Now officials must determine if owners want to sell
The vision of having a city owned and operated cultural
performing arts center that would enhance Gilroy’s appeal is still
years away. But on Monday night, the Gilroy City Council took
another step in making the center become reality.
Now officials must determine if owners want to sell
The vision of having a city owned and operated cultural performing arts center that would enhance Gilroy’s appeal is still years away. But on Monday night, the Gilroy City Council took another step in making the center become reality.
By a vote of 6-1, the council accepted the recommendation of a community taskforce to locate the facility on a 2.3-acre group of parcels just north of Seventh Street between Monterey and Eigleberry Streets.
Now the city will direct staff to identify the owners and see if they’re interested in selling within the city’s $1.2 million budget. If not, the city will turn to alternate sites.
The vote came five days before Morgan Hill is scheduled to open its $22 million Community and Cultural Center and on the heels of a businessman’s decision to reopen Gilroy’s Historic Strand Theatre at 7588 Monterey Street (see story).
The lone dissenting vote came from Craig Gartman, who said he had three reasons for his decision: the state’s $21 billion budget deficit, competition with private enterprise and the city’s lack of a vision for downtown.
“We know already that the state’s financial problems will do something to the city’s finances,” said Gartman. “So why spend the money to maintain a location that won’t even be developed for a least eight years? This just puts extra financial burden on the city at a time when we need to be prudent in spending our money.”
Fueling Gartman’s passion is also the fact that the Strand Theatre will be reopening again on Dec. 14 to help fill Gilroy’s arts and cultural void.
“I have no problem with a private company reopening the Strand Theatre,” said Gartman. “If private industry is already going to provide the same service then why take away take away our tax dollars to compete against something that already exists?”
Councilman Peter Arellano believed that the Strand Theatre’s reopening should not detract the city from its plan.
“The more the merrier,” said Arellano. “If someone else want to open a theatre to compete with the city, let them.”
Everyone on the dais sees the center, which could cost upward of $9 million to construct, as a necessary anchor for attracting future business and revitalizing the city’s maligned downtown.
“But if we’re going to drop and anchor wouldn’t it also be nice to know what the rest of the downtown will look like?” Gartman asked. “Right now, we don’t have a specific plan for the downtown and won’t until February. Why not wait until then?”
Gilroy Mayor Tom Springer agreed, but still voted for the project.
“I share Craig’s (Gartman) concern that we are getting out ahead of the specific plan,” said Springer. “It may be that this is the best location, but I don’t understand why there is so much pressure to vote on something tonight that’s not going to built on for eight years. I don’t understand the rush to adopt this tonight.”
But anything with the words “wait,” “stall” or “delay” is apparently taboo in a city that has seen numerous projects stalled by red tape. For years Gilroy has looked at ways for revitalizing the downtown. With a Redevelopment Agency voted down, the overall consensus on the dais was not to delay anything that would provide an upgrade to the area.
“We have been task forcing this for 10 years,” said Councilman Charles Morales. “This will help the downtown and its infrastructure. Since the outlets opened, the downtown has taken a big hit and it’s our responsibility to help the downtown.”
Councilman Peter Arellano agreed.
“Without this, there is a void in the downtown,” he said. “At least we can say we know where it’s going to be.”
Last week, the 12-member taskforce voted unanimously to choose the Eigleberry and Seventh site after reviewing the schematic designs of the 28,000-square-foot multi-use facility to see where it would best fit. The other alternate site selected by the task force was the old Gilroy Cannery near Lewis and Monterey Streets.
The task force opted for the Eigleberry location because of its proximity to the Caltrain Station across the street and the availability of parking in the area.
The Eigleberry site also lies in the next block slated for improvements under the city’s ongoing downtown Streetscape Improvement Project.
“I believe this is a shot in the arm for the downtown,” said Councilman Al Pinheiro. “This will become part of the whole project for downtown and will be the envy of other communities.”
The Strand theatre also made the taskforce’s list. But it didn’t make the final cut when it was determined that the project would require a renovation rather than a new building. And the outdated theater’s small backstage would require the purchase of additional property as well.
When completed, new facility will include 500 moveable seats that allows for use in one theatre or simultaneous use in two theatres, two stages, a lobby, rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, box office, concession area, catering kitchen, offices, bride room, scene dock and loading area, and space for a future art gallery.
