The city of Hollister has chosen a developer and his plans to construct a four-story building with retail, office and hotel space to fill downtown’s most glaring void at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets.
Hollister – The city of Hollister has chosen a developer and his plans to construct a four-story building with retail, office and hotel space to fill downtown’s most glaring void at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets.
A committee represented by the city and local businesses picked San Juan Bautista’s Tod DuBois’ proposal over two other finalists.
That means Hollister, which owns the lot, will enter into an “exclusive negotiating agreement” with DuBois. The contract is likely to include a term of six months – the length of time he has to secure financing and purchase the property, according to officials.
DuBois’ proposal includes about 14,000 square feet reserved for retail space on the bottom floor, with about 18,000 square feet for both the office and hotel space in the upper floors, according to Redevelopment Agency Director Bill Avera.
“It’s something that could provide a little spark,” said Avera, who called the project flexible.
Hollister’s RDA has been recruiting for development on the lot for more than a decade. It’s a location officials and business leaders think can serve as an anchor for downtown businesses as a way to revitalize the local economy.
Officials have expressed a desire to attract national businesses to the building, especially the lower floor that’s intended as retail space. Although it’s early in the process, DuBois said he has spoken to national chains, including representatives from Borders books. Any talks with potential tenants, though, are preliminary, he emphasized.
“That’s definitely on the target list,” DuBois said of Borders.
Hollister City Councilman Tony LoBue sat on the selection committee with others from the Chamber of Commerce and the Hollister Downtown Association.
LoBue said the committee chose the DuBois proposal because he had the “wherewithal” regarding finances. DuBois estimates the project will cost him $10 million.
“They all had some good merit to them,” LoBue said. “But when it came down to knowledge of what it’s going to take to make that project viable, it seemed that Todd DuBois had the numbers together.”
The two developers who didn’t make the final cut are Rick Champion and Ted Intravia. Both are also local businessmen.
Their proposals included some similar concepts, such as retail space on the bottom floor and hotel space in upper floors, Avera said.
Local architect David Huboi designed a proposal for Champion. His design was similar to the DuBois project, but included a roof deck with a swimming pool.
“I just wish him luck,” Huboi said. “I just hope it works out for the city, but it’s a little painful for me right now.”
The city’s search for an agreement with a developer stems from the early 1990s, when the RDA purchased several ruined buildings – some were damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Hollister has entered into exclusive negotiating agreements on the property before. One was with developers hoping to build a performing arts center. Another was for a movie theater. Both proposals sputtered.
Then in 2002, the state enacted a moratorium on all new construction in Hollister after a 15-million gallon sewer spill, meaning a developer couldn’t break ground on the lot until at least late 2005.
For its most recent recruitment effort that began in May, Hollister informed about 50 developers of its intention to sell the lot. The three considered this week submitted final proposals.
Kollin Kosmicki covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach him at 637-5566, ext. 331, or
kk*******@fr***********.com
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