Plunge property may be sold

City leaders on Tuesday approved an agreement to negotiate the possible sale and redevelopment of the city-owned downtown real estate occupied by the Plunge, the skate park, Serpa Hyundai and the old firehouse. The decision by the Hanford City Council came despite concerns over the fate of the key recreational area which has long served town youth and the historical fire house structure, which many say should be saved.

The deal, with Tustin developer David Paynter, is for evaluating whether the four-acre property between Kaweah and Park streets and between Ford Street and Lacey Boulevard is suitable for redevelopment.

The approval given Tuesday allows Paynter to start marketing the property, getting the site appraised and preparing designs for the development while giving him the exclusive right to negotiate with the city for the land purchase. The agreement also gives the city control over how the property should be developed.

Paynter has six months to evaluate the property's potential and come up with a price offer.

"The concept is to do a project consistent with downtown which integrates seamlessly with downtown," Paynter said. "We're thinking about a retail-office combination ..."

It remains uncertain exactly what may be proposed. That's something he'll study and determine over the next six months, he said.

Simon Lakritz, former Hanford mayor and a vocal community advocate, showed up to oppose the agreement.

Lakritz was concerned for the fate of the recreational area which saw much investment over the last two decades.

"The city made about $1 million in refurbishing the Plunge and then went ahead and built the skate park. The council, in so many words, obligated itself to maintaining the recreational area," Lakritz said. "What I heard today is opposite to the direction the council gave years ago."

Ed Jones, a retired downtown businessman, was concerned about the fate of the old city fire house. Jones is among the advocates for saving the building and using it for a senior center or a youth center.

"It was indicated before that they would not tear the fire house down and let it fail. That's where I'm coming from," Jones said after the meeting.

Paynter said he is keeping his ears wide open to community concerns.

"We respect everybody's opinion," he said. "Certainly, everybody's input during the six-month process is valuable and needed."

Responding to concerns, city officials stressed that the agreement creates no partnership and it wouldn't necessarily lead to the sale of property or redevelopment.

"We're going to negotiate in good faith to try to come to a conclusion as to whether the project is appropriate," said City Manager Gary Misenhimer. "Under this agreement, the city is not obligated to sell the property to Mr. Paynter at any price. We're working through a process to determine if it's beneficial to both Mr. Paynter and the community of Hanford."

Lakritz was leery of the city's move.

"I've seen things like this before where the city council says they haven't agreed to anything. They usually end up going through," Lakritz said. "Once the ball starts to roll, it's hard to stop."

The agreement makes no secret of the city's intent in allowing Paynter to look into redeveloping the property.

"The City wishes to relocate the community swimming pool to another site and sell the property ... The City's goal is to redevelop the property in an architectural style in accordance with building standards compatible with downtown Hanford," the agreement reads.

Lakritz and Jones argued moving the pool to a different location makes little sense.

But City Councilwoman Marcie Buford said the city is thinking long-term to meet the growing city's recreational needs -- still right there in downtown.

"There are other places downtown," Buford said. "The crux of the matter in my mind is that we need money to build a bigger and better facility that is equally or better accessible, so that the particular area could be put to better use."

In the end, the council voted 4-1 to approve the agreement with Councilman Dave Thomas opposing.

"How much are they going to offer? What are they going to build? Do people of Hanford really want to sell that property? What if Serpa doesn't want to leave the property? There's a lot of questions that need to be answered," Thomas said.

"I'm all for redeveloping downtown and building a better pool, but what if we don't have enough money to build it? I think all these things should be hashed out."

According to Misenhimer, Paynter has shown interest in the property for nearly a year and a half. But this never came to light when the city found itself at odds with Serpa Automotive, its tenant, this spring.

Owner Frank Serpa requested an early termination of his lease on the two-acre slice of city-owned Lacey Boulevard real estate. The city turned it down. The city has also turned down Serpa's offer to buy out the property.

Serpa claimed the city had betrayed a trust by providing inadequate property maintenance and denying the sale of the property -- a move which he claimed the city had initially agreed to but later decided not to make.

(July 2, 2008)