It almost sounds too good to be true. A developer is offering to fix the “historic but crumbling downtown YMCA building” and give it a “second life as a history center and trade school under a $14 million proposal given to city officials this week.”
The building in question is in downtown Santa Ana. It is a real mess – and needs a lot of asbestos and probably lead abatement, to say the least. Here are a few more excerpts from the O.C. Register’s article about this proposal:
The first floor of the 85-year-old building would house the Orange County Archives and history displays under the proposal. The second and third floors would become office space and classrooms for Taller San Jose, a nonprofit training school for struggling young adults.
A bright, three-story atrium in the center of the building could be used for wedding receptions, community gatherings and other special events.
The proposal is not the first to envision something better for the boarded-up building, the first YMCA facility in Orange County. Developers have talked about using the building for a charter school or a fitness center, even a boutique hotel.
The building, owned by the city, has fallen into such disrepair that city officials have said it will cost more to fix than the property is worth. The plumbing and air systems need work, wires dangle from the ceiling, and the upper floors are caked with droppings from birds nesting in the roof.
Under the latest proposal, the city would give the property to Giachino Development Co. The developers plan to spend at least a year and between $13.5 and $14 million to renovate it.
They would then lease the building to the county archives and Taller San Jose for seven years. After that, the archives and the Taller could buy the property outright.
“The inside of the building is really blown out. There’s not really anything salvageable,” said Jack Dangelo, a managing member of the development company. But, he added: “The bones of the building are fantastic.”
Dangelo and representatives from the archives and Taller San Jose presented the idea to the city’s development committee this week. The committee took no vote on the proposal, and committee members said they wanted at least a month to study the plan.
Interesting. Why are they waiting a month to study this? They sure don’t wait when it comes to projects they want to do, such as recent improvements in the Mayor’s Floral Park Neighborhood. The proposal is a great idea! My guess is that the Santa Ana Council Members are waiting to see how much money they can shake out of the developers…that would be par for the course for the likes of Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, Sal Tinajero and Pulido himself.
What I love about the proposal is using the historical building to house historical information, and also letting Taller San Jose use it. This organization does fantastic work to turn around young people’s lives. They deserve whatever help our city can facilitate for them.
It is refreshing to see that there are some decent developers out there, unlike the usual ones that Pulido and company do business with, such as Mike Harrah and Robert Bisno.
UPDATE:
Gustavo Arellano, over at the OC Weekly’s Navel Gazing Blog, has discovered that the developer who wants to refurbish the YMCA building has a horrible background. Here is an excerpt from Gustavo’s article:
Simply put, Dangelo is someone who can’t seem to manage his money. Three businesses that the California Secretary of State list Dangelo as their registering agents–Cherry Valley Partners, Dancomm Corp., and the Jack Dangelo Company–remain suspended by the California Franchise Tax Board for failure to pay taxes. Speaking of taxes, public records reviewed by the Weekly show Dangelo was docked with $60,213 in state and federal tax liens in 1996, a debt said records show he wasn’t released from until 2005. Those tax liens probably explain why U.S. bankruptcy court records list four separate filings by Dangelo (once for Chapter 7, thrice for Chapter 13) in the mid-1990s but don’t explain why, in 2004, IRS data reveal he amassed $120,311 in federal tax liens that Dangelo paid off the following year.
What a fantastic opportunity!
I love the YMCA. Was a camper, counselor and director for that organization! Many great memories. That building is beautiful and it would be a great asset for the community to be able to keep it, restore it and fill it with good projects!
Give away this building???
The city paid decent money for this building, and has also paid for work and various studies over the years. How will that money be recouped?
This is prime real estate and a historic structure. Surely if someone is willing to invest $15 million into it, the city should collect a few million for it’s original investment by selling the property.
For years, the city has waited for the “right project” to occupy this building.
The proposed project does not provide revenues or tax base to the city, does not p[rovide an anchor draw for the area, and does not provide an amenity that does not already exist in that area. With the exception of occupying one vacant building, this project has virtually no value to the city as a whole.
The city has waited so long for a quality project with value to come to this building, and now that they are “Orange County’s Downtown”, people should be lining up for this property and to bring a project that adds revenue and value to the area. Waiting a little longer for that “right project” seems prudent.
Community Service, seeding the
area, giving back….all lovely
concepts. Maintaining our Historic
roots, values and buildings are also well-known concepts which
seldom are exhibited in public.
We can look at it in two ways:
The Optomistic look: A nice guy
developer with no avarice or greed
in his soul. Doing a little of
God’s work and giving back for all
the good times that went before!
The Negative look: The Developer
is looking for another sweet heart
deal down the road and figures this
is a good way to get the first bid
on future projects. Also, that once the facility is fixed, it will be immediately inhabited with
homeless crack users and within
two years will fall into terrible
disrepair again!
But we are always Optomistic…
My gut tells me this “developer” has a concept that will require considerable public funds, combo of city and county, plus the shield of a non-profit tax exempt tenant or perhaps the entire development organizqation. I thus suspect this is far from a “private sector development”. The devil will be in the details — including the overall financial feasibility.
Hopefully part of it will be a fitness center. That area of Santa Ana desperately needs a gym for the community.
It also seems like a good idea to offer specialized or advanced training for certain trades. Maybe that could help advance working class families.
The income of a boutique hotel would be good for the city. Unfortunately the area doesn’t seem to offer enough to that target market. Or, does the Civic Center have this need?
The area is high profile. It is a small and precious historic area located near or within the Civic Center where many visit from other cities. The rehab would be a great opportunity for the city and its residents.
Hopefully the “Debbie the Downers” will stay away from this development. The YMCA has been decaying “forever” and finally someone is offering a great gift.
I would have worded the title this way
Developer wants (14 million) to fix (9 million repair job on) Santa Ana’s YMCA building.
Just a few months ago it was reported that the repairs needed would cost about 9 million dollars.
I think I will ask to buy the YMCA outright for a hundred bucks.
This would save the city at least 4 million dollars over this current plan.
link to OCR
http://www.ocregist er.com/news/ building- proposal- city-1976500- archives- taller
This would make a great shelter for the working poor and homeless. Hey all you Obama/Edwars supporters who say you care for the poor…why aren’t you asking to build more housing for the poor in S.A.?
At least with Cook’s plan, the city gets something out of the deal.
With the Giachino plan, the city gets $0, gives away valuable real estate, and will likely get to give away redevelopment funds or subsidies.
It’s great to read some good news about Santa Ana on this blog once in awhile.
Looks like someone has answered my prayers (or at the least, has a wiretap on my daydreams). Every time I pass by that building I wish that it was better utilized. Will this plan also include the old Chamber Of Commerce building right next to it?
Any background information on the
Giachino Development Company?
st. chris, you mean the tiny pink building next to Taller San Jose? Maybe they can turn it into a bathroom…
Shady developers flock to Santa Ana because they’ve learned they can do business with our shady city officials.
I knew it was too good to be true.
Wait for Mike Harrah to swoope into Dave Ream’s office and proclaim to save the day for a mere $1 to buy the YMCA building.
You are all wrong.
Nothing got done, it still empty anyone that comes in with a good idea gets painted as a jerk when perhaps they arnt anyone who does anything not with the regular power in SA they are just lied about and so are the citizens of SA.
Great work, bs journalism and bs politics
All the same in SA
I used to go to that building in the 70’s when the New Horizons part of it was next door. Nowadays New Horizons is for developmentally disabled people but when I was a teen it was a place where they did summer camps for low income type kids. I went so many awesome places with New Horizons…rapelling, trips to camp in the snow, whitewater rafting, etc. Kissed my first boy going to camp there 🙂
We even ‘camped out’ in the bldg a few times and just got to run around the place. We loved going into the basement where the pool was and up and down all the ‘secret stairways’. Our group of teens actually painted the mural on the wall in the little bldg next door which is where the New Horizons offices were located. No idea if that mural is still there, or has been painted over. would love to go inside that bldg again just for the memories!