The he said, she said
If you've seen the paper this morning, then I'm sure you couldn't have missed this story:
Council members say land deal cost La Puente
By Tania Chatila, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/07/2008 11:56:09 PM PDT
LA PUENTE - Two council members are claiming the city lost out on $4 million by waiting 45 days to finalize a developer for a proposed Hacienda Boulevard retail center.
Council members John Solis and Lola Storing said the Charles Co. was willing to pay the city $23 per square foot for about 422,000 square feet of Hacienda Boulevard before the council decided to take a 45-day stay to reassess the project and solicit interest from other developers.
The Charles Co. would have paid the city about $9.7 million in full within 30 days, Solis said.
Today, the Charles Co. is offering $13 a square foot, or about $5.5 million, he said.
"We lost all that money," Storing said. "It's very unfortunate because we do not have that kind of money to lose."
Some city officials argue the claims are unfounded and false, considering a city consultant and staff members advised the council last month that no developer would have been able to deliver at such a high price in this struggling economy.
"The economy has changed dramatically," Councilman Dan Holloway said. "If this had gone forward earlier, we would be in the same situation we were in with the community center where a contractor agreed to something and, because of the economy, cannot perform."
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Charles Co. owner Arman Gabay said Wednesday he had previously offered the city $23 a square foot, but that was under the impression that the project would include Triangle Square.
Now, Gabay is pegging the project without that site - since it has not yet been acquired - meaning the retail center will likely only include two big box stores and a parking lot, he said.
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Mayor Louie Lujan said Gabay's $23 offer was made long ago, and the council knew going into the 45-day stay that Gabay had dropped his offer to $13 a square foot.
The project has seemed to create quite a divide amongst council members, who are clearly split on their arguments.
Lujan seemed adamant Wednesday that the Solis-Storing argument was absolutely false. He also brought up a closed session meeting a few months back in which the council asked the city manager, asst city manager and city attorney to leave. Lujan said during that meeting, the council made critical decisions regarding the Charles Co. and he said he was dissapointed when Storing decided to walk out.
Storing said she didn't want to be in the meeting without any legal counsel.
I am very disappointed in Solis and Storing coming out and causing so much commotion over this. Neither one of them are in a position to talk because it is because of them and the past council that the City has lost millions in stalled projects. Finally we have a council moving projects forward and all they can do is criticize. Hopefully soon they will join former Council Members Chavez and Perez in the audience instead of continuing their do-nothing legacy.
Storing and Solis are making the claim that the city lost $4 million in 45 days?
That's a stretch. I don't believe it. Developers are in it for the money and there is no way they would have kept their word.
Actually, I applaud the new council for taking a step back to review the project. Had they done this with the community center, it would be open by now.
Keep up the good work. As far as Solis and Storing go, it is obvious that they are in it for themselves.
Is LP Warrior and LP Resident pseudonames for LPDan Holloway? I receintly received a letter from the Great Almighty Mr. Holloway listing 20 things he has (single-handedly) done for the City in the last seven months. What a joke! What he has neglected to say is how much his "accomplishments" if you can call them that has cost the city. For instance, hire a consultant to review consultant's contracts -- what did that cost the city? What was the outcome?
He claims to have been the savior of all the La Puente residents by voting against the sewer fee increase. But prior to that didn't he vote to approve a contract with a consultant to put the increased fee schedule together -- sounds a little hypocritical to me. How much did the City have to pay the consultant to do the feasibility study? If he knew he was going to vote NO on the fee increase, then why did he vote yes to hire a consultant to come up with the increased fee schedule.
Then his biggest accomplishment -- to stall the agreement with the Charles Co. for three months. Listen to the Minutes LP Warrior and LP Resident. Before Mr. Holloway and his cohorts voted to stall the agreement so they could see if there were any bigger fish in the sea, The Charles Co. came to a council meeting and practically begged Council to extend the agreement. They also confirmed on the record that they would still pay the $23 per square foot. Maybe the Charles Co. should have signed the agreement with Allied Services (DelTerra) and forked up the $400,000, maybe then Mr. Holloway would not have stalled the project and given the Charles Co. the opportunity to submit a new proposal for less per square foot.
If people knew how to add and subtract they would know that Mrs. Storing and Mr. Solis were correct.
It takes courage to go up against bullies. Mrs. Storing and Mr. Solis have the courage to go up against the big Holloway bully.
One more thing - I do believe that the city is moving in the right direction. I voted for "The New Council" and believe in what they are doing.
However, I also believe in courage.
Mayor Lujan, Councilmembers Solis, Mendoza, and Storing have courage. Holloway does not. I laughed at his letter.
I was disappointed by the article in the Tribune featuring Solis and Storing because it was obvious that they are doing it for political reasons. However, at least they stood up to Holloway.
Dan Holloway is a joke! So is his buddies Lujan, and the ex-chola Mendoza!
Truthprevails...you give Dan Holloway way too much credit. I won't say i agree or disagree with you, but apparently La Puente has a new Political Boss...
Storing and Solis are making the claim that the city lost $4 million in 45 days?
That's a stretch. I don't believe it. Developers are in it for the money and there is no way they would have kept their word.
Actually, I applaud the new council for taking a step back to review the project. Had they done this with the community center, it would be open by now.
Keep up the good work. As far as Solis and Storing go, it is obvious that they are in it for themselves.
They said? We said?