- - - - - - - Friday, March 5, 1982 PRESS 73 A view of the Fourth Street mall leading to the Santa Rosa Plaza, as seen from a decorative window on the new shopping center's second floor -Mark Aronoff The history of Santa Rosa I Plaza The By CLARK MASON Thursday's grand opening of Santa Rosa Plaza was the culmination of an urban renewal process that dates back to the 1950s. In 1957 a group of downtown Santa Rosa businessmen and property owners organized with the goal of promoting downtown business and "the modernization and beautification of the downtown area." The organization was inspired by the proposed relocation • - out of the downtown area - of the offices of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. The association's initial backers were members of a powerful group that included two city councilmen, Vincent Rafanelli and Karl Stolting, in addition to the general manager of The Press Democrat, Dan Bowerman. Others in the group included Fred Rosenberg, Kenneth Brown, D.E. Carithers, Clark Mailer, and Chester Andrews. The idea of giving the downtown a facelift can be traced back even further - to 1945 when architect Cal Caulkins proposed a civic complex centered around Courthouse Square. His plan included a new courthouse and jail, a civic auditorium and veterans building, park and a new city hall. But his beautifying plan was narrowly defeated by voters. The bond measure to pay for it was short by 107 votes for the necessary two-thirds voter approval needed. Following is a history of the urban renewal process and rejuvenation as reported in The Press Democrat: 1957 May 23. - A strong downtown promotional organization is in its formative stages. The association, later known as the Downtown Development Association, is supported by a group of 25 downtown businessmen and property owners. Nov. 20 - The association sets up a committee to consider a federal urban renewal program for Santa Rosa. 1958 Jan. 21 - The association sponsors a meeting for Santa Rosa and Sonoma County officials, bankers and businessmen where an official of the federal urban renewal administration explains how other California cities are solving urban-area problems. Jan. 28 The association asks the Santa Rosa City Council to form - an agency for redevelopment of the city's central business district. The program for Santa Rosa would include a downtown civic center with a city hall, state and federal offices, superior and municipal courts, a library and, museum. Complete redevelopment would entail razing of blighted buildings and making the land available for sale for commercial or residential development. Feb. 4 - A proposal to initiate a federal program to redevelop Santa Rosa's downtown area is given tentative approval by the City Council. March 27 The City Council appoints itself as the city's Urban Renewal Agency. Attorney Jack Ryersen, 32, who is running unopposed for the council, urges that appointments to the agency be cit rather than just members of the Downtown Development Association. Councilman H.A. Jensen is the only councilman to vote against it, saying urban renewal for downtown originated with the Downtown Development Association and members of the association should form the Urban Renewal Agency. May 28 - The council hears an ambitious plan to redevelop much of downtown Santa Rosa. A 140-acre area is outlined that lies mostly between Fourth Street and Santa Rosa Creek and extends from the railroad tracks east to Montgomery Drive. Colin Campbell, manager of the Downtown Development Association, says *We are on the threshhold of destiny." June 25 - The urban renewal area is reduced to 79 acres, extending from the freeway to E Street. July 2 - The first urban renewal project area is cut to 30.8 acres. Boundaries are Santa Rosa Avenue and E Street from Third Street to Matanzas Creek. The courthouse is included. A second project area would tentatively extend from Santa Rosa Avenue to the freeway and from the northern boundary of Juilliard Park to Ninth Street. July 16 - The council appoints a permanent Urban Renewal Agency, Members are Harry Grubschmidt, a physician; Charles E. Magowan, insurance broker; Elmer Reed, manager of Sears Roebuck; Andrew Shepard, Exchange Bank assistant vice president; and Charles C. Warren, realtor. 1959 March 18 - Developer Hugh Codding says if the city hires an urban renewal administrator, "it's an open declaration of war. If you go through with this tonight, I'm through with building in Santa Rosa.' The City Council approves hiring of an administrator. Codding says he objects to urban renewal because it involves taking money from the general city to spend on a certain district; improvements will be so costly that no develowill be able to find a tenant who can afford to locate in the urban per renewal area; government is being put in competition with private business; and private developers have not been given a chance to develop the area. Oct. 2 - Santa Rosa's program is given tentative approval by Washington. Oct. 31 - Codding announces he is ready to develop a new shopping northwest of Santa Rosa. Codding said it will be his answer to the area city's project, using private capital instead of government funds. 1960 June 15 - Codding offers to give the city "three to five acres ... or as much as you need," to build a city hall north of Santa Rosa, across the freeway from the county administration site. 1961 24 - Word is received that the U.S. government is willing to make Aug. loans and grants totalling $7 million to finance redevelopment in Santa Rosa. Sept. 7 - The City Council rejects a request by a citizens group led Kenneth Eymann to hold vote on urban renewal. Officials by attorney vote is not necessary because the bonds to pay for the city's share of say a the project would be backed by the increased property taxes that will come in as result of redevelopment. Nov. 2 - In a public hearing before the City Council, the attorney for Warren Atherton, compares urban renewal to socialism. He opponents, says hydrogen bombs "are only one of the traps in Mr. Krushchev's bag he instructed every Red in our midst to help foolhardy wastrels send us into incompetency ... until orderly government breaks down." Dec. 6 - The City Council votes 4-1, Karl Stolting dissenting, to apthe proposed redevelopment project, now estimated to cost $6.5 prove million. Stolting, who said he was enthusiastic at first about urban renewhas doubts about human problems of relocation of older people and al, small businesses. He also believes the land to be redeveloped will lie idle for some time. 1962 Jan. 4. - Codding proposes a new corporation to develop the downtown area. It would subcontract with the Urban Renewal Agency to develop private projects in the urban renewal area. April 4 - Congressman Clement Miller, who has been working in Washington to expedite the approval of the urban renewal plan, says Santa Rosa has received final approval from the federal government. July 22 - The first family to relocate from property in the urban renewal area is Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Howard, who move to 920 Sonoma Ave. The agency pays eligible moving costs for all individuals, families and businesses having to relocate and assists families in finding new quarters. Oct. 9 - First bids are awarded for the demolition of four major structures. Oct. 25 - The agency w will consider the first construction project in the urban renewal area - plans for a new post office building at the southwest corner of Second and E streets. 1964 Feb. 17 - Hugh Codding files papers to run for the city council. He says his decision to prompted by his belief that suburban areas of Santa Rosa have not had equal representation with the downtown. He is elected a month later. 1965 Voters say "yes" in a record vote to build a civic center on the urban renewal site near the Burbank Gardens. A new post office is dedicated. Ground is broken for a new public library at Fourth and E streets. New public parking is made available in the core of the city. 1966 Jan. 25 - The Santa Rosa City Council tells redevelopers of the urban renewal area "to get moving." The Santa Rosa Burbank Development Co. has been selected to redevelop the project area. March 22 - Henry Trione, general partner in the Burbank Development Co., gives an optimistic report on redevelopment. He says negotiations are underway to locate a large drug store chain in the area, a large bank branch, a 17-story lifecare building known as Santa Rosa Towers, at the northeast comer of Sonoma Avenue and E Street, and a convalescent hospital at the southwest corner of the same intersection. March 23 - The county sells its downtown properties to the city for $400,000. It includes the county courthouse, jail and garage land. The buildings will be demolished and Santa Rosa and Mendocino avenues will be joined. A 462-parking car garage, tentatively known as the Plaza garage, will be built between Second Street and Sonoma Avenue, and between Santa Rosa Avenue and the post office. July 29 Architect J. Clarence Felciano and his assistant Schuyler Jeffries, who have been hired as coordinating architects for the urban renewal project, sketch an area for future use as a convention and civic arts center. They say it could be "well located" just north of Juilliard Park between Highway 101, Santa Rosa Avenue and Third Avenue. Oct. 18 - In a major breakthrough for the city's urban development program, it is announced Bank of America will locate in the center of the project area. Oct. 19 - A second urban renewal project is mentioned as a possibility at an Urban Renewal Agency meeting. It would probably be between Highway 101 and the current project area. Nov. 16 - A 25-year lease is signed by Crocker Citizens National Bank to occupy the first floor of a multi-story office building planned at Second Street and Sonoma Avenue. 1967 Aug. 17 - Santa Rosa's Old Courthouse Square is being constructed in a park-like theme - with ponds, walkways, raised and sunk planters, and benches. Sept. 13 - Construction of Santa Rosa's new $2.4 million city hall is scheduled to begin in several days. May 2, 1968 - A state office building which will house from 14 to 16 state agencies is all but assured in the Urban Renewal area. 1968 Aug. 21 - Trent Harrington, Urban Renewal director, says the area from Courthouse Square to the freeway would lend itself well to another redevelopment project. Councilman Codding says that as cynical as he was about urban renewal, what the city has done "is a big improvement. 1969 Sept. 24 - The second redevelopment project would probably be for a hotel-convention center, agency officials say. Oct. 1 - A major earthquake damages much of downtown Santa Rosa, speeding the timetable for the redevelopment plan. Nov 26 Santa Rosa may have its second urban renewal program in operation in 120 days due to the damage caused by the quake. It is identified as a nine-block area bounded by First and Fifth streets, B Street and Highway one 101. Dec. Eureka Federal Savings and Loan's proposed five-story building receives tentative approval. 1970 Jan. 20 - The second urban renewal area is proposed as a hotelcomplex with a service station and coffee shop, community center, department store, other retail stores and ample parking off the freeway. The expanded area of 31 acres has an estimated total cost of $8.7 million. The area includes 89 buildings, with 74 considered beyond rehabilitation. March 11 The urban renewal expansion program is unanimously approved by the City Council. Councilman Codding votes for he is not satisfied with the financial feasibility of the project, or assured residential accomodations for the displaced y will be adequate. But he says he knows of no other way the area can be restored. July 15 - Washington approves a $5.5 million grant that will make Santa Rosa's expanded rehabilitation program possible. Oct. 15 - The White House approves construction of a $5.6 million federal building in Santa Rosa. 1971 March 19. - A citizens committee is formed by residents of the Occidental and Santa Rosa hotels to seek preservation of the two urban renewal area buildings. 1972 Feb. 29 - - - - - - A contract is approved for demolition of more than 25 buildings and homes in the expanded urban renewal area. March 1 - The Urban Renewal Agency seeks developers interested in a downtown regional shopping center. The idea of a major center is a direct result of the city's recent hiring of James Bums as director of the agency. March 21 - Santa Rosa senior citizens who live in old downtown hotels which will be demolished sue to halt urban renewal until suitable housing is found for them. March 28 - The Urban Renewal Agency approves "exclusive negotiations" with the Ernest W. Hahn Development Co. for a renewal- area shopping center. Hahn's firm is recommended by Bums. Prior to the approval, Richard Codding, Codding Enterprises vice-president, asks that selection of a developer be deferred. He says Hugh Codding, the firm's president, will be off the City Council April 11 and could then explore the downtown shopping center "to see if there are any areas of mutual benefit." March 9 - Eiderty residents say they are dropping their suit after seeing two alternative projects for senior citizen housing. Aug. 29 - Approval of land acquisition is given for a planned $8.4 million Pacific Telephone and Telegraph expansion on Third Street. Design approval is also given to the $6 million federal building. Dec. 6 - Santa Rosa Mayor Clement "Ting" Guggiana says a decision is expected soon on whether Macy's will be part of the proposed regional shopping center. Guggiana said developer Ernest Hahn feels a 54-acre development is more realistic for a shopping center, but only 28 acres are available in the downtown urban renewal area. 1973 April 24 - Hahn is granted time to explore the feasibility of a major shopping center and presents a good faith check to the city of $500,000. Codding Enterprises attorney William Smith asks the extension not be granted without considering a Codding Enterprises proposal to buy the land at the same price and develop it privately as multiple residential and commercial, with a convention center. June 12 - Codding Enterprises say It will. file suit to block the issuance of $1.8 million in tax allocation bonds by the Urban Renewal Agency. Judge Kenneth Eymann tells the agency not to issue bonds until the outcome of court hearing in two weeks. Coding's complaint is based on the adopted urban renewal plan being amended for a regional shopping center. June 26 - The agency gets a $1.8 million grant for land acquisition from HUD. July 19 - Hahn announces Macy's is coming to Santa Rosa and Sears is moving into a new $30 million regional shopping center, too. Aug. 8 - Two ten-story residential structures proposed by Salvation Army are, approved by City Council. The buildings will house displaced seniors from the urban renewal area. Aug. 28 - The downtown regional shopping center is scheduled to open November, 1975, according to Urban Renewal Director Burns. Sept. 18 - Rohnert Park announces plans to sue Santa Rosa's Urban Renewal Agency, contending use of Urban Renewal Agency money to develop a private shopping center is a misuse of public funds. Codding Enterprises plans to develop a regional shopping center in Rohnert Park. Oct. 25 - Superior Court Judge Eymann tosses out of court a Codding Enterprises' suit to prevent the Urban Renewal Agency from selling bonds for the proposed downtown shopping center. Nov. 30 - Codding refiles his suit. 1974 Jan. 29 - Codding Enterprises goes on another legal attack charging the Urban Renewal Agency with failure to file a detailed report of all its transactions. May 7 - Codding Enterprises files another suit in district court against the shopping center, this time seeking to block further federal funding of Santa Rosa's redevelopment area. "'We don't think it's right we should be taxed to subsidize a competitor," Codding says. July 19 - A Save the Cal Committee forms to preserve Santa Rosa's last remaining downtown movie house from demolition. Aug. 13 - Superior Court Judge Joseph Murphy rules that the Urban Renewal project does not violate state redevelopment law. Value of the proposed 800.000 square foot shopping center is now estimated at $45 million. Aug. 21 - Codding offers to acquire the Cal Theater. Mayor John Downey says it is another smoke screen to halt the downtown shopping center. Sept. 29 - As a result of a suit filed by the Urban Renewal Agency, Superior Court Judge Joseph Murphy issues a restraining order against Rohnert Park's planned shopping center. Santa Rosa said environmental studies on the project are inadequate. Oct. 29 - The City Council and Urban Renewal Agency unanimously support expanding the downtown regional shopping center. More than 300 persons jam the council chambers for hearings that last more than seven hours. An environmental impact report is certified and a land sale agreement between the agency and Hahn is approved. Nov. 19 - Rohnert Park files suit to block Santa Rosa's proposed shopping center, charging federal law and anti-trust violations. Nov: 27 - Codding Enterprises files suit challenging the environmental impact report on. Santa Rosa's shopping center. Dec. 10 Santa Rosa loses its protest on Rohnert Park's proposed shopping center's environmental report when Judge Murphy says it's adequate. Dec..18 - Sonoma County sues Santa Rosa over the "tax allocation" program for financing urban renewal. County supervisors say the financing could fund redevelopment "ad infinitum" at the expense of county and school district taxpayers. Dec. 23 - Opponents of the shopping center miss by 500 signatures in petitions to put it on the ballot. Dec. 27 - Codding Enterprises again files suit challenging financing of the shopping center. 1975 Jan. 28 - The county withdraws its lawsuit. March 25 - Codding Enterprises has lost five of seven suits it has filed against the downtown shopping center since April, 1973. Two are still pending. May 1 - Codding Enterprises offers to lease the Old Post office as an exhibit for the arts and other educational purposes. Urban Development Director James Burns says it is another attempt by Codding to stop the project "for his own personal gains.' June 17 - Two more lawsuits have been filed against the downtown center challenging the use of -federal community development funds on the shopping center. One was brought by group of minorities known as United Community Development Corp (UCDC), represented by attorney Jerry Wilhelm, and the other by Codding E Enterprises. July 11 - The new timetable for Santa Rosa's downtown shopping center calls for completion in the fall of 1977. July 23 - Codding Enterprises is paying for the bulk of costs for Rohnert Park's lawsuit $19,000 against Santa Rosa's downtown shopping center project. Sept. 9 - The Santa Rosa City Council authorizes acquisition of a new site for the Old Post office, which will be relocated. The council amends the downtown plan to allow for Third Street to be depressed to be incorporated into the $50 million shopping center's plans. Oct. 29 - The Urban Renewal Agency (now the Community Development Commission) settles out of court with minority groups - including Native Americans that brought suit against the shopping center. The agreement involves identifying and preserving archeological finds in the redevelopment area. Dec. 2 - The Community Development Commission approves the sale of 30 acres of downtown Santa Rosa to Ernest Hahn. Dec. 23 - Hahn files a $40 million lawsuit against Codding. The City of Rohnert Park is also named as a defendant. 1976 Jan. 1 - Codding files another suit against the downtown project challenging the changes made in the project to accommodate Hahn, such as the Third Street depression and closing sections of A, Fourth and Fifth streets. Jan. 11 - Bums says it will be at least nine to 12 months before work can begin on the downtown shopping center because of litigation. Burns estimates project costs go up about 1 percent each month of delay. Feb. 25 - A proposal to put six theaters, a restaurant and small office building in the downtown urban renewal area is given preliminary approval. March 4 - Hahn announces he has secured a $23 million construction loan for the $50 million shoping center, expected to be completed by the fall of 1978. April 7 - Hahn agrees to loan the city $3.5 million for land acquisition for his shopping center. The city has been unable to get conventional financing for its project due to numerous lawsuits. April 12 - All Codding's suits against the downtown center are consolidated into one case by a Superior Court judge. Aug. 19 Superior Court visiting Judge Hilliary Cook issues an "Intended decision" rejecting all of Codding Enterprises' numerous charges against the city's redevelopment project. Dec. 15 - Hahn's $40 million suit against Codding is dismissed, but .Hahn's attorney says he expects to file an amended complaint. 1977 Feb. 8 - Codding Enterprises announces it will appeal the decision upholding Santa Rosa's plan to redevelop the downtown area. March 31 - Santa Rosa's Redevelopment Agency sells $5 million in tax allocation bonds to begin clearing land for shopping center. May 20 - For the second time Hahn's $40 million anti-trust lawsuit is thrown out of court. Coding's cro seeking unspecified damages has also been dumped for the second time. June 15 - A majority of downtown property owners approve of taxing themselves $750,000 toward implementing a $2.7 million plan that will upgrade downtown and tie businesses into the new shopping center. The major component is.a heavily-landscaped, pedestrian-oriented, two-lane "semi-mall." Dec. 14 - The Occidental Hotel comes tumbling down. It was originally built in the 1880s. 1978 Jan. 5 - Mervyn's will be the third major department store to go into the downtown shopping center. March 14 - Grading work on the downtown center is expected to begin this week with actual construction of Sears, the first store to be built, to begin within 90 days. April 2 - Codding Enterprises' legal action delays the center another 40 days. The action creats a cloud on the title of about 10 acres of land in the redevelopment area. May 5 - An appellate court rules the city's findings on the environmental impact report on the downtown shopping center are not detailed enough, further delaying the shopping center. Sept. 18 - The city gets approval from the federal government to destroy the old post office. Oct. 19 - A coalition of Santa Rosa citizen groups files suit challenging the closure of Fourth, Fifth and streets. Oct. 30 - Hahn says he will continue work on the Sears store despite legal challenges that have prevented him from taking title to the property. Dec. 18 - A $100.000 donation from the Santa Rosa Foundation saves the old post office for use as an historical museum. 1979 May. 11 - A federal court rules against Rohnert Park In its attempt to stop Santa Rosa's downtown shopping center. The court says Rohnert Park has not shown it will suffer If the center is built. Aug. 6 - Emest Hahn takes title to the remaining 22 acres of land needed for Santa Rosa's shopping center and city officials say construction on Macy's and Mervyn's can begin right away. Aug. 28 - A judge orders an abrupt halt to ripping up of Fifth Street in downtown Santa Rosa preventing major new work on the shopping center. 1980 March 3 - Sears opens. March 12 - A Superior Court judge rejects a Codding Enterprises challenge to the environmental documents on the downtown shopping center. April 14 - The U.S. Supreme Court affirms a lower court ruling that Rohnert Park is not entitled to press a lawsuit to halt development of Santa Rosa's downtown shopping center. May 20 - Although Superior Court Judge Brian Jamar believes traffic snarls will become a way of life in downtown Santa Rosa, he nonetheless rules city fathers acted legally when they permanently closed Fourth and Fifth streets. May 29 - Hahn offers $800,000 to the Santa Rosa Redevelopment Agency to help pay its share in the cost of the meandering Fourth Street semi-mail and other improvements. Financing for the mall has been uncertain. June 11 - The city passes a historical landmark of sorts when it formally requests an end to the federally-funded portion of Santa Rosa's 19-year-old urban renewal project. In all, the federal government has given Santa Rosa about $13.5 million grants and another $9 million in loans. June 26 - Santa Rosa's Redevelopment Agency decides to sue Codding Enterprises in retaliation for years of legal action that delayed the downtown shopping center. 1981 Feb. 11 - Work is well underway on the new downtown shopping mall betwen B Street and Highway 101. Pilings are going up for many of the new stores. The first to be completed will be Macy's, which will open late this summer. Feb. 24 - Macy's announces it will open in August, two months earlier than previously announced. May 12 - Bulldozers began ripping up Fourth Street for the longawaited $3.9 million downtown "semi mall" that will tie existing businesses into the new shopping center. June 22 - Construction of the Fourth Street mall and the accompanying mounds of dirt, dust and a lengthy heat wave conspire to hurt downtown business, particularly many smaller stores. July 5 - Mervyn's announces it expects to open March 2, 1982. Oct. 2 - A federal judge dismisses all claims against the city of Santa Rosa and the city's Redevelopment Agency in a lawsuit brought by Codding Enterprises. The judge tosses out claims that the city and the agency violated state anti-trust laws and sold land for the shopping center below cost. 1982 Jan. 4 - The regional shopping center's long-awalted grand opening is set for March 4. Lloyd Miller, the plaza's new property manager, was manager of the Santa Maria Town Center. Jan. 26 - Codding Enterprises and Santa Rosa reach an out-of-court settlement. Codding agrees to pay the city $675,000, most of which will go toward street improvements, in exchange for the city's Redevelopment Agency dropping a suit against Codding claiming millions in tax revenue were lost because of Coding's lItigation. Hahn and Codding will continue to do legal battle with that trial set to begin in April. Feb. 2 - An appeals court rules in favor of Santa Rosa and against Coding Enterprises in the last remaining lawsuit on the downtown shopping center involving the city and Codding. The court reaffirmed earlier rulings that the city made sufficient findings on an environmental impact report and that it did not need to replace low income housing that was destroyed to make way for the project. Coding Enterprises reportedly will seek another court hearing on the matters. March 4 - Grand opening. Ernest Hahn says about 60 stores are open and he hopes to have the shopping center completely done by the end of the year.
