Some council members have questioned the appropriateness of a
proposal to lend K
&
amp;S Market $40,000 to renovate two buildings on Tres Pinos
Road as part of a facade improvement program.
HOLLISTER
Some council members have questioned the appropriateness of a proposal to lend K&S Market $40,000 to renovate two buildings on Tres Pinos Road as part of a facade improvement program.
The Hollister City Council last week put off a decision over the two proposals, to allocate $20,000 for the old Fortino’s building at 351 Tres Pinos Road and another $20,000 for the old Pinnacle structure at 341 Tres Pinos Road. Both are owned by K&S Market, whose owner John Klauer declined to comment on the proposals.
Officials are set to consider the items at tonight’s 6:30 p.m. meeting at Hollister City Hall.
Councilman Doug Emerson said the proposal for the old Fortino’s building in particular “kind of surprised me.” He said when he thinks of facade improvements, he pictures capital upgrades as opposed to such work as painting, one of the primary duties listed on the proposal.
“That’s sort of regular maintenance as opposed to some of the buildings downtown that are old and dilapidated,” Emerson said.
Under the facade program, which has funded improvements to nearly 20 buildings in the past decade, the Hollister Redevelopment Agency agrees to pay two-thirds of the costs. The city lends the money – Development Services Director William Avera has said the city tries to allocate $100,000 annually – but the loan is forgiven if the owner does not leave within five years.
The overriding goal of the facade program, and one of the RDA’s chief functions, is to reduce blight while improving the appearance of buildings within the district. That district encompasses all of downtown and outlying areas, as far as Kmart and the empty lot behind it to the southeast.
Emerson said the questions remain in his mind: “Are these buildings really blighted, and is there a need for just painting?”
Councilman Victor Gomez also inquired whether other structures within the RDA district – which includes downtown and other outlying areas – should get higher priority. He also believes it’s unfortunate that the program requires a contribution from owners of one-third of costs.
“There’s a lot of people that do need it but don’t have that 33 percent,” Gomez said.
As to whether it’s worth exploring a change to the program, Gomez replied: “Unfortunately, because the way the program was approved, it would have to be a special type of program or a new program with those limits removed.”
Gomez said he does “not understand” the proposed facade improvements to the old Fortino’s building, while he acknowledged he “maybe” could understand the old Pinnacle building needing a facelift of sorts because the signs are old. He said that proposal is “debatable.”
Councilman Ray Friend said he is willing to listen, but he was clear in saying he has “problems” with the proposals.
“The owner, he’s had that building for a long time and he’s made a lot of money on that building,” Friend said. “Why doesn’t he rejuvenate it?”
Friend has particular problems with the location, too. He believes the funds should be used for downtown projects. He noted how the city’s RDA did not offer Taco Bell any facade money when the business recently renovated.
Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia, meanwhile, limited her comments and said her decision “depends on the information.”
“I need to look at the information we requested,” she said.
Mayor Eugenia Sanchez could not be reached before publication.
