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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 12, No.16
Civic center reaches for the sky by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
It might be said that Brentwood’s new civic center got off the ground when planning began several city administrations ago, or perhaps when it received final approval last year. Perhaps it occurred when the ceremonial groundbreaking was held, or when the fencing and bulldozers actually arrived. In any case, “getting off the ground” took a new, literal meaning this week when the first massive, structural steel beams were carefully put in place, and the $36 million project began climbing toward the treetops. “Everyone is very excited,” Assistant City Manager Karen Chew said Wednesday of the project going vertical. According to Chew, the recent rains “held us up a little, but they think they’re going to be able to catch up.” The project is
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Workers began to install structural steel beams for the new Brentwood civic center this week. scheduled for completion in late 2011. The first steel beams to go up, those closest to Second Street along Maple, are for the new
Council Chambers. After that come the beams for city hall, farther east on Maple, then the community center, along Oak Street. The structural steel work should
take a total of about six weeks to finish, Chew said. Chew said the last thing built would be the parking structure, bids for which were opened this week. Chew said the bids needed more evaluation, but it appears they will be “in the ballpark” of $11 million, as planned. Including the parking structure, re-vamping of City Park and other civic center components, the project’s entire cost will be $47 million. Chew said no significant problems had cropped up, with the exception of one of the live oak trees that was relocated late last year. Two of the 28-ton, 20year old trees were moved across the park to make room for the civic center, and one of them isn’t looking well. “There’s still some signs of life,” Chew said. “They’re not ready to take it out and start over yet.” To comment, visit www. thepress.net.
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April 16, 2010
This Week A matter of manners
An etiquette academy shows kids that social grace has a place in their world. Page 4A
Desperate for dollars Budgetary shortfalls threaten the county’s ability to provide human services. Page 3A
Headed for the Hall
High school property suit heads for trial by Dave Roberts Staff Writer A dispute between the Liberty Union High School District (LUHSD) and two landowners concerning the sale of their property for the site of a fourth high school has been scheduled for a jury trial August 30. John and Jerilee Geddes were paid a little more than $3 million for their 38 acres of land on Sellers Avenue near Delta Road. The price was based on the agricultural value of the land, which is currently in the county’s jurisdiction. But after signing a draft agreement to turn over the land title to the school district, and after getting the district’s help in clearing that title through an eminent-domain action, the
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“ By law, the public agency has to pay the value of the property at its highest and best use at the time they get the property. It’s agricultural right now. There’s a big difference between industrial and agricultural value.
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LUHSD attorney Robert Thurbon Geddeses hired a new attorney and are seeking a total of $13 million, based on the value of the land if it were annexed into the City of Brentwood with an industrial zoning. The dispute hinges on whether the value of a property taken for public use should be based on its current value, such as the $82,500 per acre for unde-
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velopable farmland outside the urban limit line in East County, or on its future speculative value, such as possible annexation into an industrial zoning and voter-approved inclusion inside the urban limit line to allow future business development on the property. In mid-March a U.S. Superior Court judge ruled that the
Geddeses would be allowed to present evidence to the jury of the property’s speculative value. But the lawyers for each side have different interpretations of the judge’s ruling. “By law, the public agency has to pay the value of the property at its highest and best use at the time they get the property,” said LUHSD attorney Robert Thurbon. “It’s agricultural right now. There’s a big difference between industrial and agricultural value. The property owner – if they want to submit evidence and ask the jury to assign a higher value – they have to meet certain standards. We brought a motion saying, ‘You can’t do that because you have to have something more than see Suit page 18A
Their uniforms are out of style, but their accomplishments are the stuff of immortality. Page 6B
Plus: Business ............................... 4A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 15B Cop Logs ............................14A Entertainment ................. 11B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Milestones ........................ 10B Opinion ..............................13A Sports ................................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Fragility defended Dubious disasters Diversity affirmed go to news/WebExtras!
PG&E is helping to save an endangered butterfly on its property.
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The Internet can be an unreliable source for earthquake predictions.
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The riches of our multicultural community took center stage at a gala event.