Team Bisno showed up in full force to tonight’s public hearing concerning their ridiculous proposed 31 story luxury condo tower, which is supposed to be situated by the City Place. The Santa Ana Planning Commission heard from a Bisno hack first, then I had a chance to light into him.
The Bisno spokeshole was so boring I almost fell asleep. But he did admit that the EIR found that their tower would have a negative impact on traffic at least until the year 2030. And they found that the shadow cast by their monstrous tower would indeed affect homes and Park Santiago.
I got up and pointed out the irony of seeing Bisno use human signs to tout their City Place auction, which took place this weekend. They had to sell their units for a lot less than they originally listed them! So one has to wonder, why build more overpriced condos that they will have to auction off in the future?
I also pointed out the fact that the Park Santiago Neighborhood has only three entrances – this stupid tower would make entering via the Edgewood entrance a complete nightmare. And I asked if Bisno ever communicated to our neighbors via anything more than legal notices – which no one reads. And I asked if any information was ever sent out in Spanish.
No one else from the public got up to speak during the hearing. Park and Recreation Commissioners Julie Stroud and Tish Leon were there, but they did not speak about this agenda item. Thomas Gordon arrived there late, but he did arrive in time to hear Team Bisno pontificate about their ill-advised project.
Bill Hamerstein, another Bisno schmuck, then got up to rebut my comments. He admitted that he was not sure if the tower would ever be built – and he wondered if his grandchildren would ever live there. I doubt any of this guy’s family would EVER live here in Santa Ana!
Hammerstein then tried to say that the auction was necessary in order to create momentum. Hey, I’m sure that the poor saps who paid full price for the City Place condos were very pleased to see them sell at a huge discount! Hammerstein had to admit that he could only sell the units, which were priced originally at $750,000, for $500,000. That is still too much!
Hammerstein also said that he sold 21 of the units at the auction and three more later. Well, he still has a long way to go before he dumps all of these overpriced condos!
After his dumb comments, Planning Commissioner Vicky Betancourt weighed in with some even dumber questions. Rather than ask Hammerstein if he bothered to do an Latino outreach, she asked about “Sustainable Building Practices.” I had to laugh as she asked this and immediately took a swig of water from a plastic water bottle. Nice dedication to green practices there Icky Vicky!
Afterwards, our blogger and Planning Commission Member Sean Mill asked to put aside any vote on this project until a later date. Eventually Mill’s motion to delay approval came to a 3-1 vote, with Pulido hack Jim Gartner voting “no.” Planning Commissioners Eric Alderete and Patrick Yrarrazaval were absent.
I hope we can get more people to the next meeting! In either case, a delay is a win for us. Too bad Team Bisno! By the way, I wonder when these hacks are going to take down the giant “Pulido” sign at the City Place?
First in a series explaining why Art lost the election:
Can’t resist calling people names.
#1,
Shouldn’t you be out campaigning for the Roach Commander?
Well said #1. Let me summarize this pathetic post…
Hack…spokeshole…stupid…schmuck…dumb…Icky…hack…hack…blah…blah…blah…blah.
Are you serious Art? I wonder why no one else got up and spoke…strange. I’m sure the Planning Commission was so pleased to hear from such a level headed logical person. It’s gives me great warmth in my heart that not a single city council person will listen to any of your ramblings in a council meeting. Say what you will about them…maybe we don’t have the best council…but i’ll take them every day of the week and twice on Sundays rather than have the likes of you up there.
Way to go voters!!!
I couldn’t agree more…you continue to sink to new lows…..your message could be a good one but you go down the road of the not so intelligent, go after people with personal attacks using words like, dumb, schmuck and spokeshole to try and get your point across. It is a shame because I know that you are smarter and better than that.
#4,
“The not so intelligent?” You mean like the people that want to build 31 stories of luxury condos after they had to resort to an auction to dump their over-priced condos?
I just don’t understand any of it. Didn’t everyone kind of get the idea that no one is going to build more where nothing is selling? Who is giving construction loans for projects such as this? It was obviously a foregone conclusion prior to the meeting that this item was going to be tabled. No wonder planning commission people didn’t show, what a waste of everyone’s time. Maybe the city should give Bisno a reasonable amount of time (1 year or so) to do something with this project and after that let the city start coming up with solutions that will not allow this place to turn into an abandoned site of crime. Let’s get creative with solutions before we have another lovely Santa Ana mess on our hands.
Art,
I wouldn’t expect you to understand the reasoning behind why anyone would propose such a big project in this market. I can tell you that to get to the stage that this project has reached took several years and 3-600k. It would be ridiculous for Bisno not to proceed with approvals and he likely has to do this to stay in compliance with hid lenders. This I speak from experience…..that being said, my point was not to question your message, just how you went about sending it. The name calling does nothing to further your message. Think about it? There is a difference between opinions and name calling…..Now, I agree, this would be crazy to build but developers do crazy things.
#7,
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand the reasoning behind why anyone would propose such a big project in this market.”
Really? How very condescending.
Was there a good reason, or any reason for putting off the vote?
What is the time limit on voting on projects and campaign donations?
Where is their EIR and what were the mitigations offered?
How close, besides city place condo’s, is the next residential area?
What other choices were there for this property?
“How very condescending.”
Really, How many high rise development projects have you built? How many development projects have you proposed? Aren’t you in the “safety” business?
I guess in your mind, calling someone dumb or a spokeshole is not condescending.
#10,
You don’t know my background, do you? I have worked in construction for years. I initially worked as a project manager and then moved into safety. I have personally managed a number of very large projects – and I also have an MBA and a graduate certificate in project management.
The Bisno Tower is Pulido’s pet project. We all know he is the one who has been pushing for this, due to his desire to gentrify our city. Well, Hammerstein says it likely won’t be built – it looks like the market did what the rest of us couldn’t.
Cook,
Read my story again. Hammerstein said that the traffic and the shadow issue WOULD affect my neighborhood – according to the EIR.
There were only 4 commissioners there last night. It was as such appropriate to delay the vote.
I have no idea what the other choices were for this property. Pulido himself has been pushing for this tower.
Art, as the commenter noted above the guy’s in it too far to back off on entitlements. Once those are secured then the developr can sit on it – unless options are in play. The bottom of a cycle is often the best time to get your approvals. Of course it depends on how deep and long the cycle is!
It sounds like the EIR recognizes unmitigated impacts in both the traffic/circulation and aesthetic CEQA categories. This means the PC and the Council are going to have to make findings of overriding considerations. And that should prove an interesting argument to make.
This tower is not a good idea now or ever. I am glad to read at Art Pedroza was a the Planning Commission meeting to defend his neighborhood against this monstrosity.
Can all those who are name calling just stop it. It adds nothing to your opinions.
From my previous knowledge of dealing with the Planning Commission they seem to put off votes to seem as if they are listening to the people of Santa Ana. They usually wait until the next meeting when its up and say we did more research and it seems like a great idea for the City of Santa Ana. Anyone remember the Home Depot/ Home Builders things they passed that although it never even happened that building is still empty.
“You don’t know my background, do you?”
LOL. Art, that never stops YOU from making accusations and speculating about people YOU don’t know.
#7
Thanks for your enlightening post.
Your explanation for moving forward reminds me of the failed One Broadway Plaza project. That project was approved a few years ago and the developer has yet to break ground. How long must a community endure the blight-ridden property on Broadway that continues to bring down the neighborhood?
The Tower is Pulido’s pet project. That’s why the tower area was omitted from the original City Place EIR. At the time, Bisno commented that it was Pulido’s desire to have him build a tower.
This blog is a commentary — what don’t bloggers #7 & 10 understand??