The Burlingame Voice

Don't Take the Baby's Candy!

Buried in the middle of a Daily Journal article with a headline about free parking is perhaps the biggest news-no-one-knows-about in B'game and it has nothing to do with free parking.  In fact it's more like the opposite--how to ruin the parking situation downtown.  The City Council is considering an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Grosvenor USA Ltd. to enable the developer to assess how to build on Parking Lot E and the Post Office site.

The concept, which encompasses the post office land, includes an “urban village” with 100 residential units, 35,000 square feet of retail and/or restaurant space and 125 residential parking spaces.

Let's put aside what a bad idea this whole thing is because there is nothing "village-like" about it.  Not only do we already have the choicest "village" on the whole Peninsula, but we have yet to feel the impact of the Peninsula Ave. monster complex that San Mateo has foisted right onto B'game's border.

Aside from that problem, the idea of an exclusive negotiation agreement ("ENA") is just bad business practice especially when the "good faith money" the developer would put up to get this boon is refundable.  The circumstances that would trigger a refund are Grosvenor not buying the Post Office, the environmental assessment not working out, or Grosvenor deciding in 30 days that the project is "infeasible".

Topping that one-sided aspect is the idea of a "market delay" in Section 3.2.4 of the proposed agreement.  That says two quarters of 3% decline in the SF-San Mateo-RWC Housing Price Index would add time to the 18 month exclusive period.  Now with local real estate booming that is unlikely--but interest rates are on the rise and the Fed is getting less predictible with every Ben Bernanke speech.  The 10-year Treasury yield is up 85 basis points since early May.  But isn't that the kind of risk a developer should bear for exclusivity?

My next concern is the real kicker.  On page 11 of the agreement, it states

At this time, it is not known which, if any, elements of the Post Office structure maybe considered historic resources under CEQA.

That smacks of gamesmanship.  One need only go back to the Feb. 28th post here on the Voice to read that Criterion A and C for the National Register apply and that the Spanish Eclectic architecture and the interior are "remarkably well-preserved" --better than 90% of the other historic post offices in the country.  Has this train already left the station?  And if so, who's driving it?

 

Community Garden Growing?

In her swan song article in the San Mateo Daily Journal reporter Heather Murtagh mentions the Council is considering (again) the location of a community garden on Monday

The city is now considering building 22 beds that will be located between the batting cages and storage sheds at Bayside Fields, according to a staff report by Parks and Recreation Director Margaret Glomstad.

To make this location work, three young redwood trees will be removed. Three new redwood trees will be planted at Bayside Fields. Additional fencing will be installed to manage the garden. The Burlingame Community Garden will be managed by the Parks and Recreation Department but maintained by the members of the garden. The proposed planter box fee is $65 per year. The fee is expected to cover the costs of water, Glomstad wrote.

Heather is headed for a new job next week and we will miss her and the B'game expertise she has built up over the last few years.  New reporters usually take some time to get their bearings.

Beatles in B'game

There were plenty of familiar faces out last night listening to "Nigel & Clive" doing their British Invasion - Beatles tribute in Parking Lot J next to the tot lot.  It was my first time seeing the band, but regulars were impressed with the new guitar player.  While it was not well-publicized (according to a bunch of people who stumbled on the show) and the drive-way next to the stage should probably have been shut down, a lot of fun was had by all.  The consensus was that if the music started a little later (than 6pm) this could be a really good draw for downtown--probably better than the free parking plan under consideration Monday night by the Council--for getting people into the stores and restaurants.  Here's the band and one fan who knew all the songs.

Bikers in Burlingame

Actually, the term would be cyclists. Today was Ryans Ride and the annual Criterium. Seems the crowd were a little light. Perhaps due to the overcast weather or perhaps because the course could not take place throughout downtown as in year's past because of the contruction on Burlingame Avenue. Never the less, those who attneded saw some great racing. Here's a a very quick video clip. turning the corner from Primrose onto Donnely.

 

Hoover Work Progresses

One of the most contentious issues in town right now is the reopening of Hoover School.  We've covered it before here and a bit about the lawsuit here.  As you all know I take a few photos around town, but I cannot recall anyone stopping in the middle of the street to comment on my photo-taking before.  That happened while I was snapping these two photos of the work on the building and the four trees that are likely to come down to make room for the new drop-off area.

The lady commenting was coming down the hill on Summit Dr. from H'borough and her position on the reopening couldn't have been clearer--opposed.  But from the looks of this shot, things are moving right along in spite of the neighborhood opposition.

Two black acacias and two coastal oaks, I think.

Update:  Here is an old photo of the original structure

 

Birds are Roosting at the Hospital

Happy first day of Summer tomorrow, B'gamers.  I would say "enjoy the longest day of the year" but some television weatherman reminded viewers last night that all days are the same length--tomorrow's just has the most daylight!  I happened to see the hospital bird art being installed yesterday on the El Camino corner--seemed like a good harbinger of summer although with the way the wind was blowing in the north end, it wouldn't surprise me if even these birds flew away.

Please Color Within the Lines

I'm not sure what condition one has to be in to park on the wrong side of the meter and curb outside of any lines, but if you know the person who drives this car, it might be time for a check-up--and I don't mean under the hood.

I'm also not sure what the fine is, but I hear enforcement after about 4pm in B'game is pretty light and this faux pas was there for at least 30 min without getting tagged.

Historic Plea

The San Mateo County Times ran a great piece by one of their regular syndicated columnists, Marni Jameson, on Saturday.  The piece tells the saga of a 130-year-old house in her Florida town that was deemed historic by the local government--and then deemed not.  You should click through to read the whole story here, but I liked the five reasons for historic protection that she included at the end and that apply anywhere (the Times took one out in the print edition that doesn't apply here):

• Because tearing them down is wrecking our history. Countries rich in culture value history and buildings. "In Italy and France, you see 300-year-old buildings housing subways," she said. "They make them work, they don't tear them down."

• Because it's bad for our earth. Most of the wreckage will not be salvaged. All that glass and plaster goes into landfills.

• Because you can never replicate these houses once they're gone. The woodwork alone came from 200-year-old trees. These homes were built before electricity and were made by hand with handmade nails.

• Because we're losing our uniqueness. "There is something beautiful about traveling through America and seeing its distinct neighborhoods. Houses that get torn down and rebuilt erase that character."

• Because of their quality. "When you have a 100-year-old home made of timbers not particle board, it is solid. These homes have withstood decades of human life and natural disasters. But not city commissions and other self-interests.

Right on Marni!  Come visit B'game anytime.

 

Father's Day at the Park

Plenty of Dad's got to spend a day at Bayside Park as the BYBA Tournament kicked-off with four days of play for the 12 and Unders (12U) and the 8 and Unders (8U).  I popped out to the park with my BYBA alumni players for a bit of reminiscing about baseball and Phil's crabcakes and garlic fries.  The B'game teams didn't play all that well--neither 12U team made it to the final day, but the park was in great shape and plenty of folks got to see a really nice side of B'game.

I also checked out the Community Garden space in the back of the park that is coming up for vote soon and which is drawing a lot of interest from the gardeners in town.  Here's Hillsborough's 12U team after a stirring comeback victory in the 7th and the next team getting ready to warm-up.

CalTrans Help!!

I just spoke to about the 15th person who is wondering if Caltrans is even working on this project anymore--nevermind when they will finish.  The folks who live around Oak Grove have almost given up hope and one contractor who wants to start a project on El Camino can't do it because Caltrans won't let him start until they finish!  What's up with that?