Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

The county is recommending a proposal to sell the HEW building in Nevada City to Bill Litchfield Construction to build a 35-unit senior residential condo complex, as well as 175 residential condo units with “incidental” commercial and retail space on other portions of the property.

But there’s more: Litchfield is offering the county $95,000 for the vast property at 10433 Willow Road. That’s less than a $100,000 study performed three years ago about what to do with the abandoned space.

“Resolution accepting proposals for development of the county’s HEW property and directing staff to schedule a public hearing in furtherance of negotiating a sale of the property to Bill Litchfield Construction,” reads a memo about the plans.

The issue will be discussed at Tuesday’s county supervisor meeting.

Other proposals, in response to an RFP, include:

•Cascade Housing proposes new buildings with a total of 72 rental units in a “village-like” setting. It is offering the county $0 for the property.

•Tsi-Akim Maidu Corp. submitted a letter referencing their Feb. 12 letter requesting that the property be donated for a reservation for the Tsi-Akim Maidu Tribe.

The proposals were evaluated by a committee that included County Information Officer Steve Monaghan, Community Development Agency Director Steve DeCamp, Planning Directory Jory Stewart, Facilities Program Manager Tom Coburn and Nevada City Engineer William Falconi.

“The Committee found the Bill Litchfield Company proposal to be the preferred alternative and recommends that the county proceed toward negotiating the sale of the property to BLC for the proposed development,” the memo read.

If the board agrees, the county would issue a letter of intent to negotiate a sale of the property to Litchfield and hold a public hearing to consider the sale.

The $100,000 study estimated demolition at $2.25 million and renovation costs of $12 million to $13 million.

Exit question: Could the county courthouse suffer a similar fate if the state abandons it for a new courthouse at the Rood Center?

It’s time for our community to wake up and smell the proverbial coffee.

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The resume for the selected candidate for the county ERC, Ronald Moser, was included in the board packets for Thursday’s meeting, and I looked at it.

Moser, of Chico, states he is a “hands-on C-level executive with a broad understanding of all facets in business management and operations.”

He was executive vice president with Northwestern Carbon of Red Bluff. Moser also was vice president and CEO of Northwestern Resources of Anderson, and president and CEO of Tuscan Village Development group.

In this role, he developed entitlements for a 400 lot residential subdivision.

His other experience includes working with the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii, a Christian-based group as a fundraiser.

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No appeals were filed against the city planning commission’s decision to approve a conditional use permit for a new Hospitality House in Grass Valley, clearing the way for the relocation.

“We are moving forward,” said Hospitality House Executive Director Cindy Maple on Facebook.

Last month the Grass Valley planning commission unanimously approved plans to build a new Hospitality House on Tuesday night despite some opposition.

An appeal to the City Council was a possibility until now, when the clock ran out for opponents to file the paperwork.

Hospitality House has won a $1 million grant to purchase a 5,700 square-foot building on Golden Gate Terrace in Brunswick Basin. The goal is to open the new facility by Sept. 2011.

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How much is enough for the Gaines family?

I wrote earlier how Ted Gaines run into criticism from some voters for hedging his political bets and running for two offices in his Placer County district — Assembly and Senate — only months apart.

It is resulting in spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in special election costs. Some are wondering if Ted’s head is “as big as Montana.”

Gaines will be sworn in as a Senator on Thursday, having won the race handily against Democrat Ken Cooley on Tuesday in the heavily GOP district.

Gaines will resign his Assembly seat, but will it be to his wife, Beth?

“”I am seriously looking at it, but I really have no announcement to make right now,” she told the Bee.

Perhaps the Gaines can recycle the campaign signs I see on I-80 for a third time.

Here’s a critical video on You Tube from GOP rival Barbara Alby:

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Our county “emissary” Mark Meckler is spreading his “good word” around the nation’s capital this week, and it’s wearing thin on some.

“I was outraged today when Tea Party Patriots cofounders Mark Meckler and Jenny Beth Martin stated they would be watching the newly elected Congress to make sure they’re doing the ‘right’ thing,’” said nationally syndicated radio host Leslie Marshall in U.S. News & World Report. “They said this during a taping of Follow the Money, one of the Fox Business Channel programs I appear on. Just what exactly is the ‘right’ thing? Oh you mean what they want? Or perhaps their demands?!”

She continues: “It is a very slippery slope when an organization, which comprises only a minority of House members, Senate members, and even voters start deciding what’s ‘right.’

“Is it ‘right’ to repeal healthcare when that doesn’t cut spending, create jobs, or secure our borders?! And whose benefits do we take away first, the children who are ill or anyone who has a pre-existing condition!?! You decide. Ah those family values!

Mark Meckler, Jenny Beth Martin, and all Tea Party folks either need to form their own party or learn how Washington’s game is played.”

The rest of the article is here.

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A homeless man with a “golden radio voice” is becoming an internet sensation. Some have compared the man, Ted Williams, to British singing sensation Susan Boyle.

“Williams quickly became a hit when the Columbus Dispatch posted a video on Monday morning of Williams panhandling on the side of a road. In the video, Williams showed off his impressive vocal skills,” according to an article in The Chronicle.

“Williams, a Brooklyn native, then explained how he trained to be a radio announcer before getting involved with drugs and alcohol, leaving him in his current situation.”

Williams is getting plenty of job offers as a result.

The rest of the article is here. A video is here:

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What recession? There’s a home for sale in Penn Valley at $5.4 million, I noticed this week. It appears to be one of the most expensive homes in the western county that is for sale.

The 10-year-old custom home is 8,600 square feet, with six bedrooms and seven baths on .75 acres. It has a 3 car attached garage.

“Exquisite Luxury Lakeside Estate. European Style Villa with 225 Feet of Lake Shoreline. Over 150 Foot natural stone seawall equipped with electric Shore Station boatlift,” according to the listing. “Details in this 8,600 sq.ft, 6/7 Bedroom 7.5 Bath, home go beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary.”

Still interested? A website is here. A video is here:

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