Gee, I’m shocked. People are stepping forward to rent the APPLE Center.
Why not? After all, Reinette Senum, Mali Dyck and other APPLE volunteers; contractors such as Gary Tintle and others put $80,000 in “sweat equity” and donated materials into improvements — creating an inviting, modern space. I, along with others, watched that unfold.
Now people are coming forward to rent the building at a bargain rate. It’s a “deal.” Even The Donald would agree.
Just compare the building to other vacant ones in town — and don’t forget to include TI’s (tenant improvements). After all, it sits a historic district — complete with historic plumbing, historic lighting, historic fixtures, walls, flooring and the like.
Lots of business might want to rent the space at 416 Commercial St., not just the vocal ones that showed up at last night’s City Council meeting.
The APPLE Center would make a cute cupcake shop, one of my friends suggested. And maybe viable too, with all the foot traffic from the adjacent parking lot.
But instead of playing “let’s make a deal,” the city needs to take the high road and give the Nevada City Sustainability Team ample time to build a business that can provide public benefit.
This is the difference between being a thinker — and being a bureaucrat.
A viable Sustainability Center could be a catalyst for other businesses, and it could people bring downtown to spend their money at neighboring merchants. It also could provide some valuable education to residents.
In fact, any water conservation tips the Sustainability Center staff can provide this summer might help keep the public from storming the Council chambers — as many no doubt will.
Once again Nevada City risks taking one step forward — and two steps backward.
A link to City Hall salaries is here. A link to water rates is here.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Jeff:
Since I wasn’t at last night’s meeting and my computer doesn’t have the bells and whistles to watch the meetings live, I’m kind of shooting in the dark here, but just wondering: Has there been an appraisal to determine fair-market rent value for the building?
No matter how helpful non-profit groups or citizen organizations might be for the community, and no matter their good intentions, there is always the potential for setting up a situation where below-market rent could be construed as a gift of public funds.
The sweat equity improvements ought to count for something, (especially if there was an agreement for rent reduction over a specified period of time in exchange for the improvements), but government entities need to be mindful of “gifting” tenants who rent public property.
Perhaps you can allay my concerns?
No, there has been no such appraisal. I’m sure there will be down the road, however.
jeff,
I was just wondering why you provided a link to city hall salaries to this story.
Why not? Maybe there’s $600 per month x 12 in there somewhere that could be trimmed out of the budget too? You never know.
I haven’t heard a good explanation as to why the APPLE board needed to relinquish their lease in the first place instead of teaming with a compatible partner. I wonder also if it is still possible to rescind their lease termination and do this now.
Greg, it seems pretty obvious: inside squabbles, the bane of Nevada County being able to move forward.
I suspect so, Mike, but the “squabblers” AKA the APPLE board of directors owe an explanation to the people that trusted their good judgement with $80,000 of labor, volunteer time, dues etc.
I don’t know what the actual story is for certain, but I do know that the APPLE board owes the public an explanation. Any APPLE board member who doesn’t agree with that should resign immediately.
You are right on, Greg.