/affordable), and 2) the 1986 commercial rectangle (mall). These housing and commercial redevelopment proposals do not have the design cache or city cash potential of the Peebles Corporation mixed-use proposal, nor are civic buildings space included. But, oh well, something is better than the usual.
And, assuming 300' (each side of the creek set by the Coastal Commission), what happens if the State budget has problems funding the Coastal Commission?
City confirms Barry Swenson Builder is interested in the quarry only, 3/17/11 Tribune website article (below):
Barry Swenson Builder, based in San Jose, has made a standard contingent offer to the owner of the Rockaway Quarry to purchase the Quarry.
Pacifica Manager Steve Rhodes confirmed the city was informed of the offer. "They told us they expressed interest in it. They are going to do their due diligence and decide whether or not they want to go through with it," he said.
The quarry is owned by an investment company who took over interest from Don Peebles, years after his development plan was quashed by Pacifica voters. He had proposed a downtown area with housing above the storefronts, single family homes elsewhere, a five-star hotel and room for the city to build a city hall and a library.
Pacifica Riptide broke this story.
— Jane Northrop
Post a Comment