Property owner applies for facade improvement program with
RDA
The former Fortino’s building and another neighboring structure
also owned by K
&
amp;S Market might be next in line to get facade improvements
under a Hollister Redevelopment Agency program aimed at helping
businesses improve their appearances while eliminating blight.
Property owner applies for facade improvement program with RDA
The former Fortino’s building and another neighboring structure also owned by K&S Market might be next in line to get facade improvements under a Hollister Redevelopment Agency program aimed at helping businesses improve their appearances while eliminating blight.
Hollister City Council members at this week’s RDA board meeting delayed a decision on whether to OK two loans – which are forgiven if property owners do not sell within five years – to K&S Market for upgrades at 341 Tres Pinos Road and 351 Tres Pinos Road. They plan to pick up discussions on the proposals at Monday’s 6:30 p.m. meeting at Hollister City Hall, 375 Fifth St.
The city’s RDA tries to allocate about $100,000 annually under the facade improvement program, while Development Services Director William Avera estimated there have been 15 to 20 projects completed in the past decade or so. City officials traditionally have not had problems meeting local applicants’ needs, he said.
“We’ve never had a situation when we’ve run out of money,” Avera said.
The former Fortino’s store building – the business closed early this year – is at 351 Tres Pinos Road. That site several months back had been one of two buildings Gavilan College officials were considering for expansion, but the school now is shifting its focus toward placing modulars at its Fairview Road property at the corner of Airline Highway.
The neighboring building at 341 Tres Pinos Road, meanwhile, houses such businesses as Off the Chain Bikes and Deja Vu.
Avera explained that the two buildings lie within the RDA project area, which also includes nearby Kmart, allowing the city to allocate the funds if the council, acting as the RDA Board, so chooses. To this point, Avera estimated that about 90 percent of the facade improvement projects have been done in the core downtown area.
In return for the funds, business owners such as John Klauer for K&S agree to pay one-third of the renovation costs.
The RDA report prepared for council members includes a summary of the work K&S expects to get done. It includes painting, fixing doors and repairing the roof at 341 Tres Pinos Road. And it includes removing a sign, painting and fixing doors at the old Fortino’s building.
Avera noted that K&S had hoped to get the work done before the weather gets in the way.
