AmCan buys land for new City Hall | Napa Valley Register

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AmCan buys land for new City Hall

Sunday, July 20, 2008

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By KERANA TODOROV
Register Staff Writer

Last year, American Canyon bought a brand-new building for $7 million to serve as its new City Hall. Last week, the city ponied up $1.1 million more for the property next door, a vacant lot that will create access to the building from Napa Junction Road and perhaps allow for expansion of the City Hall site.

The American Canyon City Council voted 4-1 to approve the purchase. Vice Mayor Cindy Coffey opposed Tuesday’s move, just as she voted against the purchase of the Cabernet Village building for the new City Hall last year.

“I just think it’s an expense we could have avoided,” said Coffey.

Other city councilmembers said the acquisition is a good investment, in part because the land could give access from Napa Junction instead of congested Highway 29. City Councilwoman Joan Bennett said the U.S. Postal Service, which now has a cramped portable facility on Crawford Way, could be a future tenant at City Hall, bringing more residents and traffic to the building.

A U.S. Postal Service spokesman said no decision has been made regarding moving the post office.

City officials said they became interested in the purchase of the 1-acre property at 4381 Broadway from Stave Company Inc. of Lebanon, Mo., in part to avoid having a fast-food restaurant built next door to Cabernet Village.

Cori Badertscher, a Realtor in American Canyon, questioned the city’s priorities, saying the city has yet to take steps to create a senior center. As for concerns about a fast-food restaurant, Badertscher said, “We don’t have to be elite ... This cost is not worth it.”

Separately, work is underway to transform the nearly empty Cabernet Village building into City Hall.

Sequoia Pacific Builders of Santa Rosa was hired in May to turn the second floor of the two-story building into City Hall offices and City Council chambers for close to $2 million.

William Chiat, a city consultant, said the new interior improvements began this week. The improvements are scheduled to be completed in December.

1 comment(s)

srpastor wrote on Jul 21, 2008 8:29 PM:

" I would like to ask some questions, why would we want to give access to Napa junction Road where we would increase traffic near and already congested Elementary School street? Is not thresa already congested as a way to get through the rush hour traffic, leading to Melvin, and James road? where is the common sense?

So now is the city going into the real estate business to rent space to the US Post office, when the US Post office could be offered the existing city hall or move into some of the vacant or vacating space in Canyon Plaza? where is the Common sense?

Why would a city who has the ability to zone property for designated use, buy property to keep out certain unwanted business? Is this a business friendly city? Don't sales tax pay the bills for the city? Where is the common sense?

Since we left town to get a builder for the city hall, are we buying any lumber from our own lumber yard, and other essential items from local business to offset our out of city, county hiring? Did we use local real estate and appraisal professionals in this deal?
Where is the Common sense?

Why are we not waiting for the City Center to be built as was planned where City Hall was proposed already.?
After all is that not why the council is behind putting it on the ballot rather than vote to accept the plan?
where is the Common Sense?

And finally does the cost we are paying include build out? If not why not? and what are we paying outside of the $8.1 million for the property?

My name is Pastor Curry and I approve the use of Common sense. "

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