The asbestos-laden, water-contaminated, white monolith Daughtrey’s building that hulks over our downtown could be transformed into a gathering place and provide our community with a physical representation of the small town feeling that many of us cherish about Castro Valley.
The opportunity to build a beautiful open space in the center of your town doesn’t really happen than often. But now that the Alameda County Redevelopment Successor Agency Oversight Board has agreed to revise the Long Range Property Management Plan (LRPMP) that controls the fate of the site, we have a chance to pursue a different path than the deal than the Alameda County Community Development Agency has been negotiating with developer David Greensfelder.
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Greensfelder does not plan to take down the building or remediate the water contamination issues in the basement. In fact, the County has proposed further reducing the sale price of the building on account of the ongoing water quality and monitoring for the site:
The cost of the water quality monitoring and testing is approximately $32,000 per year. When purchasing the property, the Agency received a $320,000 discount from the seller to account for the capitalized cost of the ongoing monitoring and testing. Future buyers of the property expect a similar discount off the building’s market valuation.”
– Staff report provided to the Alameda County Successor Agency Oversight Board on May 1st, 2012
Alameda County paid $2.7 million for the building in 2011. The most recent estimate valued the property at $950,000.
Our plan clearly outlines the components of the project and identifies federal funding sources to mitigate the water contamination in the basement and help build the town square.
A town square is an investment that will result in greater economic impact and more community pride than a renovated Daughtrey’s building. It would give Castro Valley a deeper sense of place.
Take a look at the plan. It is a first draft, so it will evolve as we continue through the process. Your feedback will make it better.
And please try to make it to the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council meeting next Monday, March 17, 2014 at 6:00 PM at the Castro Valley Library, when the town square and our report will be discussed. Here’s the agenda.
Where would the $$$ come from to buy the property, take the building down, buy everything required for this “open space” and who would be responsible for maintenance?
While I think the concept has merit I wonder where the $$$ would come from, as these costs are not trivial and they are on-going.
Ric, the full proposal has more details on the funding. But to quickly summarize:
– Since the county already owns the property, if Senate Bill 1129 passes it will drastically reduce any penalty for holding on to it for public use. (Keep it mind that the county is intending to sell it at a significant loss.)
– There may be federal (EPA, NEA, NPS) grants that can assist with the tear-down of the building and the plaza construction.
– There are many possibilities for long-term maintenance, including, but not limited to, HARD, the County, and/or a council specifically created for this purpose.
