ONTARIO - It is an important juncture for an empty lot on the southeast corner of Holt Boulevard and Euclid Avenue.
A longtime business owner has agreed to purchase the city-owned lot, for $527,000 to build a three-story building office.
Sam Chebeir's company, Westates de Oro, will be building a 57,930-square-foot commercial office, including 43 on-site parking spaces. In his agreement with the city, the developer must provide a total of 222 parking spaces.
But the move may be more than a just a business deal, the city may have a new champion in its efforts to revive the downtown.
"I really believe the city has done an excellent job in developing the downtown," Chebeir said.
Chebeir who has been doing business in Ontario for about 30 years has other manufacturing developments in the city.
"It was very important to me to make sure the downtown started moving in the right direction," he said. "It's a personal thing, more than anything else, because of my love for the city."
The 1.23-acre property, which has been vacant for more than a decade, has been problem site through the years. It originally served as the site of the Ford Lunch diner, a fixture in the city in the 1930s. A bank was the last tenant to occupy the land. But a flaw in the building's design caused it to start sagging and it was eventually torn down.
Officials have attempted in the past to fill the vacancy.
"I'm very happy it's finally moving forward, we've been looking at that site for a long time," said Councilman Alan Wapner.
Mayor Paul Leon still recalls the last proposal brought to the council several years ago, a Starbucks drive-thru. The project was denied because city officials saw the potential for the site, Leon said.
"I see this as a coming of age for this property," he said. "We've held out for it, and I'm thankful it's happening."
In recent years, Ontario has put an emphasis on invigorating its downtown.
Already, 300 residential units have risen along Holt Boulevard east of Euclid, all of them apartments, after 140 units originally designated as for-sale townhomes were converted to apartments due to minimal interest.
John Andrews, the city's economic development director, said the site has long been viewed as a prime candidate for office building.
"The thinking is, and I support this, for the downtown to be able to attract people, in addition to residents, you need to add a daytime population of workers that are going to look for place to eat, a place to shop," he said.
"It will bring white collar jobs, with an expendable income that will be able to support the businesses we want to see in the downtown," Leon said. "It's our vision to bring back vitality to the downtown area."
Aside for the asking price for the land, the city is selling the developer a portion of property to be used for parking purposes for $145,000. Included in the agreement is that Holt Boulevard be widened, Andrews said.
An additional 76 surface parking spots will be created through the improvements of on-street parking spaces on Lemon Avenue, Transit and Emporia streets.
Now that the purchase has been approved, Chebeir has to finalize the design and financing. Both actions has to be approved by the council before construction can begin, Andrews said.
The developer has six months to meet these requirements.
Councilwoman Debra Dorst-Porada had her reservations about the deal, opposing the widening of Holt Boulevard.
"I would not want us to do that," she said. "I would want our downtown to be pedestrian friendly and walkable."
Wapner said the widening would help with the city's efforts to improve transient options to the downtown area. With the widening of the street, buses would be able to navigate the heavily populated intersection without causing and delays.
In addition, Holt has been identified as a candidate for bus rapid transit, Andrews said.
"It's one of the factors that went into this widening, to be able to be accommodating, long-term," Andrews said. "When you have an opportunity you want to be make every effort to accommodate long term transient needs."
Leon also favored the widening of the street.
"We're not looking at just Ontario of today but we're looking at the Ontario of the future, however that future is," he said.
Councilwoman Sheila Mautz said it is the council's responsibility to plan for the future, not to plan for for the present or tomorrow.
"Traffic is tied up until buses (stopped to pick up passengers) merge back into traffic," she said.
Councilman Jim Bowman said the plan is consistent with the city's intent to improve travel options to the downtown.
Despite her widening concerns, Dorst-Porada said she was in favor of the development.
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