Business owners don't want to budge

Published online on Monday, Sep. 24, 2007

The Baskin family has been fixing up car seats and selling parts in downtown Fresno for 90 years, and fourth-generation owner Bruce Baskin has no interest in moving the business.

His voice and temper rise when he talks about eminent domain and the city's plans to replace Baskin's Auto Supply and other businesses just south of Chukchansi Park with town homes and apartments.

"We don't want to go anywhere," says Baskin, 48.

Baskin's is in the middle of a six-block area that the Fresno Redevelopment Agency has targeted for homes, stores and fountains promised by Cleveland-based developer Forest City Enterprises.

The redevelopment agency -- which plans to buy the land and lease it to Forest City -- has the power of eminent domain and can acquire the property from landowners whether they want to sell or not.

Many buildings in the six blocks are vacant, boarded up and fenced off. The area has been labeled blighted by the agency.

But some businesses thrive, including Baskin's -- where Bruce and his father Richard Baskin often are busy installing new upholstery in classic cars.

"When everyone moved north and fled downtown, we stayed here and stuck it out," says Bruce Baskin from inside his Broadway Avenue business. "Now all these big shots want to do something downtown, and they're going to make us leave. Well, I don't think that's right."

Fresno City Council members and redevelopment agency officials say eminent domain would be used only if property owners won't sell willingly or join the project.

But it's important to Forest City that the city has the option.

Forest City had been in talks with the city several years ago about a different version of the project. Plans later were changed to emphasize residential over retail and company officials said the project was put on hold while they waited for the outcome of Proposition 90, a state ballot measure that would have severely limited the use of eminent domain.

The proposition failed to win voter approval last year, and Forest City was back in City Hall last month presenting plans that won praise from the council.

There are about 40 properties that the city must either purchase or get the owners to participate in the six-block project, considered the first phase. And there are many more in Forest City's full project area, which spans another two phases and 85 acres southeast of the baseball stadium. The company only has a timetable for the six blocks. It hopes to finish the initial $232 million project in four years.

In January, the council plans to vote on a spending plan that could include a $100 million public investment in the project. Forest City also must complete a yearlong environmental review, which will include suggestions for three buildings on the local historic registry. Those suggestions could include preserving the buildings, moving them or preserving only their facades, said redevelopment agency executive director Marlene Murphey.

The redevelopment agency won't attempt to buy property in the south stadium area until the environmental review is finished. And then it will first try to acquire the property without using condemnation powers. Agency officials predict that if necessary it would take two years for the eminent domain process to start.

Landowners don't have to sell. They can choose to participate in the redevelopment plans by making all the changes and improvements required by the city.

This could be a daunting task for several businesses. Required changes could be as extensive as adding second-floor apartments, and local businesses would have to foot the bill. Redevelopment agency officials said they would help secure small business loans or government grants.