SJ Redevelopment low on funds, Wolff ready to step up
- 10.14.10, 22:19
- 79 Comments
Despite assurances from SJRA officials last month that the agency would have enough funds to take care of the remaining land buys for the Diridon site, it now appears that they are running short. However, even if they do Lew Wolff may be ready to buy the rest of the land, or even the entire site if need be.
“There isn’t a redevelopment agency or city or federal or state government that isn’t in some form of disarray at this point,” Wolff said Thursday of the agency’s struggles.
While he and agency officials both said no details of a possible land purchase by Wolff had been discussed, the team owner pledged: “Whatever issues we run into, we will figure out how to get them done. We will not let anything stand in the way of getting the ballpark done.”
This sets up a number of land acquisition/swap possibilities:
- It’s possible the A’s could buy the land and give it back to the city. That would set up a situation in which the A’s could pay a discounted lease on the land until the City reimbursed the team.
- They could also try to buy the existing public parcels and the remaining ones, making the entire thing privately held. There would be a snag if the landowners were unwilling to sell, because a private interest can’t exercise eminent domain as a city can. If the A’s managed to pull this off, it would probably be the biggest political winner, since the perception of a handout by the city, such as it were, would vanish. $20+24 million for a guaranteed electoral victory in March? It’s worth a cost-benefit analysis at the very least.
- The team could also buy the public parcels, giving SJRA enough cash to buy the remaining parcels and fund the Autumn Parkway project. The land could be given or sold to the agency, with the cash transaction part happening sometime in the distance.
As mayor Chuck Reed said, “There are half a dozen different ways to put together a deal.” The ones listed above are just off the top of my head.
Even with the low funds situation, City officials are putting on a brave face.
“We’re committed as a city to move forward with the stadium, because it’s the most promising economic development project we’ve seen in the last decade,” Councilman Sam Liccardo said.
“I don’t expect the redevelopment agency’s fiscal problems will prevent us from finding a creative solution.”
Offering to help a municipality is not a foreign concept to Wolff. He offered to pay for upgrades to Phoenix Muni, only to get a collective shrug from the city. The Quakes also paid for upgrades to Buck Shaw Stadium in order to make it a (not so) temporary MLS facility.
@jeffrey – Even the OAFC folks have properly picked up the lede. Apparently the commenters at Let’s Go Oakland can’t be bothered to actually read the article.
@pjk – No it’s not. Vegas hasn’t even left the clubhouse yet.
ML: Let’s just say Las Vegas is waiting in the wings to try to get the A’s if San Jose is blocked.
If “LOL @ Oakland backers…pipedreams ftw!” isn’t a troll comment I don’t know what is.
@ML–you did take out 2 of my posts the other day and I wondered why. I was just adding a little harmless humor on when the big decision will be and I didn’t mock or hurt anyone. We need to lighten things up a bit on here at times, but ST’s fine mocking me? Okay, fine. I know where i stand on here and it’s not very good.
@Ralph-I don’t have too many friends on here, so if you want to chat A’s stuff, maybe we can e-mail.
I agree with jeffery, there is nothing going on on Oakland side, just the facebook thing. Nothing is going to change for Oakland unless its leaders become more proactive with a plan, money and direction.
@jk-usa – It might be because you passive-aggressively called me out, eh? Stop playing the victim here. I’ve had to strike down more far more anti-Oakland comments than anything else here. If you don’t like the way I moderate the place, the door’s wide open. You know, the one you’ve already walked out of once (or twice).
@pjk – Vegas isn’t anywhere close to ready, and it has fundamental issues that are just as bad if not worse than what Oakland and San Jose have to deal with.
Sure jk-usa what is it?
The winter meeting will be very interesting. Schott tried the same “scare tactic” game that Lew/Fish is playing. Been there, done that.
@David – Wolff has said in at least one recent interview that if SJ fails, he’ll have to go back to Oakland.
David, what scare tactic are you refering too? I am hoping the owners meetings involve the panels rec. Then there will be nommore of this back and forth garbage about there’s the A’s will play.
@Ralph–drop me a line whenever at: jkraid@yahoo.com There’s a few things i’d like to share with you.
@ML–i dropped out only once. Passive -aggressively called you out? I don’t think so. Please e-mail me at above address on what i said. I know you ripped me with a few unkind words that i was kind of shocked to hear.
I’ve also heard Wolff say if SJ fails, they may leave the area altogether.
Caught Mark Purdy on Fitz & Brooks. He said Wolff met with BS 2 or 3 week ago. He came out of the meeting feeling confident MLB will rule in favor of San Jose. Also said the word he’s hearing is that the panel is only focused on San Jose, not really considering Oakland. He believes the issue will be taken up at the owner’s meeting.
jk- lol, are you happy now that my cached experiment from last time is now offline and doesn’t offend you? /sheesh oakland guys are soooo friggin sensitive, my gawd.
ralph – your rationale for oakland mimics whats been done for the last decade plus….nothing. merely accepting the status quo is not acceptable anymore, unless you want to continually be in the shadows of the gnats.
pjk – i think san antonio is more likely than vegas.
BTW, big thumgs up to Fitz for initializing the discussion, especially considering all the Giants hoopla going on.
fitz is pretty good on air except when he’s dealing with the w’s. that’s where his true annoying homerism comes out.
he’s always given the a’s some respect unlike many other hosts on 680 over the years.
again he’s one of the few who thinks the a’s SHOULD move down to sj.
R.M.,
You mean to say I never made sense in the past? I’m hurt brah! Just kidding ;o) (LOL!).
Did anyone mention to Wolff or Purdy the mysterious “contract” between Fisher and Baer? (do I have jokes today or what!).
re: fitz, i hate him as a warriors homer, but wow, if that’s true that he actually discussed it on KNBR, kudos to him!
re: SJ end game. If all the news i’ve read in the past month adds up, i can see the final sprint for SJ being:
- November: Don Peralta wins as Oakland Mayor. Renounces any plans for the A’s to stay.
- December: BRC recommends the A’s to SJ after 2011 (more on this later). Owner’s take a vote with it passing renounce the TR.
- January ’11: SF bonds for the Giants expires leaving little precedent for SF to sue the A’s or SJ. Oakland considers suing but then remembers that the A’s won a lawsuit against them for Mt. Davis.
- February: SJ announces news to sell the stadium parcels of land to LW and concurrently says that a referendum is now not required.
- March: Ground breaking ceremony for the downtown site.
Sure, it’s being optimistic, but at least it isn’t the pipedream that is a new Oakland baseball stadium.
@ST – You clearly misinterpreted what I was saying. Im not happy with the status quo, I don’t want the A’s to stay at the coliseum forever. I’m saying if San Jose falls through they are going to be at the coliseum none the less and a new solution will have to be found, but who knows what that would be at that point.
@jk-usa – Those comments have already been deleted. Besides, I’ve already spent a disproportionate time dealing with your comments and the after effects. I have no interest in spending more time than is minimally necessary.
@all – Carney Lansford was just hired as the Rockies’ new hitting coach. There goes my idea of Lansford as stadium campaigner.
@ML–fair enough. You’re a verybusy guy with this site. I wouldn’t waste time on me either.
@ST–what if Quan wins, who’s a big supporter for VC? Perata has a small lead over her, but not the 50% majority needed, so then they add 2nd and then 3rd place votes from the losing candidates until someone gets the 50%.
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That’s disappointing. It was nice to have him back in the fold this past season.
carney felt a bit uncomfortable in the camera, probably would get better over time but who does that leave now to be alongside a bach, morrison and brazil? shooty?
Take it from a Las Vegas resident: Las Vegas isn’t happening now, or ever, for anyone, much less the A’s. Just because the mayor wants a major sports franchise doesn’t mean squat. If you think someone would build a half-billion dollar facility in a town with plummeting business volumes/real estate values and spiraling unemployment that competes with the town’s principal industry for disposable income . . . well, l can now ignore your posts because I know I’m not missing anything based in rational thinking.
Maybe Chavez will retire and take the job. I thought he was good on the MLB network, thought not as good as Braden.
@ letsgoas
Shooty sports some slick suits. He could carry the Pre and Postgame shows solo cold chillin’.
Hell, maybe the guy Carney is replacing will take the job (former Athletic Don Baylor). That would be too funny.
The A’s could use Baylor as DH.
@ML
But Jack Cust would sue Bob Geren and Billy Beane for collusion. Duh.
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Have a great weekend, everyone.
@Briggs–you and the rest have a great weekend too. Go Philly’s!! Go Raiders!! (Got a few bucks on the R’s, getting 6 1/2 points. Money in the bank on this one!!)